FOH International Blind Tasting Competition: Cigar Number 2. Official thread

[El Presidente]

FOH International Blind Tasting Competition: Cigar Number 1.  Preparation 

Review  review on this thread Cigar Number 1 and send your pick to Lisa. 

As a special feature this year, tomorrow will be posted a video of Ken and I smoking that cigar from the same blind tasting set. Ken has no idea. He has no idea about the cigar either.  No hints are given. Simply tasting notes that you can smoke along with, review post or prior, ignore completely. 

You are encouraged to post your review on Cigar number 2 on this thread.  However, keep your guess to yourself. 

1. The competition commences November 15 by which time you will need to have smoked cigar number 1 and emailed your pick to Lisa ([email protected]).You will e-mail Lisa your nomination for that cigar by Sunday the 14th.  Now you can smoke all the cigars and email Lisa the results but we will be revealing cigars 1-5 over successive weeks. You get your picks in by the end of Sunday your time and we will post the results by the following Tuesday (time differences etal).

Important 

This year three of the 5 cigars are aged (5 years +). 

For a bonus half point, you at the time of your email to lisa  need to nominate  if the cigar is one of the three aged cigars.  You only have three chances to nominate a cigar as aged.  If you do not nominate then it will be recorded as non aged by default. 

Once emails are sent there will be no alteration to your selections. Late entries will not be accepted. 

 

Enjoy 

 

 

[MoeFOH]

 

 

[Skeng Don]

Lighting up in a few

[Bijan]

Was 60/40 on what it was. After watching the video I'm 100% on it.

Here are my notes (flavours in order)

Cocoa

Coffee

Earth

Chocolate

Cream

Maybe a floral aspect

Maybe honey

Cinnamon?

Herbs

Under medium in strength and 52 minutes smoke time.

[Superhans]

Well that’s my guess for cigar number 1 wrong.

[RichG]

Veiny, oily wrapper. 

Opens bitter, chalky, burnt cocoa with a spicy retro. 

By the first third honey is present on the draw, followed by more burnt cocoa and tannins. 

By the second third the character of the cigar has died down, and it is a more muted version of its prior self. A significantly dry, tannic mouthfeel persists. 

By the final third a bitterness has come to the forefront, and all honey sweetness on the draw has completely faded. I am now smoking burnt toast.

Medium strength. 6.5/10

[ChanceSchmerr]

I'm still trying to figure this one out. For the first third, it was the strongest bloody cigar I've had in years. YEARS! just loads of pepper. 

Calmed down 2nd and last thirds, but what a flavour bomb. 

No idea yet but I do know i want more of these!

[Sir Diggamus]

Cigar number 2 looked much better in appearance than cigar no 1. This one was a Colorado Maduro in color and had hints of cocoa and barnyard pre-light

The first third started off with dark chocolate and hints of berry. The smoke was rich and lush, it coated my tongue completely. Long cocoa finish.

When the second third was just getting underway the chocolate died down some and a sweet banana note emerged for a few puffs replaced quickly by floral and honey notes. A little more chocolate intermingles with the floral notes. The draw was perfect and burn was a little wonky, requiring a few touch ups.

In the last third a earth note comes forward, mixing nicely with the chocolate and floral already present. The floral note fades away slowly and the end of the cigar was marked with the chocolate and earth notes.

This cigar was a powerhouse of flavors. For only resting about 30 days I can imagine it would be stellar if given another month. Box worthy for sure.

91 points








Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Boxer31]

Lit up #2 this past weekend. PCs are not a size that I have a ton of experience with. So upon receiving the pack thought I knew what this one was. But then upon further examination this was not box pressed and a little shorter than my box of 2016. Also not as dark and oily.  The aroma had a very caramel sweetness so thought this could be an aged PLPC but have not had an aged one that so many describe with this flavor. Upon lighting got a heavy dose of cream and chocolate so I am going back to my original pick. Is it aged or not no idea. Very smooth and the chocolate + cream stayed front and center. No bitterness at all. 

[saltbox]

@El Presidente if guesses for #1 are due Nov 14, are guesses for #2 due Nov 21 (and so on for the others)?

[Chucko8]

This one unfortunately really didn’t bond with me. I found it too harsh and put it down at this point.

[Bijan]

18 minutes ago, Chucko8 said:

This one unfortunately really didn’t bond with me. I found it too harsh and put it down at this point.

I'm really starting to think @El Presidente mixed up the 1s and 2s .

I found 1 super strong, and 2 mild or just under medium. But this is the second time I'm hearing someone mention 2 being harsh or strong.

[Edicion]

7 hours ago, Chucko8 said:

This one unfortunately really didn’t bond with me. I found it too harsh and put it down at this point.

Similar experience, I'm pretty sure I got mine from the same box as yours. 

