Connor's Reviews

Joined Nov 2007
1K Posts | 2+
The hills and the hollers
CIGAR: Graycliff Vintage 1999
DATE: 4-20-2008
SIZE: 5 1/4” 50 RG
SHAPE: Robusto
ORIGIN: Nassau, Bahamas
AGE: N/A (received in box pass)

AMBIANCE: Local B&M talking business and enjoying a smoke.
BEVERAGE: Coffee then a SA Summer lager
APPEARANCE: Dark wrapper with a large vein running the entire stick. Feel was a little spongy. The band is very attractive and ornate.
PRE-LIGHT: Cap has hints of spice and something sweet. Aroma is of coffee. I cut the cap with a straight cut and the pre-light draw was loose and very smooth. The cigar burned very even and I encountered no problems. It was a pleasure to smoke.

FIRST-THIRD: I first notice the large amount of smoke this stick generates (I am a big fan of lots of smoke) I then get a hint of spice on the back of my tongue, but am picking up hints of something sweet at the same time but I put that off as part of the cedar I begin to pick up. The overall taste is woodsy. The burn is perfect and the ash is loose and dark grey.

SECOND-THIRD: The sweetness comes out a bit more and I pick it up as coco, but the sweetness fades towards the end of the second-third and the stick becomes nutty. The spice has completely disappeared.

FINAL-THIRD:
The cigar becomes harsh and I can’t really pick out anything pleasant in it.

The stick is a mild smoke only gaining intensity when it becomes harsh with an inch left (about the time I stopped smoking it). The first 2/3 is very enjoyable. Not very complex, but lots of different flavors and taste changes. I would rate this cigar higher if it has finished the way it started.

3.5-4 smoke rings or an 86 rating. (this was a hard one to rate b/c of the drastic difference from the first 2/3 to the last 1/3.
 
Great review Connor! I really need to be taking notes on what I'm smoking and try to do a review one day.


DL
 
CIGAR: San Cristobal "Fabuloso"
DATE: 4-25-2008
SIZE: 6x52
SHAPE: Torpedo
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
AGE: 1.8.08

AMBIANCE: Local B&M chatting with friends
BEVERAGE: Water then a SA White Ale
APPEARANCE: Very dark wrapper. Smooth with few veins.
PRE-LIGHT: Very earthy smell with a hint of pepper and cedar. Pre light draw is loose earthy. Band is beautiful with gold and reds that really stand out against the dark cigar. The cigar lite perfectly and had a razor sharp burn. I only had to relight once. This cigar produced a large amount of smoke and a great grey ash. The draw was fantastic. Very enjoyable smoking experience.

FIRST-THIRD: Starts out a bit harsh with lots of cedar. Very quickly mellows out with notes cedar and something sweet (my pallet is not yet refined enough to pick it out, but i would say its chocolate). Medium body, but full of flavor.

SECOND-THIRD: The sweetness subsides to more of a peppery finish. The intensity picks up.

FINAL-THIRD:
The cedar and pepper flavors are wonderful and the stick finishes with a great full intensity.

Very pleasant smoke. The cigar was very smooth and creamy with wonderful aromas and flavors. I would like to let a few get some age and try again.

3.5-4 smoke rings or an 90 rating.
 
CIGAR: Illusione F9
DATE: 4-27-2008
SIZE: 44x 6 1/4
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
AGE: N/A
AMBIANCE: Local B&M chatting with friends
BEVERAGE: Water then a Sweetwater Georgia Brown Ale
APPEARANCE: Dark brown flawless wrapper beautifully constructed. This stick has been in my humi for some time now because i like to admire its construction
PRE-LIGHT: Leather and earthiness
FIRST-THIRD: The burn is razor sharp and the amount of smoke is wonderful. The pull is a bit tight but otherwise perfect.
I am immediately hit with chocolate tones which is soon taken over by leather and a hit of cedar. I had to check the band and make sure this was not a Cuban!

SECOND-THIRD: The leather and cedar are predominate with a bit of spice on the finish. The intensity has gone from med to med-full.

FINAL-THIRD: The leather taste is outstanding with a sweet finish (probably the chocolate)

Amazing cigar. I was constantly thinking this could be a Cuban. I will definitely have to have more!

4.5 / 5 or 95 rating.
 
CIGAR: Trinidad Reyes
DATE: 5-15-2008
SIZE: 4.29 x 40
SHAPE: Petit Corona
ORIGIN: Havana, Cuba
AGE: 05’ No box code

AMBIANCE: Local B&M
BEVERAGE: Coke (hey its lunch)
APPEARANCE: Light brown wrapper with a perfect pig tail cap. Very little veins and seems perfectly constructed. A little soft to the touch. Cut with straight cut. Pre light has smell and draw is earthy and sweet.

FIRST-THIRD: The light was perfect and burned razor sharp with no corrections needed. It started off earthy and a bit bland with only a minimal amount of smoke being produced and seems to be medium bodied. Very Earthy with pepper on the end.

SECOND-THIRD: The sweetness I detected earlier really comes out and blends nicely with the pepper (almost over powering the pepper). The cigar remains very earthy. The amount of smoke picks up and this stick starts to become a very enjoyable medium-full bodied smoke.

FINAL-THIRD:
It ended to soon! The flavors on this stick are amazing, changing constantly. There is a lot of earthy sweetness and pepper with some nutty undertones. The stick never got hot, it even seemed to taste cool at some times (if that makes any since at all.)

I wish I had another one to light up immediately, not to mention another hour for lunch!
I highly recommend this stick as a quick (45 min) smoke or for that matter an anytime smoke! I cant wait to light up another one and figure out the complexity of this little stick!
4.5 smoke rings or a 94 rating.
 
CIGAR: Montecristo #4
DATE: 5-30-2008
SIZE: 5 x 42
SHAPE: Mareva
ORIGIN: Havana, Cuba
AGE: 07’ No box code

AMBIANCE: Back Porch on a beautiful night
BEVERAGE: SA Summer Ale
APPEARANCE: Light brown wrapper. The stick was firm and the trip cap cut nicely and the pre light draw tasted of cedar and a bit of spice.

FIRST-THIRD: The stick produced a good amount of dense smoke with hints of leather and cedar. There was a bit of a sweet taste to the finish. The thing I noticed most about the first third was the amazing aroma the cigar has, it was very intoxicating.

SECOND-THIRD: The burn is perfect and but the amount of smoke starts to become a bit thin. The tastes are of leather and it becomes very earthy and the spice starts to really pick up.

FINAL-THIRD: The spice really picks up but it becomes a bit bitter toward the end. I think this has to do with the age, I need to let the other I have rest a bit before I try it again.

The construction and burn were terrific and the first 2/3 were amazing and wonderful to smoke. This is not the best mareva I have had, but I cant wait to try one with a bit of age on it.4.0 smoke rings or an 89 rating.