cabaiguan juan
Fucking Pandas
This is the Frank from the 2021 Monster Mash box. Having not had a Frank since the Redux was released several years ago - which was fantastic!, I was excited to try this rendition of the cigar that kicked off the whole Monster craze. I had an OR Frank the year they were released it remains one of the best cigars I've had. The Redux lived up to that memory as well. Will this? Lets find out!
1/3: Varying degrees of spice. White pepper underlies the blasts of red pepper. As I work my way through the 1st half inch, the white pepper subsides while the red pepper gains prominence. This then transitions to black pepper with a wisp of sweetness. As I exit the 1st third, the flavor moves towards toasted wheat.
2/3: Toasted wheat continues into this middle third joined by salt and black pepper. The salt dances with sweet, each taking the lead on my palate. The sweetness is cherry forward.
3/3: Most cigars that I review tend to die out on flavor transitions and this one is no exception. It is salt and a mix of peppers. Salt as in the smell of the beach on some distant Caribbean island and the pepper you get from creating a pepper bark on a brisket.
Final thoughts: 4 years have not mellowed this cigar a bit. It is strong with pronounced flavor. Delicious! Next up, I'll be smoking the 2024 Monster variant of the Frank and will compare notes as I review it.
1/3: Varying degrees of spice. White pepper underlies the blasts of red pepper. As I work my way through the 1st half inch, the white pepper subsides while the red pepper gains prominence. This then transitions to black pepper with a wisp of sweetness. As I exit the 1st third, the flavor moves towards toasted wheat.
2/3: Toasted wheat continues into this middle third joined by salt and black pepper. The salt dances with sweet, each taking the lead on my palate. The sweetness is cherry forward.
3/3: Most cigars that I review tend to die out on flavor transitions and this one is no exception. It is salt and a mix of peppers. Salt as in the smell of the beach on some distant Caribbean island and the pepper you get from creating a pepper bark on a brisket.
Final thoughts: 4 years have not mellowed this cigar a bit. It is strong with pronounced flavor. Delicious! Next up, I'll be smoking the 2024 Monster variant of the Frank and will compare notes as I review it.