Jose L Piedra Conservas
Size: 144mm x 44 ? Conservas
Smoke time: 1 hour 15mins.
5 x 5 Pack date. JUL 2010
Handmade these days and using short filler tobaccos from the ?lesser? Vuelta Arriba, the Conservas are sometimes and incorrectly referred to as being ?Country Cigars?. They are not, their price though relatively cheap by Havana cigar standards is still out of reach to the Cuban man-on-the-street. Cuban Second Team might be a better description, although in saying that Piedra are a Global brand with several vitola in the top-selling list. Piedra production quality is ?what it is?, so the odd human nasal hair or cockroach leg is not to be unexpected.
Appearance: Rustic, earth brown, rough toothed wrapper with several prominent veins. The cigar was nicely rolled and packed with the wrapper folded over the head, and so no visible cap type.
Construction: Pretty good. A little spongy, but I think that was my fault, I keep them in a Kilner and against all Forum advice I introduced a humi-pillow. Tightish draw, which again I think was down to over-humidification. Straight, even burn, compact firm ash. Four tap-offs, no re-lights or correction required.
Flavour: Pre-draw aroma is earthy hays and tobacco. The initial flavor was toasted/roasted tobacco with a distinct saltiness. A few puffs and the flavour became woody and sweeter as the Cuban ?twang? kicked-in. The ?twang? was interesting, varying from sweet sherbet to a sharp, citric sourness which put me in mind of crab apples. The short filler construction pretty much determined a lack of flavours evolution through thirds. The flavours which I?ve already describe are constant, very acceptable and basic to the smoke with some margin of strengthening nearing the end.
Overall: I like this cigar. I call them my decoy smoke and smoke them when I don?t feel like concentrating or don?t believe the time or opportunity is right for one of my better regarded or expensive Cubans. They?re a ?Starbucks? smoke, perfect for a long break, at a price point that won?t see you wrong ... and will certainly taste a lot better than the coffee!
Size: 144mm x 44 ? Conservas
Smoke time: 1 hour 15mins.
5 x 5 Pack date. JUL 2010
Handmade these days and using short filler tobaccos from the ?lesser? Vuelta Arriba, the Conservas are sometimes and incorrectly referred to as being ?Country Cigars?. They are not, their price though relatively cheap by Havana cigar standards is still out of reach to the Cuban man-on-the-street. Cuban Second Team might be a better description, although in saying that Piedra are a Global brand with several vitola in the top-selling list. Piedra production quality is ?what it is?, so the odd human nasal hair or cockroach leg is not to be unexpected.
Appearance: Rustic, earth brown, rough toothed wrapper with several prominent veins. The cigar was nicely rolled and packed with the wrapper folded over the head, and so no visible cap type.
Construction: Pretty good. A little spongy, but I think that was my fault, I keep them in a Kilner and against all Forum advice I introduced a humi-pillow. Tightish draw, which again I think was down to over-humidification. Straight, even burn, compact firm ash. Four tap-offs, no re-lights or correction required.
Flavour: Pre-draw aroma is earthy hays and tobacco. The initial flavor was toasted/roasted tobacco with a distinct saltiness. A few puffs and the flavour became woody and sweeter as the Cuban ?twang? kicked-in. The ?twang? was interesting, varying from sweet sherbet to a sharp, citric sourness which put me in mind of crab apples. The short filler construction pretty much determined a lack of flavours evolution through thirds. The flavours which I?ve already describe are constant, very acceptable and basic to the smoke with some margin of strengthening nearing the end.
Overall: I like this cigar. I call them my decoy smoke and smoke them when I don?t feel like concentrating or don?t believe the time or opportunity is right for one of my better regarded or expensive Cubans. They?re a ?Starbucks? smoke, perfect for a long break, at a price point that won?t see you wrong ... and will certainly taste a lot better than the coffee!
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