JFR Cigars Question

Anybody know anything about these? Vince? All I know is that they're made for Tabacalera Tropical. I believe they're a Pepin Garcia blend which makes them very enticing.

Reason I ask is my local shop is having an event this Thursday.

I smoked the Belicoso a little while ago with a cold water and a fresh burn of Blowin Smoke.

It was about a 6.5x 52 which is a lot larger than I've grown fond of lately but a nice change of pace. It had a very nice prelight aroma and a nice, firm construction. The wrapper was very veiny but not to the point of giving a bad burn or being unsightly. At first I thought the foot was shaggy, but it appears that the wrapper is put on after it is cut to size and then folded in. Kind of interesting I thought. The prelight draw was also nice. On the looser side but not wide open either.

Upon lighting I was greeted with a strong peaty flavor but it wasn't bad. That went away quickly into more subdued earthy aroma that continued for the next inch and a half then I got a hint of cocoa with that. Not much but it was there. It had some burn issues up until then but its a fresh cigar and I certainly expected that. Actually I'm surprised it wasn't worse than it was.

I purged the cigar at about the halfway point and after a quick rest I was greeted with that cocoa again but much, much stronger this time. I hate when people describe chocolate flavors but this was real and intense. Not like a flavored but there nevertheless. It mellowed out a little quickly therafter but stayed in the background for the rest of the cigar which I'm happy to say burned flawlessly.

For a fresh, inexpensive cigar ($3.20 I believe), this was pretty darn good. While smoking I would have called it a mild medium. Afterwards, definitely a full. Even after a good meal of grilled pork cutlets and potato salad, I'm still really feeling it. Its the first cigar I've had in a while where I've had to lay down afterwards. I'll definitely buy more Thursday and can't wait to see what a good rest and a little age do for these.

I'm probably going to have to buy the box of these now. You say the retail is about $5? I hope they don't change the price before I can snag a box.