Irish Reviews, Amateur Only
90+_Irishman
Posts: 12,409 ✭✭✭✭✭
So since I have finally started to get a palate that is picking up some of the finer notes and being asked by a few people what my tasting on certain sticks has been I figured I would go ahead and load up a VERY amateur review thread. This is mostly for those of us that either ARE noobs, or are growing out of it in terms of taste and knowledge. Once again these are just my notes, and my opinions.... and you know what they say about opinions 
So here goes!
So here goes! "When walking in open territory bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask them to stop. If they do not stop, destroy them."
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Light Up Time: 11:15 am
So here are my tasting notes on the Cruzero:
Started off a little light and slightly toasty, then about a half inch in it started to build in body and went from an ultra mild to now a mild+ with notes of cedar, light leather and some toasted marshmallow and vanilla with some caramel on the retro.
At about 2 inches in it picked a little spice and a very mild white pepper on the retro, the body added a small fresh cut hay flavor that rounded it out really well, and a tinge of oak. The burn at pretty darned sharp, but the draw is a little tight Construction wise, the first ash help for just over 2 inches and I was very impressed with it, the wrapper is a little delicate but I'm used to that with Connecticut shade grown wrappers.
About the halfway point, a creamy heavy cream flavor has started to develop that highlights the marshmallow and vanilla. The smoke gets a richer and thicker texture, and the pepper dies down with a caramelized character starts to build.
About an inch later some almond comes in in a big way that sweetens it up, and the cedar compliments it well. A twinge of mesquite adds to it on the finish and rounds it out.
The last third makes a dramatic change, the heavy cream becomes much more prominent and a slight syrupy sweetness comes out and mixes with a smoky white oak flavor that creates the best balance yet between body and flavor yet in this cigar, really diggin' it now in a big way! The spice gets slightly more intense, while the pepper takes a back seat to what it was earlier.
Right before it hits the band the body jumps up to a medium, and the main flavor becomes a vanilla cream with thicker more chewy smoke. Leather starts to build and the smoky oak becomes more prominent on the retro, honestly very enjoyable.
The final nub gets a little hot and peppery, but still sweet and creamy.
Total smoke time, 2 hrs 15 min.
Final Impression:
I'm not going to do a score breakdown, at least at the moment. I will for a time, rate them simply as 1-5 Tobacco Leaves. 1 being horrible, and 5 being outta this world.
This was a Connie stick... not something I normally go for since I like a very large bodied and large presence stick, however this was very slow burning and actually made me stop and take notice of what it was doing. For being such a mild stick it had a lot of character and went through several changes... something rare IMO for most of the Connie's I've smoked. OVerall I really enjoyed this stick and was glad that I had it earlier than later in the day.
4 Tobacco Leaves
you know what would be cool... if you could find a pic of a tobacco leaf you could do the rating with, kinda like people do with stars... that would be sweet.
Construction: Slight box press with 2 predominate veins. The wrapper has a leathery aspect to it and there is a slight crystallization starting on the wrapper. No soft spots and a bit of a springy feel to the pinch.
Pre-Light: The smell was hay and barnyard with a hint of cedar and honey.
Taste: The lick was somewhat sour/salty but not necessarily in a bad way.
Cut: I used my Xi cutter and when cut the draw was perfect, just a very slight resistance to the pull which I like.
I got a slight peppery blast at first that wasnt all that enjoyable, but the smoke was light and cool with a little bit of hay and young leather that within a few minutes develops into spice and quickly LESS pepper which was welcomed. The retrohale gives what I can only describe as salted-caramel, hazelnut, and some spice with a cocoa aftertaste that lingers a little. After about a half inch honey started to present itself with a more predominate cocoa profile. The smoke is creamy in its texture on the palate but the body of the smoke feels lighter, and an aged leather shows up as an aftertaste slightly. At this point the pepper that started as slightly bitter mellows in a white pepper that balances much better. It finally meets what I feel is a balanced flavor around the 1 mark when a smoky tobacco starts to come to the forefront of the taste as well. Its worth noting that this is very enjoyable and has a great spicy element to it but does NOT have the typical maduro sweetness to it, and in this case alone it works really well! The retrohale develops into a leathery hay and spice combo that sits on the roof of my mouth towards the back of the throat. At the turn into the 2nd quarter the main flavor profile can only be described as a balanced hay and cedar, and it works really well for this stick.
