Salem's Lot, a noob's review and reflections
Salem
Posts: 717
I know there are many review posts here, but I wanted to do one from a very new noob's point of view. I don't know about the rest of the noobs here, but my pallet is not well developed yet, I don't know the wrappers, names of sizes etc. All I know is the name of the cigar and the taste, and whether I like it or not. This is a post where I want to post my thoughts on the cigars I smoke and I want other noobs to as well. Also, I want it to show how we will grow in our knowledge of cigars, and their wrappers, and sizes and anything else. I want this to be a post of progression for all us noobs and I think there are a lot of us.....Salem's lot...of reviews. So let it begin:
Today I smoked an A. Fuente Gran Reserva. It was a very short cigar. The appearance was a dark chocolate color. The smell was earthy. It cut easily and tasted very good pre-light at the mouth. This was the easiest to light of any cigar I have ever lit. Or it might be due to my trusty new Xikar lighter, I don't know. It lit easily and evenly and stayed even throughout the smoke.
Once lit, the draw was easy, but firm. No problem there. The taste of the cigar was of deep leather and some hints of pepper. I found it rather bold and it was a nice surprise. To me, it was the boldest cigar I have yet to smoke, but it was not overpowering. On into the smoke, surprisingly, it became a little more mellow, especially after the first ash came off.
All too soon, it was finished and I had to put it out. It was an excellent cigar and experience. I'm looking forward to my next A. Fuente!
Today I smoked an A. Fuente Gran Reserva. It was a very short cigar. The appearance was a dark chocolate color. The smell was earthy. It cut easily and tasted very good pre-light at the mouth. This was the easiest to light of any cigar I have ever lit. Or it might be due to my trusty new Xikar lighter, I don't know. It lit easily and evenly and stayed even throughout the smoke.
Once lit, the draw was easy, but firm. No problem there. The taste of the cigar was of deep leather and some hints of pepper. I found it rather bold and it was a nice surprise. To me, it was the boldest cigar I have yet to smoke, but it was not overpowering. On into the smoke, surprisingly, it became a little more mellow, especially after the first ash came off.
All too soon, it was finished and I had to put it out. It was an excellent cigar and experience. I'm looking forward to my next A. Fuente!
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Comments
The classic AF are just the red and gold bands with a little bit of green. Usually has a cedar sleeve with a green ribbon. AF Sungrown is the red and gold band with a bit of black with a black ribbon under the cedar sleeve (though the sungrown is usually a parejo and not a perfecto). AF Magnum R is red and gold with more red and gold under the words "Rosado Gran Reserva". AF Hemingway is the same band as the classic AF, but all Hemingways are perfectos (though like Fuentejps said, it may be rebanded now).
The cigar in the picture above is a Hemingway Short Story. The only perfectos Fuente makes are the Hemingways.
I did a pretty long write up that should help you figure out what Fuente you have... A few posts down
".What goes into the perfect Short Story or any Fuente Hemingway? It starts with a select blend of Dominican leaves used for the filler and binder. You can almost taste the way of life enjoyed here in each puff relaxed, familial, warm, and easy. These perfectos offer up a sumptuous feast of woody undertones overlaid with earthy nutmeg, cinnamon, and the aroma of a freshly cut hayfield. The Cameroon wrapper completes a well-balanced palate with a bit of spice that lingers, inviting the smoker to cool it off with a mouthful of a favorite complementary beverage. Maduro wrappers are used, too, but in very limited production, and are hard to find, though highly sought and enjoyed for their more robust flavor. Keep your eyes open around Christmas and again at Fathers Day, when the Fuentes obligingly open the vault and let a few more escape to the utter satisfaction of those who consume them."
Just posted one on the Unholy Cocktail I had earlier this afternoon. Thanks for the invitation to mangle your thread with my mindless rantings.
Almost, Salem, but I was wearing my big-boy pants and managed to come out on top!
Well, I did have to pull them back up after this stick nearly spanked me but I got in the lucky kick and won...
Man O' War Puro Authentico
Nice aroma of leather and black pepper. Smooth, almost seamless wrapper. Really dig the pigtail and shaggy foot. Clipped with my Colibra Firebird cutter, thanks to my buddy Brian. Super easy, open pre-light draw that left a taste of cedar on the lips.
Toasting the foot gave off hints of wood and spice. A few puffs to get it lit and we're off! After a minute or so to rest, the first draw hits like a ton of bricks! I definitely wasn't expecting this much body from a Corona size cigar. Thick, creamy, almost chewy smoke that hangs in the air until the breeze blows it away. I perceived notes of leather, black pepper, spices and a mild sweetness on the finish, sorta uncommon with a Habano wrapper I believe. The silvery ash held on until at least 2" into the stick before letting gravity have its way.
The middle of the stick held just as much power as the first third, in all actuality the PA held its own throughout the entire stick. After the middle third, the flavors were still as intense as on the first draw but are now becoming smoother and more blended. Unfortunately for me, the party ended all too soon as I put the 1-1/2" nub in the ashtray.
I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience with the MoWPA and hope to revisit it again, soon. This one had about 2-3 weeks in the humidor, but I'm curious to see how much the flavors change after a few months or even a year.
I know this sounds terrible, but I honestly can't remember who sent this one to me... I've gotten a few packages in the last bit and I neglected to write anything down. Sorry, whoever donated this...
I've had this one resting for a week or so and my curiosity finally got the best of me. A pre-light sniff revealed a hint of... ammonia! GASP!! Say it ain't so, A. J.! Not to be deterred, I clipped the head with my Colibri Firebird and set it down to rest while the pot filled with freshly ground Sumatran coffee. The "dry" draw left hints of earth and cedar behind. Hey, this is getting better!
Toasting the foot brought out more cedar and the sweet aroma of leather. All this one needed was a few puffs to bring on the aforementioned flavors, and then some. I discovered leather(most predominant), cedar, earth and a little oak. I was amazed at the amount of smoke such a small stick could produce.
The first 1/3 was exquisite. A nice silvery ash that refused to fall until well into the second 1/3 of the smoke. By now, the flavors had started to blend into a taste experience like no other I've encountered. This Corona held it's own compared to other, bigger, vitolas of similar blending. I smoked it down to around 1" and was a bit sad when I had to put it down because my fingers were getting a bit scorched. It paired excellently with the coffee I was drinking and should go pretty well with a small batch bourbon or good single malt. This is an exceptional smoke anytime of the day. I believe an order is in my future...
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by them. Gonna be placing an order for a box very soon.