Project X: Offering 2 Serie II - Blind Cigar Review (Saison by Oliva First Harvest 2009)

'Natch by now, I will break down flavors into categories as you will see below. I then shall note any flavor which arises. Too, I will grade according to my K A P L O W I T Z Scale guidelines. This all shall be noted and notated at each 1/2.

In a noted addition of notating, I too will note any other thing (typically construction, combustion, and uncharted notes) at the time in which those noting needs arise.

I will then offer a final grade ruling. THEN, on ye next THE GENTLEPERSONS SHOW (check yer local listings), Mr. Darryl Martin shall reveal what it is that I reviewed. We'll kibbitz 'bout it.

Blind review, yes? Oh, yes. Blind review.

THE CIGAR

*classified*

Leathery Churchill
Saison by Oliva First Harvest 2009
w. Ecuadorian Habano
b./f. Nicaraguan

ACT I

FLAVORS

Animal: Meat. Venison (?).
Sweet: Chocolate/cocoa (under-belly). Creamy. Caramelized sugar. Buttery. Dried fruit.
Spicy: Black pepper. Cinnamon. Cloves. White pepper. Salt. Chili pepper.
Woody: Oak wood. Charred/burnt. Aromatic tobacco. Dark roasted coffee. Wine cask.
Vegetal: Citrus. Floral. Nuts, raw. Herbs.
Earthy: Heavy tobacco. Dirt/earth (light).
Malt: Chocolate

K A P L O W I T Z SCALE

K being the least, Z the greatest

Appearance O
Construction I
Combustion T
Flavors/Body T
Strength I

NOTES

• Rough-hewn seams and goodly veins, but not rustic -- old school mayhaps.
• Cold draw be like "Yums." Chocolate peanut butter.
• BIG notes. BIG balance. Sweet/spicy.
• Great thick creamery butter mouth-feel. Perfectly tingly.
• Red pepper and caramelized sugar complexities? Yes, please.
• Ash is dark and lilts, but thick. 
• Burn-line is thick but even 'nuff.
• Looks like Git-'er-done.
• Herbs do interesting stuffs. Notes are seasoned.
• Chocolate malts.
• Very complex, gentlepersons. 
• Strength spikes.
• A tick of a nick in top-leaf...
• ... other than that, combustion/construction are humming.
• Strength is a bit heartier than profile.
• Chew is nice in smoke-hole.
• Great room-note.
• Great-smoker in a Churchill format.
• Florals ramp up. 
• Kinda triggers my stogie puttering, but strength makes it tough to trim roses.

ACT II

FLAVORS

Animal: Smoked meat. Venison.
Sweet: Chocolate/cocoa (under-belly). Creamy. Caramelized sugar. Buttery. Dried fruit (vibe, finish).
Spicy: Black pepper. Cinnamon. Cloves (more). White pepper. Salt. Chili pepper. Licorice/anise.
Woody: Oak wood. Charred/burnt. Aromatic tobacco. Dark roasted coffee. Wine cask.
Vegetal: Citrus (more). Floral (more). Nuts, raw. Herbs.
Earthy: Heavy tobacco (core). Dirt/earth (vibe). Hay, fresh.
Malt: Chocolate (fudgy).

K A P L O W I T Z SCALE

Appearance O
Construction W
Combustion T
Flavors/Body T
Strength O

NOTES

• Very smooth now. Verily.
• Citrus and floral rise in tandem.
• Loose top-leaf get ashed through no problemo.
• Strength dials back two ticks. My Dachshund told me to write that. Not really.
• More and more complexities and dancings.
• Sweetens.
• Profile and strength balance-out.
• Room-note is to die for, dahhh-ling.
• Licorice/anise is verily candy.
• Seam loosens a tick... no biggie.
• Burn is mainly even, line thins.
• Ash is un-pretty.
• Sweet, clean finish.
• Shaft gets good and oily.
• Through the band, wrapper gets a bissell fercockt.
• Mouth-feel gets more buttery, less tingly.
• Nub is soft; smoke cool.

FINAL GRADE

****A-****

REMEMBER: Tune into the next THE GENTLEPERSONS SHOW (check local listings) for the reveal.
POSTSCRIPT: In the interest of uniformity, I will be working from a flavor chart via Stogie Fresh. ("Malt" added by moi.)