Quai d’Orsay Secreto ER Francia - SGA Dic 2016 (OYMRW)

[Glass Half Full]

Quai d’Orsay Secreto ER Francia (4 1/3” x 40rg); SGA Dic 2016.

Total time (till I burned my fingers  :  58 minutes

10:30 pm (EST) here in Charleston, when this all started

Time factor definitely an appeal inspiring this choice of vitola, plus a desire for just a bit more (but not too much .  

I’d already enjoyed a cigar with a friend on the back deck earlier this evening, which included both coffee and rum with that earlier experience.  Tidying up after that visit (and with my wife being away, and with my having had the caffeine earlier) I decided to add a little extra fun to the evening (but not too, too much), and so the Secreto.  

…In particular (and this was inspired by the FOH contest), a Quai d’Orsay Secreto. In keeping with the French theme, I’m pairing it with a Delord Armagnac.   

Weather here in Charleston is warm this evening (after TS Elsa passed over last evening):  82 degrees F; humidity 86%.

Attempted Review   

First 3rd:  Subtle initial start to this cigar, quickly turning to wonderful smoke production and a creamy, honey sweet in the outset; it picks up some leather and wood while still in this first 1/3^rd.  (The Armagnac perhaps amplifying the sweetness.)  The burn needed some correcting once, but other than that this little thing is strikes me as perfect for such a later-evening, wanting-to-enjoy-just-a-bit-more situation.  (A little John Prine playing in the background lightens everything.)

Into the 2^nd/3^rd retrohales add a sense of strength but this remains a medium-strength cigar IMO.  (Not the flavor bomb of a Cohiba Maduro 5 Secreto, but remarkably good in its own way.) The earlier honey sweetness fades to graham cracker and a bit of nuttiness.  I have to concentrate to pace the smoke so it stays cool.  That earlier correction may have been my fault as the construction seems excellent now. 

Entering the 3^rd/3^rd the draw gets a bit tighter (though the high humidity here in the lowcountry could be adding to that).  Sweetness drops out entirely and bread overtones start to take over, then turn to added pepper and a return to leather (especially in the retros), and a bit of almond as we get further into the last bit.  I’m enjoying it to the nub (now wishing it was a bit bigger).

11:28 pm (EST) -- Had to put down (after burning my fingers  

I’m not experienced at the grading, and always have to compare to to my own best and worst experiences.  Here’s a “go” at scoring, as requested:  

Construction:              90

Flavour/Complexity:   91

Overall Experience:     93 (perfect for this evening)

Hope you all have a great day!