Indian Tabac Horsepower Sampler

[kevpriest]

So, CI was running a promo that looked kind of interesting, a way to "sample" different strengths of cigars. I've got a brother-in-law that had asked me about strong versus mild cigars, and I thought this might be a fun way to answer the question. Plus, the whole sampler of 20 cigars was only $30, so it's no big loss if it's a bomb, right?

There are 5 different "levels" of cigar in the box: 150HP, 250HP, 350HP, 450HP, and Turbo. We started at the bottom and as of this writing have worked our way up to the 250HPs.

I let these sit in the humidor just a few days before trying them. On Saturday I pulled out a pair of the 150HPs and we tried them. The 150s are supposed to be mild and creamy, with a Connecticut shade wrapper. I found the wrapper to be a serious liability: it was thin, dry, and flaky, completely disintegrating in my hand as we smoked. Since there are four of each level of cigar in the sampler, I took the two remaining 150s and stripped them of their celo to let them pick up some moisture before I try these again.

As far as the taste, it's a blended tobacco, I'm guessing mostly Honduran, and I detected no hint of "creamy". Just a sort of weak smoke. It actually reminded me of a Macanudo, and while I know a lot of people like them, that's not a complement to me. Also, the draw on these cigars was inconsistent through the length of the cigar, starting really tight, finishing hot & loose. I believe that's an indicator of poor construction, but I don't know if they'll all be that way or not.

On Sunday we tried the 250HP. This one has a maduro wrapper and is supposed to be "nutty". These looked a lot like the Indian Tabac Deluxe Tubos I've tried (color of wrapper, general look of construction, even the pre-light draw). Unfortunately, where the Tubos have lots of ligero and good, strong flavor, these do not. The flavor is okay, medium (as advertised), and I definitely liked these enough to smoke them again, but they're nothing special.

I'll update this review as I get through the 350s, 450s, and Turbo. So far, I have to say, this was not $30 well spent, but hey, it was a lark. I fell for the gimmick. It's not like Indian Tabac tried to tell me these were a premiere line or something.

 

[kevpriest]

For lunch I went out and had the 350HP. This one has a corojo wrapper that's quite nice. The construction was still shoddy, in my opinion, this one too loose and mushy. Maybe a humidification issue, but based on how the other ones have been I'm betting it's inherent to the cigar.

The tabacco was good, long-filler stuff. I could definitely see smoking this one again, but I wouldn't pay much for it given the construction issues. And I'm definitely moving up the power-scale with these cigars. This one was nice and powerful, and more complex than the lower hp cigars. I'm actually looking forward to the 450HP at this point.

 

[Treamayne]

Thanks for the reviews. SOunds like the lot o' them shipped dry and might have needed a few weeks before beginning the experiment. What I would find interesting is the same run with the remaining cigars after a year or so of age. If you are saveing the 2 others of each type, it may be an interesting read to see the first impession side by side with an aged impression. Maybe I'll get these myself and do 1 a year for 4 years.

Now ya got me thinkin'

-K-

 

[kevpriest]

Point definitely taken on letting this stuff rest for a few weeks before I started. I wish I had, but now that I've started I want to go ahead and finish.

And now the good news: CI describes the 450HP as "full-bodied with a rich and intricate blend of tobaccos, including Corojo wrappers and Nicaraguan Ligero fillers". I have to say, this is a very good cigar. The construction was firm, with a little spring to the sides. The draw was perfect for me. The ash was very fine, white, and firm to the end. And the taste was great! This reminded me a great deal of the Rocky Patel Edge line. Really a nice, powerful cigar. Not just a "blow your head off" powerful, either. The first third was a little plain, maybe some spice, but the remainder of the cigar, once everything got warmed up, had a little sweetness to it.

This one should be really nice after it's rested for awhile.

 

[kevpriest]

Yesterday I sat down after work to try the "Turbo", the strongest of the strong, which CI describes thusly:

"Are you the hero? This rip-roaring, spicy, full bodied treat can satisfy that serious cigar craving."

Well, it was plugged. I struggled with it for about 10 minutes before I finally tossed the whole thing in anti-climactic frustration. I didn't try another last night because I was afraid the bad experience would color my thoughts on the cigar.

Today I tried a second time. Pre-light check: draw's okay, a little tight, but I think it's fine. It's another corojo wrapper, a little spicy on the first draw. It's supposed to be super-strong, but I'm not getting it yet. Maybe it needs to warm up a little. Nah, 20 minutes later it's still weak, but it's not just that the tobacco is weak, it's that the stupid tobacco won't burn. The thing kept going out on me. Blech, I give up again.

I'll try another one later (a week or more later), but so far the 450 has been the only one that I'd really want to have again.

 

[Kento]

Try a La Flor Domincana Double Ligero Chisel when you have a chance. If you have a penchant for a nicotine-kick-in-the-family-jewels, that may do it. Not to mention its a smooth, tasty cigar too.

Thanks for the nice review to. Too bad the construction is bad, since I will smoke a subpar tasting cigar for the hell of it, but mushy/plugged cigars give me conniptions.

 

[scoobydoo]

good reviews it makes me want to avoid them completely event though I like indian tabac vintage and super fuerte I a too almost bought the horsepower sampler and I'm glad I didn't