Some vanilla and cream starts to make an appearance and slowly turns into a sweet-cream rich and thick flavor with a little bit of that salt showing back up that goes well with the cream. The ash drops for the first time on its own at the 1.5 mark and stays dense and white/gray with only a little bit of flaking to it. By now the pepper goes away completely and a sweet spice takes its place 100%. BOUNTIFUL smoke is really developing!
3rd Quarter:
The body picks up slightly and goes from a solid medium to MAYBE a very mild medium+, the ash holds firm with more of the same flavor profile with a touch more spice and only a slight bitterness returning. Towards the end of this quarter the bitterness is gradually building (due to tar build-up would be my guess) but so far stays balanced due to some notes of damp rich earth and light hay. 4th Qaurter (Nub):
Final Thoughts:
This was actually the first La Aurora Ive had and it impressed me with the overall construction, quality of the burn, and also the very unique flavors that I was not expecting. It was a really enjoyable smoke and did a great job showing me what this manufacturer might have in store for me and my flavor profile. All in all a solid cigar, but no WOW factor.
RATING: 4 Tobacco Leaves
Appearance: 1 main vein, smooth wrapper, slight marbleization.
Nose: Slight coco, leather, slight hay.
Lick: Nutty and leather VERY good.
Cut Method: Small gauge punch (007).
Dry Draw: Sweet with hay and caramel.
1st light:
Very cocoa sweet, heavy smoke and flavor LOTS of spice, tingles on lips slightly, damp earth and hickory. Average smoke production, slightly tight draw, could be remedied by Xi slice: very thick, creamy smoke feels like you could chew on it. It is not hot, but luke warm smoke that to me is the perfect temp. Ash does NOT hold tight but splits and flakes. No issue with smoke just doesnt look as good. White and charcoal ash color. Becomes a much more balanced flavor, peanut, caramel, mild hay, and rich milk chocolate smoothes out BEAUTIFULLY! After 1st: slight tar build up with small gauge punch, so I guillotine cut with Xikar! Ash falls when cut, draw opens up greatly but still has mild resistance.
1st Quarter:
VERY impressed, very balanced smoke/flavor/body very rich, SMOOTH, creamy chocolate, HAZELNUT, CARAMEL; fantastic flavor. As it develops through the quarter a leather and spice element kicks up and adds a new dimension. One of the smoothest full bodies Ive had at this point in the stick. Burn becomes razor sharp and the oils start to sweat out as the wrapper with the heat, really enjoyable. Hickory jumps out at me and makes a presentation that surprises you in a good way. A new complexity, I was not expecting.
2nd Quarter:
The spice picks up a LOT and makes this a better smoke for my profile but keeps with the balance and I love it! Soon after a white pepper and leather profile makes an appearance. Enjoyable smoke production suddenly DOUBLES and the ash becomes layered and looks like sandstone. Spicier with oak/cedar and leather. TONS more leather, spice, and hickory picks up and makes this a more rounded smoke and flavor and makes it a better stick. 2nd ash falls just before the 2" mark. Smoke is still very cool and thick and rich. Creamy texture to it when in the mouth.
3rd Quarter:
The spiciness picks up but is NOT harsh, leather and cedar become bigger players and the cocoa is only evident on the retro hale. The smoke gets a little warmer and a light bittering develops on the after taste but is getting towards the end of the stick and the tar is building up and I think that is playing a part. Is a very good cigar at this point. Right before the nub, it develops a bittersweet dark chocolate note with oak and a lighter leather. Smoke is still cool while the stick itself is warm. Doing very well as a finish and is VERY good. Surprised and impressed with this is putting it mildly.
4.5 Tobacco leaves! -- Price point helped put to 4.5
Pictures will be edited and added in tomorrow morning!
"Long ashes my friends."
As for the other review I'm doing I'll take a vote and leave it up to you guys, and the choices are: My Father #4 (Lancero), La Sirena (Corona), or Arturo Fuente Maduro (House Blend Specifically for my b&m) Torpedo size, or Illusione MK. Taking votes till about 1-2pm MST. Thanks brothers.