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I had some time to smoke lately and thought long about which one to review next. I ended up picking a Nicarao Especiales after I tried the first a few days earlier already.
It comes from a Robusto Sampler of 12. 4x Especiales, 4x Exclusivo, 4. Classico Anno VI. I'll try to do a review for each of them as they differ a lot.
But now to the Especiales.
For a drink I had a nettle tea, hand foraged from our local park this spring. I added some Amacha from Momo Cha Fine Teas. This sweetens the tea naturally and it gives a very harmonious balance especially when added to herbal teas.
The cigar is very well presented. Fine wrapper, nice shine, nice colour. The draw is very light and the cigar slightly wider than the usual Robusto. From the first puffs on there is a lot of smoke being created. I love it when there is smoke in abundance, especially when it's as nice and yummy as this one.
The first 1/3 is pure sweet caramel with lots of cream and some floral notes. Warm and round but still with a fresh note to is as well. The tea is the perfect companion for these notes.
The ash holds perfectly until the end of the first third. I am not sure what happened here, but as soon as the ash fell off, the cigar became stronger. All the cream was gone and some harsh pepper notes set in. Only very little sweetness left but really overpowered by the harsh tobacco notes.
Maybe I smoked it too hot after the ash fell off? Maybe it was the cigar, I don't know. I'd like to think it was not me. After this rapid change in flavours, the cigar picked up again. I now got nice lether, woody and pepper notes, presented on a generally dark pallet. You could say, the cigar completely switched it's character.
Though it has to be said, the first third was not only very different but also better in quality. The flavours were purere and more complex while the 2/3 was interesting but not as good.
I got a bit bored towards the 3/3rd and the time the last third started, the cigar all of a sudden lost all flavour. Nothing... hot air... maybe a hint of paper in there... nothing at all... :S
WTF is that all about?
The 'empty period' when on for 5 puffs and I was about to put it away in disappointment. But then again, all of a sudden a new burst of flavour. This time a burst of raw cacao and a hint of the sweetness from the 1st third.
As you can see, it was a roller coaster ride. And I will have to smoke some more to see if it was something that could be replicated. I remember from the first one that these cigars are generally on the mild side, yet full of flavour and definately strong on the creamy notes.
A very pleasant smoke and so far my favourite of the sampler. Just for that 1st third alone I'd get a case of them...
It comes from a Robusto Sampler of 12. 4x Especiales, 4x Exclusivo, 4. Classico Anno VI. I'll try to do a review for each of them as they differ a lot.
But now to the Especiales.
For a drink I had a nettle tea, hand foraged from our local park this spring. I added some Amacha from Momo Cha Fine Teas. This sweetens the tea naturally and it gives a very harmonious balance especially when added to herbal teas.
The cigar is very well presented. Fine wrapper, nice shine, nice colour. The draw is very light and the cigar slightly wider than the usual Robusto. From the first puffs on there is a lot of smoke being created. I love it when there is smoke in abundance, especially when it's as nice and yummy as this one.
The first 1/3 is pure sweet caramel with lots of cream and some floral notes. Warm and round but still with a fresh note to is as well. The tea is the perfect companion for these notes.
The ash holds perfectly until the end of the first third. I am not sure what happened here, but as soon as the ash fell off, the cigar became stronger. All the cream was gone and some harsh pepper notes set in. Only very little sweetness left but really overpowered by the harsh tobacco notes.
Maybe I smoked it too hot after the ash fell off? Maybe it was the cigar, I don't know. I'd like to think it was not me. After this rapid change in flavours, the cigar picked up again. I now got nice lether, woody and pepper notes, presented on a generally dark pallet. You could say, the cigar completely switched it's character.
Though it has to be said, the first third was not only very different but also better in quality. The flavours were purere and more complex while the 2/3 was interesting but not as good.
I got a bit bored towards the 3/3rd and the time the last third started, the cigar all of a sudden lost all flavour. Nothing... hot air... maybe a hint of paper in there... nothing at all... :S
WTF is that all about?
The 'empty period' when on for 5 puffs and I was about to put it away in disappointment. But then again, all of a sudden a new burst of flavour. This time a burst of raw cacao and a hint of the sweetness from the 1st third.
As you can see, it was a roller coaster ride. And I will have to smoke some more to see if it was something that could be replicated. I remember from the first one that these cigars are generally on the mild side, yet full of flavour and definately strong on the creamy notes.
A very pleasant smoke and so far my favourite of the sampler. Just for that 1st third alone I'd get a case of them...
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