Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Ecuadorian, Nicaraguan
Filler: Ecuadorian, Nicaraguan
Size: 5 x 50 Robusto
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $9.00
My cigars have had 2 months of naked humidor time.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
I thought this would be a good time to review a reasonably priced cigar.
I omitted any background information that might be available because who cares what brought about the manufacturer’s inspiration for an $8 stick. Am I right or am I right?
The cigar is super light so this review should be over quickly and painless. Painless for me, not you.
Aromas are faint but highly aware of their surroundings…baking spices, milk chocolate, creamy vanilla ice cream, black pepper, red pepper, French fries, cedar, barnyard, and ripe plums.
My PerfecPunch & Stand easily beheads the cap of the cigar.
The draw is wide open confirming a symptom of a light and most probably under filled cigar.
Nice start. Complexity seems to have been activated. A canyon of chocolate notes, creaminess, graham cracker, brown sugar, malt, and the entire burrito is encapsulated by just the right amount of black pepper spiciness.
But to be honest, I cannot begin to count the number of times I’ve been hoodwinked by a lovely beginning only to find the cigar, minutes later, hanging by its petard.
This just might be a lovely $9 stick that can be a nice go-to everyday cigar. With sponsor’s prices and promo codes, the cigar slides into the $7-$8 category. I can live with that.
“Sweet Home Alabama.” I played in a blues band in Phoenix in the 90’s. A drunk asked us to play that song and I guess I laughed. This enraged the guy, and he stormed the stage to end me. His friends stopped him. I haven’t laughed since.
Some depth appears. A good sign. I found no reviews. Not sure why. So far, this cigar merits a little attention. I believe it’s been out since 2019.
Strength is medium.
The cigar is burning too quickly. I burned an inch in 10 minutes. This Robusto will hopefully make it to 45 minutes.
“Hotel California” is playing. I quickly change the Amazon Music channel.
A pleasant cigar. Not a special experience or an amazing feat by the blender. A pleasant cigar. The burn slows down a bit.
A great cigar for newbies.
And then with 3-3/4” to go, strength is upped to medium/full. Newbies…don’t pull the trigger quite yet.
Very creamy. A charming amount of spice. A sugar cone filled with butter brickle ice cream.
And then the flavors hit their first sweet spot. Now we’re talking.
The subtle complexity and the richness will gain this cigar a spot of at least a rating of 90 or above. I’m figuring in the price which of course everyone says you are not supposed to do. But this is reality. Not a game show. I admire the guys that blind taste test cigars. Not sure why they do this. I assume the object is to make the field even. But the honest truth is we all look at the brand and price before we make any decision. Just how it is.
A sip of water and flavors spread out like a fart in the wind.
The medium/full strength isn’t threatening. I’ve only lost partial vision. No biggie.
If the cigar can continue growing, as it has been proven in a court of law, I will genuflect and approve of this cigar as a good knockaround.
Caramel notes appear. Along with cinnamon, nutmeg, and dried fig. Nuances are delightful.
I went into this review dreading a repeat of yesterday’s review of the Ezra Zion Sword Demon Slayer. Two bummer reviews in a row is reason to David Carradine myself. But I am pleasantly surprised with this agreeable cigar blend.
“Badge” by Cream. A notable bass intro. In clubs, I would play “What is this bassline?” I’d play a litany of famous riffs and get the audience to guess the song title. It gave the rest of the band time to run outside and light up a spliff.
I’d sneak in the riff to “Spain” by Chick Corea and the crowd hadn’t a clue.
The halfway point arrives at 35 minutes. I was wrong that this cigar was going to burn like a cigarette.
The strength sneaks up on me. A very harmless looking cigar with teeth.
When I was a kid, my dad took me to a dairy farm that some distant cousin owned in Orange County. He was in his 60’s and he let me stick my hand into a cow’s mouth. Later, he sneezed and his dentures flew out and landed in a pile of dung. To my horror, he picked them up and just popped them back into his mouth. I still have nightmares.
The cigar is on a journey. I don’t find Emilio cigars to be breathtaking but this little snausage is providing a good time.
Flavors are canonized in place.
Strength is full tilt.
3” burned. 50 minutes.
Ever wonder why people don’t speak up when they see your fly is down?
This is a bloody nice cigar.
For $7-$8, it’s a keeper.
Unfortunately, this cigar only comes in two sizes: 5 x 50 and 4.5 x 46. I’d love to try it in a bigger size.
When I was 17, I saw The Byrds at The Golden Bear in Huntington Beach. I got to hang backstage because I lied and said I was a reporter for the Long Beach Press Telegram. Both Roger McGuinn and David Crosby were very nice to me. I interviewed McGuinn after the concert using my Sony tape recorder my grandfather bought me for my Bar Mitzvah. I wrote an article and submitted it to Tiger Beat Magazine. They returned it covered in red ink. I was told it wasn’t fuzzy enough. I still carry that scar.
I have zero criticisms for this cigar. It was interesting. Very flavorful. Surprising complex notes. But also very strong. An excellent knockaround as suggested earlier.
Final smoke time is one hour.
The following sponsors carry this cigar: Small Batch Cigar (10% off with promo code ‘katman’), Luxury Cigar Club (10% off with promo code ‘katman), Atlantic Cigar (no promo code), and Cigar Page (no promo code).
RATING: 91
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