TacoSauce NC Diary

[TacoSauce]

Davidoff Signature No. 2 (++): I've tried the Aniversario and the Nicaragua blends in the past and didn't think that the experience justified the price. Recent recommendations led me to give Davidoff another try with this Signature blend. Pre-light, the aroma has a very strong baryard aroma. The cold draw is hay and a tiny bit of fruity sweetness. After lighting there is an immediate hit of wood and sweetness -- reminiscent of some Choix Supremes I've had. I get the sense that this is a Dominican cigar, but the classic Dominican bitterness never manifests. Very nice. After an inch and a half, the ash falls off and cigar gets very bitter and nasty. Looking at the ash I see that there is an empty channel running the length of the cigar and this has probably caused an uneven burn. I relight and the nice flavors come back quickly. The sweet woodiness is joined by a light fruitiness and some musty/aged notes. From here on out the burn is very wonky and I'm constantly fighting the effects of the open void in the middle of the cigar. The flavor profile still holds up well despite this. Once I hit the final inch, the sweetness is gone and a strong bitterness dominates, so I stop it there. Construction and performance were terrible, but the flavors were very good. I'm on the fence as to whether I would again pay Davidoff prices for this experience.

[TacoSauce]

Illusione Original Documents ~2~ Belicoso (++): Love a Belicoso sized stick and this one is well packed and feels heavy for its size. The pre light aroma and cold draw are both zesty and give off copious amounts of "pyridine" flavor. Pyridines are a class of compounds that have a pungent aroma somewhere in the vicinity of dirty socks and popcorn. Some of these also taste tingly -- which is a big part of the cold draw. In tobacco, nicotine is the most famous of the pyridine compounds so I wonder if this will be a nicotine heavy stick. After lighting the body is just under medium-full and the initial flavor is that same pyridine profile with some woodiness in the background. Not complex or hugely flavorful, but lots of character and quite satisfying. In the second half some sweetness joins and provides a nice balance that was missing in the first half. Burn and construction are both excellent. The nicotine level is a bit higher than most cigars, but isn't an issue. A nice smoke overall, I'm thinking that the ~eccj~ was a little more interesting, but I would have to smoke a few more of each to nail that down.

[TacoSauce]

Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Calico (++): A beautiful looking stick with a closed foot. Of course, being the idiot that I am, I didn't notice the closed foot until after I had clipped off nearly the entirety of the torpedo tip trying to get the draw to open up. Pre-light, the aroma is of heavy fudge. After lighting the first half inch give off deep chocolate and toasty tobacco flavors. This quickly fades and the next two inches are heavy leather with quite a sour punch -- very similar to the MOFOH Spada Gorda. Just before the half-way point the flavor shifts again with a menthol/cooling flavor now dominating with nice musty tobacco in the background. This final half of the stick was very much the same as the Casdagli Du Boiss, but with a fuller body. The body of this cigar was just over medium for the entire duration. Flavor-wise this stick was all over the place, but that was kind of a fun experience. This stick isn't quite as refined as the Du Boiss, but I would definitely have another one of these.

[TacoSauce]

Plasencia Alma del Fuego Candente (++): I have tried the Cosecha 149 and the Alma del Campo in the past and they didn't make an impression. The Fuego was recommended to me as a different blend that might impress. Taking this stick out of the humidor I notice that botom half of the stick has large wrapper fissures in multiple places. Classic case of an overpacked cigar slowly exploding over time. Judicious application of CigarGlue, followed by a brief rest, put this stick back in smoking shape. After lighting, this cigar opens just over medium bodied. Nice flavor right from the start which is all pencil shavings. I'm talking about the old style pencils that were made from aromatic cedar. There is also a light note of coffee grounds. The intensity builds quickly and by the half-way point the body is just over medium-full. In the final third some burnt flavors join, but the main flavor is still pencil shavings. It is full bodied by the end. This stick is a little more intense than what I like, but is very flavorful. Best of Plasencia so far and I would not object to having another, but at $16 a stick I won't be seeking it out.

