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Vitola: Sublime
Length: 6.5inch
Ring: 60
Wrapper: Ecuador
Filler: Costa Rica
This is the cigar sample sent to me from our new member Oliverp. Sadly the cigar suffered damage in posting, I took a photo which has disappeared but is in another thread. I will hunt for it after the review.
So this large cigar had a medium to dark wrapper which is remnant of a Cuban LE or RE release. The wrapper has a slight sheen and is fine veined with no discernible teeth. The size makes it a cigar for a free time of about 2 hours to fully appreciate the smoke.
Bud quality seems very good, its a very firm cigar with almost no bend. I'd say this one is a little dry but I have no free time this weekend so today is the day. Oliverp told me to expect a hard cigar and to go with it as it is made firm.
Initially I found the smell of the wrapper to be very subtle and slightly nutty with a hint if biscuit or toast. Cold draw brought more of the same along with some earthiness but very subtle. Some particles of tobacco are drawn into my mouth due to the slightly too dry stick crumbling when cut. Also due to the postman's heavy-handedness.
Once lit the cigar offers a nice plume of blueish smoke. I have to get it in my mouth quite far due to the damage and hold my finger over the crack. The taste is mineral almost coppery along with very subtle nuttiness and a caramel hint. This is a mild cigar.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1403769255.630144.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1403769615.439215.jpg
Burn starts well but suffers some canoeing in the first inch, the ash evens up somewhat but half falls while haft stays. I'd say that given how densely packed this cigar is, the cigar being slightly too dry is a bonus. If I had more I would be keeping them on the dry side but a touch less to aid a good draw which it does deliver. Draw is free flowing with a touch of resistance.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1403770150.801289.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1403770165.188987.jpg
At the second third I needed a delight so ditched the remaining ash which was surprisingly loosely compacted given the firmness dan weight if the cigar. The flavour profile remains minerally and nutty but starts to strengthen as the oils build in the stick. The cigar now has a little give in it but still firm.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1403772679.744119.jpg
At this point I'm starting to lose wrapper flakes farther up the cigar, I definitely think this cigar could use some humidification, its a pleasant smoke and would make a nice evening smoke with some rich brandy.
After the halfway point I get some vegetation/ green taste almost like stinging nettles (in a good way). This is joined by a richer oily tobacco taste and the ever present mineral. The caramel is gone and the cigar takes on a more savoury character. Unfortunately I'm losing the wrapper now and getting smoke is becoming difficult.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1403773914.466631.jpg
The cigar would carry me for a further 40 mins but I'm getting a mouth fill of tobacco so I let it go peacefully to its grave. I feel that the cigar would have done well at a higher humidity but may have lost something from its time at this dryer humidity.
Build /15
The build is very good in appearance and given the correct humidity would have held well to the end. This cigar is a beauty to look at, just what I look for in a large cigar, nice coloured thinly veined wrapper. 13/15
Flavour /25
The cold draw lacked a little in the taste department but the lit smoke was both mild and interestingly flavoured. I did find it a little heavy on the minerals and light on the rich tobacco side. Nutty throughout with appearances from caramel. 18/25
Smoking Characteristics /25
The cigars tendency to drop ash at unpredictable times along with its uneven burn is offset by its good draw and firm build. In the end I'd give it a 20/25
Overall experience /35
I enjoyed this cigar, thought it looked beautiful and produced a good amount of smoke. It had some interesting flavours and gave some different stages which is good. The dryness and tendency to crumble was disappointing but could be attributed to its time in the post. Overall I did get enjoyment from the cigar, I'd like to try one at a higher humidity and would buy others in the range. I'll be interested to know the price point which would allow me to give this final part of the score with price in mind but without that information I give it a 31/35
Total score: 82/100
Length: 6.5inch
Ring: 60
Wrapper: Ecuador
Filler: Costa Rica
This is the cigar sample sent to me from our new member Oliverp. Sadly the cigar suffered damage in posting, I took a photo which has disappeared but is in another thread. I will hunt for it after the review.
So this large cigar had a medium to dark wrapper which is remnant of a Cuban LE or RE release. The wrapper has a slight sheen and is fine veined with no discernible teeth. The size makes it a cigar for a free time of about 2 hours to fully appreciate the smoke.
Bud quality seems very good, its a very firm cigar with almost no bend. I'd say this one is a little dry but I have no free time this weekend so today is the day. Oliverp told me to expect a hard cigar and to go with it as it is made firm.
Initially I found the smell of the wrapper to be very subtle and slightly nutty with a hint if biscuit or toast. Cold draw brought more of the same along with some earthiness but very subtle. Some particles of tobacco are drawn into my mouth due to the slightly too dry stick crumbling when cut. Also due to the postman's heavy-handedness.
Once lit the cigar offers a nice plume of blueish smoke. I have to get it in my mouth quite far due to the damage and hold my finger over the crack. The taste is mineral almost coppery along with very subtle nuttiness and a caramel hint. This is a mild cigar.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1403769255.630144.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1403769615.439215.jpg
Burn starts well but suffers some canoeing in the first inch, the ash evens up somewhat but half falls while haft stays. I'd say that given how densely packed this cigar is, the cigar being slightly too dry is a bonus. If I had more I would be keeping them on the dry side but a touch less to aid a good draw which it does deliver. Draw is free flowing with a touch of resistance.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1403770150.801289.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1403770165.188987.jpg
At the second third I needed a delight so ditched the remaining ash which was surprisingly loosely compacted given the firmness dan weight if the cigar. The flavour profile remains minerally and nutty but starts to strengthen as the oils build in the stick. The cigar now has a little give in it but still firm.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1403772679.744119.jpg
At this point I'm starting to lose wrapper flakes farther up the cigar, I definitely think this cigar could use some humidification, its a pleasant smoke and would make a nice evening smoke with some rich brandy.
After the halfway point I get some vegetation/ green taste almost like stinging nettles (in a good way). This is joined by a richer oily tobacco taste and the ever present mineral. The caramel is gone and the cigar takes on a more savoury character. Unfortunately I'm losing the wrapper now and getting smoke is becoming difficult.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1403773914.466631.jpg
The cigar would carry me for a further 40 mins but I'm getting a mouth fill of tobacco so I let it go peacefully to its grave. I feel that the cigar would have done well at a higher humidity but may have lost something from its time at this dryer humidity.
Build /15
The build is very good in appearance and given the correct humidity would have held well to the end. This cigar is a beauty to look at, just what I look for in a large cigar, nice coloured thinly veined wrapper. 13/15
Flavour /25
The cold draw lacked a little in the taste department but the lit smoke was both mild and interestingly flavoured. I did find it a little heavy on the minerals and light on the rich tobacco side. Nutty throughout with appearances from caramel. 18/25
Smoking Characteristics /25
The cigars tendency to drop ash at unpredictable times along with its uneven burn is offset by its good draw and firm build. In the end I'd give it a 20/25
Overall experience /35
I enjoyed this cigar, thought it looked beautiful and produced a good amount of smoke. It had some interesting flavours and gave some different stages which is good. The dryness and tendency to crumble was disappointing but could be attributed to its time in the post. Overall I did get enjoyment from the cigar, I'd like to try one at a higher humidity and would buy others in the range. I'll be interested to know the price point which would allow me to give this final part of the score with price in mind but without that information I give it a 31/35
Total score: 82/100
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