RealFreakinCigarReviews

Initial Thoughts

First off, I'm not in the best of moods... my comments above are unfortunately accurate.  However, I'm at home, I've got a reasonably large glass of 12 year single malt scotch, and I've got this utterly gorgeous looking cigar waiting to be smoked while the "ops guys" are droning on about this that and the other.  In examining the cigar, I have to say, not a blemish to be found, no soft spots, a truly gorgeous specimen.  This begs the question: Is this stick going to give me the smoking pleasure I'm hoping for, or is it gonna be one of those sticks that looks great and yet somehow manages to not remotely meet the grade.  This quandry in particular, reminds me of a rather interesting disparity I've seen with women... I went to a birthday party that my daughter was invited to, and I got to see artificially (complements of annual sun-tanning passes) aged women, with enough silicone in them to make an entire collection of Barbie dolls... I contrast that with a not so young gal from my past, who at 50 something demonstrated to me personally, that naturally large breasts, physically fit, borderline nymphomaniac and well into middle age were NOT in fact mutually exclusive descriptors.  I digress... with rather fond memories... anyway.... back to reality and this cigar, scotch, and ensuing product deployment.

Sniff test reveals a slightly sweet, earthy smell..

The Smoke

I toasted the foot and lit the cigar with a match after using my guillotine cutter.  I'm gonna be honest here: figurados are not my favorite shape.  However, after a couple of puffs (and recutting as I realized I didn't cut quite enough), I'm rewarded with a very nice, slightly sweet, kiind of leathery and earthy taste.  Excellent complexity, no bitterness, quite smooth.  I had to relight a portion of the cigar, primarily because I initially had only lit the very tip of the foot of the cigar.  I DID in fact say, I don't particularly care for this particular shape of cigar.

At the 1/3rd point, the flavor is a little bit more "full," but not even a hint of bitterness.  Very smooth, very flavorful.  The draw on this thing is nothing short of perfect.  Each puff rewards me with plenty of billowy white, flavorful smoke.  I listen semi-interested on the conference call, as the lead "OPS" folks drone on about what step in the deployment process they're on.  I having more scotch than cigar (my scotch of choice this evening is a 12 year aged glenfiddich single malt... not the best, but certainly not bad).

2/3 or the way, and 40 minutes later, the conference call is droning on.  The cigar is my only actual reprieve from this mind numbing drivel; I continue to be rewarded with a perfect burn, easy draw, and plenty of complex flavor.  I find little nuances to the stick; certainly nothing I'd report as Cigar Affecianado did, but definitely lots of flavor and complexity.  I'll admit, I'm nursing this stogie along, as some sort of existential escape from the various voices on the call... perhaps they're just voices in my head... I'm not sure.

An hour and 15 minutes later, the cigar is done, and the conference call continues.  I can definitely say that this cigar was well worth it, and one I'd definitely recommend.  Make sure that you take the time to relax and enjoy it!

The Rating