[TacoSauce]

Espinosa Laranja Reserva Lancero (++): Picked this one up at random at a local lounge. A great looking lancero with minimal aroma or cold draw. After lighting, The initial flavor is all black pepper, but it doesn't overwhelm -- more the flavor rather than a spice kick. Black pepper will remain the core flavor for the remainder of the cigar. The burn is a little wonky due to an empty channel running the whole length of the cigar. This further manifests in the cigar not staying "at temperature." It doesn't extinguish, but it dies down substantially between each puff. This is a problem because the magic with this cigar is when it gets up to temp. At temp, there is a crazy amount of thick smoke and a bread pudding like flavor. If this had been consistent throughout, I can only imagine how amazing it would have been. Unfortunately the stick I had was a bit of a dud from a construction perspective. I will definitely seek out another to try again.

[TacoSauce]

La Palina Family Series Miami Babe (+): I'm a fan of La Palina's rosado sticks. They have a nice flavor with a mild-medium delivery. I got this stick to see what Palina delivers in a higher-tier stick. The aroma from the wrapper is pungent, sort of like varnished wood. The cold draw gives off a slightly sweet note. After lighting, the stick opens at a medium-full body. There is a little pepper and a lot of intense, zingy bitterness. This profile lasts for the first inch and a half. I can feel my mind becoming very alert suggesting there is a higher-than-normal nicotine level here. At the half-way point, the body is down to medium body and the intensity is gone. The flavor is now creamy, buttery, and bready with a nice sweetness. This continues for the remainder of the stick. However, by the end of the smoke, the body is down to mild-medium. This is the first cigar I've come across that seems to smoke in reverse, starting medium-full and ending mild-medium. There is some good flavor here, but I didn't really enjoy the reverse experience. I think I'll stick with the cheaper, standard Palina blends.
 

[TacoSauce]

Quesada 1974 Robusto (+++): Not sure how I ended up with this single. Perhaps a vendor swapped it in for an out-of-stock stick in one of my older orders. I've never heard of this brand before so I went into this without any idea of what I would be getting. Not much coming from the cold draw or the pre-light aroma. After lighting, the body is just over medium-full and there is a nice toasty bread over a woody core. After the first inch some of the intensity subsides and the body is now just under medium-full. Some sweetness joins and some walnut notes. Great flavor delivery all the way until the end of the smoke. While the flavor profile is different, the delivery and bolder body reminds me somewhat of the RoMa Craft Intemperance BA XXI -- another very satisfying smoke at the above-medium level.

[TacoSauce]

Liga Undercrown Shade Corona (++): This is my second review of this line. My first review was only a partial review due to the smoke session being cut short by rain. A nice looking CT stick with an aroma of barnyard and a hint of apple juice. Really smells delicious. After lighting I can again make an immediate comparison to a Monte Edmundo with predominant wood and chocolate milk flavors. The chocolate flavor drops out after the first 3/4 inch and only the woodiness remains until the half-way point. Then a sweet caramel flavor joins which balances out the wood. Once I hit the final inch and a half, the stick lost the flavor balance and became a bit bitter. I think this is the closest NC I've had that compares to the Edmundo -- at least during the first part of the cigar while the chocolate flavor lasts. Unfortunately for me, the Edmundo is my least favorite Monte, so this isn't a huge win. However, the similarity is enough for me to recommend this to any CC smoker.

[TacoSauce]

Plasencia Alma Fuerte Robustus (+): The Fuerte was recommended to me (along with the Fuego) as a Plasencia blend that might impress. A nice dark looking stick. Not much in the way of pre-light aroma or cold draw. After lighting, this cigar opens at a medium-full level. The initial flavor is that of a flourless chocolate brownie with a melted caramel toffee center. A nice opener! This only lasts for about the first 3/4 inch. Then it mellows a bit and the main flavor shifts to toasted pencil shavings. This is very similar to the Alma de Fuego, except with a toasted character and a stronger delivery. I suspect that this is the same blend as the Fuego, but with a different, stronger wrapper. In the final third some sweetness joins and the flavor profile shifts slightly back to dessert-like. But it is a bit weird since it is a dessert built of pencil shavings. It is almost full bodied by the end. This is a bit too full-bodied for me. I liked the Fuego better.