[HuffnPuffff]

I found #one super harsh with a weird marshmallow and fake sugar quality. Bitter in the second half and rather unpleasant. Would have tossed it if not for this game we’re in.
Full notes on #1 are:

Foot looks aged. Pronounced vein on wrapper. Lovely tan colour. Nose touch of nut & biscuit. Slightly tight. Delicious right off the bat. Then a weird chemically marshmallow taste. Was that the Leffe beer pairing (idiotic choice, for which I take full responsibility).

2/3 - Touch of lemon & damson. Tart. Good construction and burn

3/3 - Weird candy floss. Bit of cream. Bit bitter and frankly unpleasant


I found 2 to be an enjoyable, normal cigar. In my opinion likely one of the usual contenders.

[Chucko8]

21 minutes ago, Bijan said:

I'm really starting to think @El Presidente mixed up the 1s and 2s .

I found 1 super strong, and 2 mild or just under medium. But this is the second time I'm hearing someone mention 2 being harsh or strong.

1 for me was medium range and 2 very punchy. Perhaps my taste buds just were off on that Sunday morning.

[Meklown]

9 hours ago, Bijan said:

I found 1 super strong, and 2 mild or just under medium.

2 was definitely stronger for me than 1.

1 tasted close to one of my dailies. no idea what was 2. 

it would, however, probably turn out that 2 is in my daily rotation and 1 isn't ... 

[Edicion]

21 minutes ago, Meklown said:

2 was definitely stronger for me than 1.

1 tasted close to one of my dailies. no idea what was 2. 

it would, however, probably turn out that 2 is in my daily rotation and 1 isn't ... 

I have a very similar impression, we got the cigars from the same box most likely with @Chucko8

[DaBoot]

# 2 was a great cigar!!

 Twang all over the place, sweetness at the light, nice soft leather. Bitter chocolate 

a little rough around the edges, paired it with a bourbon, old forester 1910 rendition ( amazing drinkable bottle).

 

[Chibearsv]

Not a big fan of #2. I got bitter pepper, bit of fruit, and floral.  Tiny bit of sweetness at the end. I think I’ve got a good guess on this one. 

[Zaxeiler]

I might have gotten a rash grubby one here too, making my guess tough. But I did get the “fake sugar” note a few others have referenced. 

[El Presidente]

make sure you smoke cigar 2  and relay your pick by this coming Sunday 21st 

[RDB]

Blind Cigar no.2

Cold draw is snug, rich and slightly sweet, with a touch of dark… chocolate. Beautiful full colorado wrapper. This would be top grade from appearance and unlit aroma.

Light up, first couple of puffs… I’m pretty sure we have here a ***** ****.

It’s brilliant! Young cigar I think. Rich, a touch damp. Perfect snug draw.

Cocoa. Dark rich chocolate. Slightly fruity edge - blue fruit. Well behaved, no rough edges. Just a lovely smoke. 

Putting on weight, touch of coal tar in the mix now. More earth and autumn leaves. I’m smoking it a bit fast maybe. 

One thing I’m less sure of is the age. It’s burning very well, and no harshness. But it’s quite shiny and the draw is firm and it feels moist in the hand. So I’ll stick with young.

Much stronger in the last third. Still consistent profile, and still very good. Darker though, fuller body. Nicotine noticeable.

Very good.

[griller]

My cigar #2 must have been a bunkmate to the cigar smoked by @RDB as my tasting notes are nearly identical. The only additions/observations I'll make:

1) Right off the bat I got 5 minutes of a nuttiness that is akin to the almond flavor that is sometimes found in cigars;

2) Middle third transition unmistakenly bitter chocolate, like what you'd experience with a porter beer;

3) Got the nicotine hit, too. Cigar as a whole was medium bodied but with some strength on the final 3rd;

Really enjoyed this cigar and outside of just a touchup or two upon the ash falling the construction & draw were perfect.

Thanks FOH, really enjoying this blind tasting!

Edited November 18, 2021 by griller
Added pics

[EMC12]

Blind #2 was a tough one for me. 

It was very sharp and tannic right off the bat with a very dry, bitter almond note throughout. It only occasional gave me flavors of sweet spice, cream, or chocolate, but they were few and far between. 

That said, I believe I’ve had this cigar before as I’ve gotten this same profile from several I’ve smoked recently. Others from the same box have been better.

My notes:

1/3 med

Bitter nuts

Tannic

Woody

Touch of Cream

Floral

Little spice

2/3 med+

Milk Chocolate

Bitter almond

3/3 - med+

Floral

Woody

Little spice

 

85-86

[slowsmoke]

#2 was decent for me.  Nice wrapper with some sheen.  Draw was tighter than I prefer.  Needed a couple relights.

First third was just a lot of mongrel.  Tannic.  Biting retro.  On the finish I got some mild cocoa which was pleasant.

Second third mellowed out a bit, some rye toast, and nice baking chocolate.  A little twang with a hint of sweetness.

No significant changes into the last third before I put it out.  Pretty strong at the end.