Kingantz
Growing too fast.
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2007
- Messages
- 7,648
I did a group buy on a bundle of these back in May of 08 and decided to pull one out and see how they’re coming along. The wrapper is a dark brown in color and still very oily with prominent patchwork veins running the length. I can hear crunchiness as I squeeze the cigar whereas I remember they were quite spongy when first received. I clip the head at an angle and find a perfect draw with a very good, sweet tobacco taste coming through.
With the small tapered foot lit, I take a number of quick puffs in intervals to get the burn going good and hopefully stay straight. It does start going to one side, so I do small touch-ups. In my first draw there’s a mild spiciness that comes through with the smoke a good medium strength, feeling somewhat oily and thick on the palate. Flavors are incredibly rich right from the start with tastes of cocoa, toasted nuts, and dark earth with a very good twang. The finish is lasting and lip smacking good.
A third in and I continue to do small touch-ups to ensure the burn stays straight. The forming ash is a medium to dark gray and holds strong until tapped off at about an inch or so leaving a slight cone. Good medium strength smoke is flowing well through the perfect draw with a mild spice on the back of the throat and flavors remaining rich. There’s an incredibly lasting finish on the palate after exhaling, simply delicious.
I have to admit, heading through the halfway mark into the final third, I start feeling a bit woozy. Not from the strength/power in the cigar, but what I’m assuming is possibly the amount of nicotine. Whew! I didn’t eat anything this morning either, which I’m sure is a factor as well. Luckily I do have a full cup of coffee with sugar and cream, which is pairing very nicely with the smoke by the way. The burn is doing quite well, not requiring any touch-up at halfway in, however the ash falls off on its own right before I snap a pic. Flavors continue to be incredibly rich with that twang I really enjoy in a cigar. The smoke seems to be transitioning from a medium to almost full as I head into the final third with the spiciness seeming to pick up a notch as well. I’m very much enjoying this cigar!
The final third definitely brings more strength to the table, and I find myself having to go a bit slower with my draws. Spice is really tingling the nostrils as I exhale, not a powerful tingle but just right. Flavors are strong on the palate with dark roasted nuts and earth becoming quite prominent, sweet cocoa is there but has taken a back seat to the other flavors. Still, an incredibly delicious smoke with lasting, fantastic finish.
These cigars have really transformed from when I first received them IMO. I do feel that they still have a ways to go, and can’t wait to pull out another in a year or so to see where they’re at. I’ve always enjoyed John’s cigars as they are a very good fit for my palate and if the opportunity arises, I highly recommend picking up a couple bundles, one to smoke and one to put back for a few years. Thanks John for such awesome smokes!
With the small tapered foot lit, I take a number of quick puffs in intervals to get the burn going good and hopefully stay straight. It does start going to one side, so I do small touch-ups. In my first draw there’s a mild spiciness that comes through with the smoke a good medium strength, feeling somewhat oily and thick on the palate. Flavors are incredibly rich right from the start with tastes of cocoa, toasted nuts, and dark earth with a very good twang. The finish is lasting and lip smacking good.
A third in and I continue to do small touch-ups to ensure the burn stays straight. The forming ash is a medium to dark gray and holds strong until tapped off at about an inch or so leaving a slight cone. Good medium strength smoke is flowing well through the perfect draw with a mild spice on the back of the throat and flavors remaining rich. There’s an incredibly lasting finish on the palate after exhaling, simply delicious.
I have to admit, heading through the halfway mark into the final third, I start feeling a bit woozy. Not from the strength/power in the cigar, but what I’m assuming is possibly the amount of nicotine. Whew! I didn’t eat anything this morning either, which I’m sure is a factor as well. Luckily I do have a full cup of coffee with sugar and cream, which is pairing very nicely with the smoke by the way. The burn is doing quite well, not requiring any touch-up at halfway in, however the ash falls off on its own right before I snap a pic. Flavors continue to be incredibly rich with that twang I really enjoy in a cigar. The smoke seems to be transitioning from a medium to almost full as I head into the final third with the spiciness seeming to pick up a notch as well. I’m very much enjoying this cigar!
The final third definitely brings more strength to the table, and I find myself having to go a bit slower with my draws. Spice is really tingling the nostrils as I exhale, not a powerful tingle but just right. Flavors are strong on the palate with dark roasted nuts and earth becoming quite prominent, sweet cocoa is there but has taken a back seat to the other flavors. Still, an incredibly delicious smoke with lasting, fantastic finish.
These cigars have really transformed from when I first received them IMO. I do feel that they still have a ways to go, and can’t wait to pull out another in a year or so to see where they’re at. I’ve always enjoyed John’s cigars as they are a very good fit for my palate and if the opportunity arises, I highly recommend picking up a couple bundles, one to smoke and one to put back for a few years. Thanks John for such awesome smokes!
