Marco-Polo
Go Irish Go!
Cigar: Cuban Stock Royal Selection Robusto, http://www.crowndavid.com/cig_csroyal.html
Manufacturer: Crown David Cigars, www.crowndavid.com
Size: Robusto, 5x50
Filler: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Wrapper: Connecticut
Price: 6.30, bought Sunday at SJ Cigars in Springfield, PA
Preamble
I stopped in at my local B&M for a smoke - not necessarily a good idea when doing work on the motorcycle (think "highly flammable") but certainly a good reward afterwards. I picked up my intended stick, a Fuente Cuban Corona, a second one as I passed, and then the owner/manager (the only person I've seen working there, at least) suggested one which he brought from behind the counter: a "cuban stock". I've never heard of them, but he described it "like a Hoyo de Monterrey, but Dominican". It looked really nice, slightly "box pressed" (box squished), nice wrapper, solid. Okay, I'm always up for a challenge.
Appearance
Looks very nice - smooth wrapper,, no imperfections. Doesn't look at all like the "light connecticut" that the website (which I found after the fact) describes. Looks like a medium brown. Primary band at the top and secondary band at the foot are a little gaudy.
Construction
I went for a walk with my dog while smoking it. I smoked it past the band. It burned straight. It ashed once in 40 minutes. It drew perfectly. Ash was bright white, when I looked at it with a flashlight. Enough said?
Flavor
Started off rather like a Hoyo - very woody. After the first half-inch, it started to really come into its own. The wood retreated, a bitter cocoa flavor came in, and a very fragrant top note - vanilla & nutmeg, baking spice appeared (it sounds like total cigar puffery, but it smelled like my wife's fresh-baked cookies). As I progressed, the bitter cocoa continued but the top note changed, first to a slightly spicy ginger, then to a caramel or toffee odor. Very nice.
Conclusion
I've never had this brand before. When I look at the website, it doesn't look 100% like the cigar I had - slightly different primary band, no band at the foot. The cigar I had was very good - by no means the best smoke that I've ever had, but best of the ones I've had in the last 2 months at the very least. At $6.30 not cheap, but I'd buy one again, no question.
Manufacturer: Crown David Cigars, www.crowndavid.com
Size: Robusto, 5x50
Filler: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Wrapper: Connecticut
Price: 6.30, bought Sunday at SJ Cigars in Springfield, PA
Preamble
I stopped in at my local B&M for a smoke - not necessarily a good idea when doing work on the motorcycle (think "highly flammable") but certainly a good reward afterwards. I picked up my intended stick, a Fuente Cuban Corona, a second one as I passed, and then the owner/manager (the only person I've seen working there, at least) suggested one which he brought from behind the counter: a "cuban stock". I've never heard of them, but he described it "like a Hoyo de Monterrey, but Dominican". It looked really nice, slightly "box pressed" (box squished), nice wrapper, solid. Okay, I'm always up for a challenge.
Appearance
Looks very nice - smooth wrapper,, no imperfections. Doesn't look at all like the "light connecticut" that the website (which I found after the fact) describes. Looks like a medium brown. Primary band at the top and secondary band at the foot are a little gaudy.
Construction
I went for a walk with my dog while smoking it. I smoked it past the band. It burned straight. It ashed once in 40 minutes. It drew perfectly. Ash was bright white, when I looked at it with a flashlight. Enough said?
Flavor
Started off rather like a Hoyo - very woody. After the first half-inch, it started to really come into its own. The wood retreated, a bitter cocoa flavor came in, and a very fragrant top note - vanilla & nutmeg, baking spice appeared (it sounds like total cigar puffery, but it smelled like my wife's fresh-baked cookies). As I progressed, the bitter cocoa continued but the top note changed, first to a slightly spicy ginger, then to a caramel or toffee odor. Very nice.
Conclusion
I've never had this brand before. When I look at the website, it doesn't look 100% like the cigar I had - slightly different primary band, no band at the foot. The cigar I had was very good - by no means the best smoke that I've ever had, but best of the ones I've had in the last 2 months at the very least. At $6.30 not cheap, but I'd buy one again, no question.