TacoSauce NC Diary

[TacoSauce]

Sanj Patel Industry Killer [Original] Toro Maduro (++): A gigantic stick. I can't find the dimensions listed online, but this seems like a 52 x 6 stick. Pre light aroma is of strong leather. The cold draw gives no specific notes (closed foot), but there is an oil on the wrapper that is intensely tangy and sour. After lighting, the body is medium and the flavor is earth with a sour tanginess and some sweetness. This profile is consistent throughout with a refined mustiness joining in the second third. Of note, this is a solidly constructed cigar. Thankfully this doesn't impact the draw. The burn is slooooow and the burn line is tight and even for the entire smoke. One of the better maduros I've had. The only things keeping this cigar from getting the extra '+' is the fact the flavor of the  Industry Killer Deluxe maduro was even better and the fact that this comically large vitola is the only size in which this blend is available.

[TacoSauce]

Foundation Charter Oak Pegnataro (+): 5 1/2 x 48 -- a nice size. The pre-light aroma and cold draw were both very faint and had only a hint of tortilla chip. The draw was wide open -- worryingly so. After lighting, the cigar opened with mild-medium flavor delivery, but an overall medium body due to an intensity of the smoke itself. The flavor was dry wood and a slight nuttiness. Slow puffs were necessary to keep it from overheating. At times it overheated anyway. At the start of the second third, some wet fruit joined on the edges which made it a little more interesting. With 2 inches remaining it became very bitter and it was tossed at this point.

[TacoSauce]

Sanj Patel SP1014 Black 7x54 (+): My second tasting of a stick in this line. Previously I have tried the robusto. First off, this is a stupidly large stick. I got this in a sampler, so didn't explicitly choose this size. Not much off the pre-light aroma. The cold draw had a slight sweet note, but not much else. After lighting, the cigar opened at mild-medium and the flavor notes were wood and bread with a tiny bit of sweetness. A nice flavor profile. This profile stayed the same throughout the smoke, but the intensity grew to medium by the half-way point. In the final third the experience had settled on a nice english muffin with the occasional honey note. This was a very nice flavor experience -- way better than the robusto, however the size of the stick just made me mad and I wouldn't have this again.

[TacoSauce]

Foundation Aksum Claro Corona Gorda (+): Another Foundation stick. This one had no notable aroma pre-light and the cold draw had only a faint oriental pipe tobacco note. After lighting, the cigar opened with a medium body and the flavor was dry wood, leather, and a sourness coming from the wrapper. This flavor profile remained the same for the entire smoke and the body reached medium-full from the half-way point to the end. Nothing overly pleasant or unpleasant with this stick. A quintessentially unremarkable stick. I don't need to revisit this one.

[TacoSauce]

Foundation Menelik Petite Robusto (+): A dark stick with an impressive pigtail cap. Pre-light aroma was pungent dark tree bark and earth. The cold draw was wide open and had a faint cocoa note. After lighting the cigar opened with a medium-full body and the flavor was earth, wood bark and occasional notes of cocoa -- exactly matching the pre-light profile. The flavor profile stayed consistent throughout the smoke with the body flitting between medium-full and full. While this had some interesting flavors, overall it was a bit too intense for my liking. I won't be revisiting this one.

[TacoSauce]

Tatuaje Black Petite Corona (+): A tiny 4 x 40 stick with a closed foot -- truly an NC short smoke. Pre-light aroma had a hint of leather and there was noting notable on the cold draw. After lighting, the stick opened at a medium body with a manageable retrohale. The flavor was the classic Tatuaje corn chip flavor, but more burnt tasting than normal. Also dry wood. Not a smidgeon of sweetness anywhere. This was the profile for the entirety of the short stick. While it wasn't bad, there wasn't any part of it (other than the construction) that was good. Despite having taken good care of this stick, it sort of felt like I was smoking a cigar that had been left to dry out in an unhumidified humidor for a year. As I smoked, I kept thinking I should toss the stick, but it was short enough, and not quite offensive enough, for me to make that move.