[TacoSauce]

El Rey del Mundo Robusto Oscuro (+): I have reviewed the natural wrapper version of the ERdM previously and I loved it for its sweet cedar and cinnamon profile. Now on to the maduro version. Absolutely nothing on the pre-light aroma or cold-draw. After lighting, the body is just under medium and the sweet cedar flavor is immediately present along with a deep earthy flavor that was absent in the natural version. This combination is very nice and was maintained for the first half. At the half-way point a bitter woodiness started to creep in which ruined the great experience from the first half. This bitterness increased over time and I ended up ditching the stick in the final third. I would stick with the natural wrapper for these NC ERdM.

[TacoSauce]

Vega Fina 1998 VF (+): A nice looking short robusto, with a delicious pre-light aroma and cold draw. Lots of dried fruit and dark wood. After lighting the body is medium-full and the flavor is dark wood and aged tobacco. The experience is slightly confusing because the flavor deliver is at a medium-body level, but there is a sharpness/bitterness/tanginess that is intense and makes the overall experience medium-full. I wish the intense portion would be removed and I could just enjoy this cigar at the medium level. Construction and performance were excellent. Very slow burn even with an open draw. The cigar consistently delivers this profile for the entire smoke. After finishing, there is a great aftertaste left in my mouth. This stick was simultaneous very satisfying, yet too intense for me to want to revisit. I would be interested in trying something else in the VegaFina line instead.

[TacoSauce]

Rojas Statement Corona Gorda Maduro (+): A 6 x 46 stick is a great size. Rojas makes it their purpose to target smaller ring gauges and for that I am thankful. I'm not a maduro guy, but I still seem to end up ordering the occasional maduro single to try out new things. This stick needed a quick PerfectDraw treatment to fix a snug draw, but it opened up nicely after only one application. Pre-light, the aroma was reminiscent of a woodworking shop -- lots of potent and interesting wood odors. After lighting, the first half of this stick had a profile of light earth and tobacco. Easy to retrohale with a body just above medium. Enjoyable, but nothing notable enough to keep the attention. It is the kind of cigar that you end up not paying too much attention to because it isn't offering anything of particular interest. In the final third, a little sweetness and the occasional note of old books joined and made it a bit more interesting. This darker profile delivered near a medium body might appeal to someone, but that someone isn't me.

[TacoSauce]

Montecristo White Label Especial No. 3 (+): A nice looking corona-sized stick. The pre-light aroma has an enticing acidity / tanginess. I don't get much from the cold-draw. After lighting, the cigar opens with a mild body and the flavor is a light woodiness and a touch of white pepper. After the first 3/4 inch a nice minerally white wine flavor joins. The overall experience has a refined quality, but is too mild to keep my interest. With two inches left, the flavor muddles and flatlines. I can't find any reason to keep smoking at this point and so I tossed it. This cigar gets a final rating of "+", but it is just barely above a "-".

[TacoSauce]

Espinosa Habano Lancero (+): Picked this one up at at a local lounge based on a good previous experience with the Laranja lancero. A great looking lancero with minimal aroma or cold draw. After lighting, The initial flavor is all black pepper and reminds me a lot of the Laranja blend. I think this might be Espinosa's signature? It is interesting and isn't overwhelming. The pepper is quickly overshadowed by a pencil shavings flavor. Not an old-school cedar pencil like you get with the Plasencia Alma del Fuego, but a more modern pencil where the cedar has been replaced by a cheaper, less aromatic wood. At the half way point some caramel joins and the experience is nice. Excellent construction and a lot of thick smoke. This was a nice experience, but I think the Laranja blend is better than this and so I will further explore the Laranja in the future over this blend.
 

