sinnyc
Tibi ipsi esto fidelis.
Fuente Opus X xXx
The cigar is more of a mini-belicoso – more corona like in gauge than most of the other beli’s I smoke.
Beautiful presentation. The band and silk wrap are stunning. As I got it ready to light I almost feel like I’m unwrapping a gift. It has a firm body and cap with just a bit of spring at the foot; a pleasant sense of substance. The body is smooth and perfect with no veins larger than a line drawn with a freshly sharpened pencil.
Lighting
It toasted and lit easily and completely. It burns smooth and even with a minimum of smoke. The first few puffs drew very well. Once I had the cigar properly lit, I let it sit for a minute or two.
The first inch
Plenty of rich smoke with some mild woodsy flavor, no real spice. The ash is dense, clean, and almost uniformly pale grey. It shows no sign of wanting to drop. The taste seems…a bit packed – as if the cigar has a lot to say but has jumbled its words and needs a moment to collect itself.
After ashing the first 1.75 inches I am still waiting for the flavor to develop. So far, it isn’t showing me too much. Not bad, certainly, but not amazing either – just a nice, medium strength, creamy-ish smoke without any particularly standout notes. Not what I was expecting although I try to smoke each new cigar without preconceptions.
Again, it’s as if the stick has something to say but is tongue-tied. The flavor still seems “tight”, like a wine that needs more time in the bottle. That may be the case here as I got this in a sampler (from a reputable online retailer) and don’t know its age.
As I move through the middle of the cigar, there is a touch of spice on my tongue but still the overall flavor eludes me. It is still giving me a light cedar but not much else, even with a bit through the nose.
I’m trying to think of what I would compare it to and am coming up blank. It is milder than I thought it would be, burning very nicely, and clearly likes a stately pace – no 20 minute quickie here even though it could almost pass for a Partagas Short or other demi-corona-like stick.
As I enter the final third, I notice a some tar building up in the middle of the cut which I find pretty unusual. The only time I ever see that is on cigars that are drawing poorly and only through one concentrated area which is not the case here. Odd.
I have been smoking mostly Cubans (Montecristo, RASS) and a few medium-ish U.S. import smokes this week so I don’t think I have strained my palate. Plus, this is my first cigar today and still I feel like the flavor is hiding from me. It is still vaguely woodsy, now with some mild nuttiness which is a pleasant addition.
As I smoke it down to fingertip-charring territory, nothing has changed. The nuttiness has turned into a hint of chocolate but really, I feel like this cigar just plain didn't give it up to me. Overall, I'm disappointed. The construction and burn were both outstanding but this cigar was not very flavorful. Frankly, it was a bit of a letdown.
I dunno how the pros rate cigars but I would give this a 9.5 for appearance and construction but, as I found the flavor to be only average, just a 6 for taste. Overall, I don’t think I could go higher than about a 6.5
Bummer
The cigar is more of a mini-belicoso – more corona like in gauge than most of the other beli’s I smoke.
Beautiful presentation. The band and silk wrap are stunning. As I got it ready to light I almost feel like I’m unwrapping a gift. It has a firm body and cap with just a bit of spring at the foot; a pleasant sense of substance. The body is smooth and perfect with no veins larger than a line drawn with a freshly sharpened pencil.
Lighting
It toasted and lit easily and completely. It burns smooth and even with a minimum of smoke. The first few puffs drew very well. Once I had the cigar properly lit, I let it sit for a minute or two.
The first inch
Plenty of rich smoke with some mild woodsy flavor, no real spice. The ash is dense, clean, and almost uniformly pale grey. It shows no sign of wanting to drop. The taste seems…a bit packed – as if the cigar has a lot to say but has jumbled its words and needs a moment to collect itself.
After ashing the first 1.75 inches I am still waiting for the flavor to develop. So far, it isn’t showing me too much. Not bad, certainly, but not amazing either – just a nice, medium strength, creamy-ish smoke without any particularly standout notes. Not what I was expecting although I try to smoke each new cigar without preconceptions.
Again, it’s as if the stick has something to say but is tongue-tied. The flavor still seems “tight”, like a wine that needs more time in the bottle. That may be the case here as I got this in a sampler (from a reputable online retailer) and don’t know its age.
As I move through the middle of the cigar, there is a touch of spice on my tongue but still the overall flavor eludes me. It is still giving me a light cedar but not much else, even with a bit through the nose.
I’m trying to think of what I would compare it to and am coming up blank. It is milder than I thought it would be, burning very nicely, and clearly likes a stately pace – no 20 minute quickie here even though it could almost pass for a Partagas Short or other demi-corona-like stick.
As I enter the final third, I notice a some tar building up in the middle of the cut which I find pretty unusual. The only time I ever see that is on cigars that are drawing poorly and only through one concentrated area which is not the case here. Odd.
I have been smoking mostly Cubans (Montecristo, RASS) and a few medium-ish U.S. import smokes this week so I don’t think I have strained my palate. Plus, this is my first cigar today and still I feel like the flavor is hiding from me. It is still vaguely woodsy, now with some mild nuttiness which is a pleasant addition.
As I smoke it down to fingertip-charring territory, nothing has changed. The nuttiness has turned into a hint of chocolate but really, I feel like this cigar just plain didn't give it up to me. Overall, I'm disappointed. The construction and burn were both outstanding but this cigar was not very flavorful. Frankly, it was a bit of a letdown.
I dunno how the pros rate cigars but I would give this a 9.5 for appearance and construction but, as I found the flavor to be only average, just a 6 for taste. Overall, I don’t think I could go higher than about a 6.5
Bummer