[TacoSauce]

Davidoff Yamasa Robusto (+++): A new Davidoff to me. This one has a dark brown, but not quite oscuro, wrapper. This one is supposed to have tobacco grown in the swamp regions of the Dominican Republic. Pre-light aroma kind of smells swampy -- but that is the power of suggestion paying a big role here. The cold draw is open and reminds me of old library books. After lighting, the cigar opens with a medium-full body and the flavor is earth and a certain tobacco flavor that I get from some Virginia pipe tobaccos. Once I get into the second third, a slightly burnt pastry note joins along with a sweetness that occasionally manifests as a toffee note. At this point there is a lot of smooth mustiness that makes this a refined experience. The burn and construction were flawless and impressive. Once I hit the final inch it became a little too burnt tasting and so I stopped it there. Davidoff is a brand that has failed to impress me so far, however this blend is excellent.

[TacoSauce]

Bond Roberts - Petit 109 Linea D No.06 (++): My first tasting of these after letting them rest for 3 weeks. A nice looking stick and it feels larger in the hand than it looks. Pre-light aroma has a light leather scent. Nothing notable coming off the cold draw. After lighting, the cigar opened at mild-medium and the predominate flavor was of light leather. After the first inch, a well-aged mustiness joined and a touch of sweetness. At this point toasted bread crust and the occasional note of raspberry joined at the edges. This flavor profile was maintained through the rest of the smoke. By the end, the body was just over medium. Construction, draw, and smoke output were top notch for the whole duration. Further, I this was my first experience with this type of modified belicoso tip. I loved it. Way better than both parejo and pyramid tipped cigars.

[TacoSauce]

Ramon Allones by AJ Fernandez Robusto (+): This is an impressive looking stick. It is dark, dark brown and is rolled as a solid and perfect cylinder with no seams or imperfections. Pre-light aroma is rich wood. Nothing much on the cold draw. After lighting, the cigar opens with a medium body, however the flavors are only delivered at a mild level. For the first third the flavors are mild wood and light coffee. Remarkably uninteresting. I almost tossed the stick the this point because washing the dishes, vacuuming, or getting an early start on my taxes all seemed like more interesting options. The only redeeming feature was that there was a nice rosado note on the retrohale. I persevered and was rewarded starting in the second third where the flavors intensified to a medium level -- matching the overall body. Still mostly wood and coffee notes, but it was joined by some sweetness to round out the profile. The burn and construction were top notch and it was visually very pleasing to see the bright white ash contrasted against the dark wrapper. No additional changes through to the end.

[TacoSauce]

E.P. Carillo Short Run 2023 (++): This was recommended by @HoyoFan. A robusto-sized stick with a pre-light aroma that smells like any stick you might pick up from your lawn. Nothing notable on the cold draw. After lighting, the cigar opens at a medium body and the flavor is wood and nuts -- a great combo. In the second third, there is a slight sweetness and a dried plum note that joins at the edges. This profile is maintained until the end. Great construction and burn throughout, however it burned fasted than expected. Very flavorful and a recommended smoke.

[TacoSauce]

My Father Fonseca Cosacos (+++): I learned a long time ago not to buy any NC that borrows its name from Cuban Marcas. However, I noticed that the MyFather Fonsecas seemed to sell out fast whenever certain online retailers would put them up for sale. My curiosity piqued, I picked up a single. It even has the same vitola name as its Cuban counterpart. Pre-light aroma and cold draw both had a strong note of burnt corn chips and dirt. After lighting, the cigar opened just under medium bodied and the flavor was sweet wood with a fantastic retrohale. In the second third some occasional notes of almond butter and sweet tea joined. This was so enjoyable that I smoked it very quickly. Construction and burn had no issues with my aggressive pace. Finally, while this stick wasn't a doppelganger of the Cuban Cosacos by any stretch, it is probably has the closest profile to its Cuban counterpart than any other Cuban-named NC stick I've tried. I'm going to get my hands on the darker "MX" blend in this line next. A strong recommend for a cigar on the milder side of medium.

[TacoSauce]

San Lotano Requiem Habano Robusto (+): Wow, this is a solidly built stick. A perfect roll and SOLID! The pre-light aroma and cold draw both reminded me somewhat of that smell you find in aquariums: vaguely of fish and sea creatures. After lighting, the cigar opened at a medium intensity, but the flavor delivery was only at a mild-medium level. The retrohale was mostly tolerable, but didn't really add that much flavor-wise. The flavor notes were burnt toast and grilled aloe vera. This was consistent until the final third, where a little sweetness and aged tobacco joined. Overall, this was a forgettable cigar.