[TacoSauce]

Rojas Unfinished Business Mareva (++): A dark looking, petite corona sized stick with a woody aroma. After lighting, the body opens at medium-full and the flavor is a nice blend of fudge and wood. This is consistent for the first half. These flavors disappear in the second half replaced by a combo of charcoal and black coffee. This was a nice, flavorful experience overall. I would definitely have another of these even though the body is fuller than what I typically enjoy.

[TacoSauce]

Black Works Studio Green Hornet Corona Larga (++): An interesting looking stick with a spiral of green candela wrapper at the cap and also as a thin band at the foot of the cigar. The pre-light aroma is rich and is evocative of library room in an old manor -- packed with books and copious amount of melted wax from long burned candles. The cold draw is a bit tangy and spicy like a young red wine. After lighting, the cigar opens at a medium body and the first third has notes of wood and paper with no sweetness. The second third has some sweetness and a little toasted bread joining. In the final third, there is a predominate sweet graham cracker flavor and the body ramps up to just over medium-full. Burn is quite slow and construction and burn are excellent throughout. At the final inch and a bit there was quite a bit of ammonia, so I ended it there. This cigar had a nice evolution and was a pleasure to smoke. Only thing keeping it from a '+++' was the harsh ammonia ending. Recommended.

[KCCubano]

9 hours ago, TacoSauce said:

Black Works Studio Green Hornet Corona Larga (++): An interesting looking stick with a spiral of green candela wrapper at the cap and also as a thin band at the foot of the cigar. The pre-light aroma is rich and is evocative of library room in an old manor -- packed with books and copious amount of melted wax from long burned candles. The cold draw is a bit tangy and spicy like a young red wine. After lighting, the cigar opens at a medium body and the first third has notes of wood and paper with no sweetness. The second third has some sweetness and a little toasted bread joining. In the final third, there is a predominate sweet graham cracker flavor and the body ramps up to just over medium-full. Burn is quite slow and construction and burn are excellent throughout. At the final inch and a bit there was quite a bit of ammonia, so I ended it there. This cigar had a nice evolution and was a pleasure to smoke. Only thing keeping it from a '+++' was the harsh ammonia ending. Recommended.

I heard the Lancero is very good. Its been on my radar. 

[TacoSauce]

16 hours ago, KCCubano said:

I heard the Lancero is very good. Its been on my radar. 

You've convinced me; I'm adding the lancero to my next singles order if I can find it.

[TacoSauce]

Caldwell 22 Minutes to Midnight Connecticut Radiante Corona Deluxe (+): A 46 ring gauge CT stick. Looks great. Pre-light aroma and cold draw are just light baryard and straw. After lighting the body opens just over medium. The flavor is mostly light woodiness, some light white pepper, and a decent dose of sharp tingling on the tongue. Like most Caldwell sticks, there is no sweetness anywhere. Thankfully there is only a hint of bitterness, so the lack of sweetness isn't a problem. The only change in profile is in the final third where there is a 5 minute window of some slightly sweet molasses notes, but that shows up and is gone in a flash. Construction and burn were great, especially considering I was fighting some serious wind gusts at one point.  Overall though, just not a very interesting stick.

[TacoSauce]

Oliva Master Blends 3 Robusto (+++): A dark looking, oval shaped robusto. Obviously some sort of "press" on this stick, but the shape is definitely oval and not rectangular like you would expect from a box-press. Pre-light aroma and cold draw are both strong and pungent barnyard. After lighting, the stick opens just under medium-full. This cigar is a bit of a mystery as it seems to smoke near the medium-full level for the entire time, yet the experience is simultaneously that of a medium bodied cigar. The cigar retrohales like a medium bodied cigar and the overall flavor delivery is that of a medium bodied cigar. I can't explain how it can both be medium-full and medium at the same time. To make this review even more useless, I can't describe any of the flavor notes other than there seems to be a consistent red raspberry flavor; but at the same time there is no hint of fruit or sweetness. How is that even possible? Perhaps the best way to describe the flavor is that it tastes kind of like the fog that comes out of a theatrical fog machine. That fog also has some hint of berry, but no actual taste of real fruit. So to summarize, I can't describe this cigar at all, yet I thought it was fantastic. 

[TacoSauce]

Rocky Patel Vintage 2006 Churchill (+++): A glorious looking, slightly reddish stick which, according to the label, has a San Andreas wrapper. Pre-light aroma and cold draw both have a slight floral note along the lines of faint orange blossom. Very nice. After lighting I am immediately confused. I get a big mouthful of Nicaraguan flavors. How can that be when RPs are Honduran cigars? I was expecting the muddled, earthy profile that every RP has, but this was waaaaaaay different. Apparently Rocky started making Nicaraguan cigars at some point and I missed the memo. There is some Nicaraguan spice, but it is mild and manageable. The retrohale stings a bit at first but quickly mellows out after the first half inch. The flavor is a little wood, a lot of smooth leather, and a nice dose of dried cherries at the edges. Fully medium for the entire smoke. I smoked through the entire Churchill (a larger-than-normal size for me) and was already excited about when I could have another. Not hugely complex, yet still an excellent blend. I swear that I've had a cigar with a nearly identical profile in the past, but I can't remember what it was. Not Cuban-like, but recommended.

[TacoSauce]

Flor De D'Crossier Selection 512 Habano Corona Gorda (-): I had a recommendation to check out D'Crossier cigars and so purchased this single. It was only $2.82 so I wasn't sure what to expect. Pre-light aroma and cold draw both reminded me or recently worn sneakers. Not gross, but a bit strange. After lighting, there was some good, yet muddled woody flavor with a little bit of earth. After the first inch and a half, however, the body quickly ramped up to over medium-full and an unpleasant sourness joined. Pretty nasty, so I tossed the stick. Maybe this is a short filler or machine made cigar?

[TacoSauce]

Foundation Highclere Castle Victorian Petite Corona (++): A nice looking little stick. Not much in the way of pre-light aroma or cold draw. After lighting, the body is solidly medium and there is a good woody flavor with a bit of mustiness. In the second half, some swetness joins along with the occasional butter note. A nice, refined experience. The stick got harsh with one inch remaining, so I ended it there. I liked this stick. I have smoked one of the Edwardian versions of this blend before, but I don't remember the profile well enough to make a solid comparison; that being said, I think I like the Victorian better.
 

[TacoSauce]

Sanj Patel SP1014 Red Love & Passion Lancero (+): A nice looking lancero with a slight sweet smell on the wrapper and a slight wine note on the cold draw. After lighting the cigar opens at a meduim body with a toasted tobacco flavor and a nice woody core. The wood flavor isn't quite cedar, but definitely has some aromatic character. The profile stays constant until the last 3 inches, where quite a bit of ammonia joins. Initially the ammonia was masked well by the other flavors, but at the 2 inch point it became overwhelming and I put the cigar down at this point. A decent stick, but nothing stood out enough for me to want to have another.

[TacoSauce]

Warped The Devil's Hands (++): Coming in at 44 x 6", this is a fantastic sized stick. After lighting, the cigar opens just over medium and immediately delivers the same green, vegetal flavor that I got from the La Colmena. It is a strange, spiky, alien plant flavor that doesn't seem like tobacco -- maybe more like smoking a cactus or aloe vera. Gratifyingly, it is much less strong in this stick as compared to La Colmena. After 3/4 inches the body retreats to medium and the vegetal flavor is joined by a heavy dose of burnt toast. A sweetness also joins which  balances the flavor profile out nicely. This is the profile for the rest of the stick and is quite enjoyable. This stick doesn't eclipse the Maestro, Cloud Hopper or Hacienda in the Warped line, but I would definitely have another of these.