HDA Cigars (Hermanos de Armas) Cigars Cataclysm Toro in Review

BRAND: HDA
BLEND: Cataclysm

WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Habano
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Toro (654)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
INTENSITY: Medium-full
SPICE: 3.5/5

NOTES:
French Hot Chocolate | Savory (the herb) | Hickory Bark

Hot chocolate not from powder but via the more decadent manner of melting solid chocolate. Summer Savory, think between oregano and thyme. Hickory bark is rather self-explanatory, and damp. An Italian Coffee Cream desert, a coffee mousse of sorts. Interesting. Sating.

Could use a tick more tension to structure; does sit a bit softly though not flatly. Burns a hair quick, pinches a hair under-stufft. Evenly-packed. Excellent quite-open draw. Black walnut comes in at half-ish to lend some tightening astringency. Rather a unique note or two, and black pepper.

Honey Graham and a deeper marshmallow creaminess lends to a s'mores nod. Hickory toasts and I'm left at a campfire possibly somewhere in Europe. I can tell it's not Eastern Europe, however, on account I do not hear my ancestral Yiddish. Quite haute while also provincial, this. 

TASTE: A-
DRAW: A-
BURN: B+
BUILD: A-

FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very ::: 

Lovely Cigars Ain't They Lovely Elegante X2 in Redux Ten (10) Thoughts Review

BRAND: Lovely
BLEND: Ain't They Lovely Elegante X2

WRAPPER: Ecuadorian
BINDER: Mexican
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Toro (652)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua (Tacasa SA)
INTENSITY: Medium
SPICE: 2/5

NOTES:
Lemon Meringue | White & Green Peppercorn | Caramel

TEN (10) THOUGHTS

(alphabetically)

Buttery suede note
Nice ash growth
Nougat, thinly
Salty Herbaceousness note on front
Slight, correctable runner threat
Thick puckered veins (cosmetic only)
Tick tight and slightly tightening draw.
Twinge-tangy back-end catch
Uneven complexion
Uneven seams

PAIRINGS

Builders Tea
Blended Scotch

TASTE: B+
DRAW: B
BURN: B
BUILD: B

FINAL GRADE: B
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

FURTHER KM READING

Lovely Cigars Ain't They Lovely Elegante X2 in Review

::: very ::: 

Sunglasses & Cigars | Pairing Recommendations

Sunglasses & Cigars | Pairing Recommendations
(What Your Shades Say About You, Loosely)

I'm writing this the day prior to the year's first PNW sunny day. You might say I've been looking forward to it. In full transparency, I have all three of the below styles of eyewear. So, unlike in the hard-fast lines of Maxwell House or Folgers fans; Aqua Velva or Old Spice fans--here the borders do blur.

Whatever style you eventually opt for or stumble under, maybe bear the following in mind. Or not. The only thing we must agree on is that there are only three (three) types of acceptable shades shapes. They are, of course, Aviator, Wayfarer, and Over-The-Glasses (providing they mimic the shape of the glasses beneath).

[Recommendations are links to my reviews.]

Aviators. Daring. Retro cool. Possibly degenerate. If a little is good, more is better. Most is best, then. Leaving 'all' to be 'epic.' Epic flavor, epic strength, epic body. Too much ain't enough. Full all the way is the what you smoke. You got the good stories, and get the bad gals. You're also behind on all your bills. Pow! Recommendation: Powstanie Cigars San Andres Corona Gorda in Review

Wayfarers. Easy-breezy cool. Classic. Chill. You might be old money. You might be living it up below the poverty line operating on a different currency from the rest of us. It's 50/50. Either way, you're in the know and quite likely known. You are used to the LE lifestyle. How about an LE spin-off from an LE offering? Bro! Recommendation: Stolen Throne Cigars Argos Brody LE in Review

Over-The-Glasses. What's with all the crazy bright headlights these days? You have sensory sensitivities, and you've earned them. Your last nerve has the jitters. You could stand to smile, not belly laugh. You could use a rote nod to the horrific passing of time. A break, is what you need. A long one. A substantial convalescence. Recommendation: Punch Cigars Egg Roll XL in Review

As an honorary mention, we'll close here on a far-flung fourth option. John Lennon glasses. The little round ones. I'm somewhat at a loss here, however, as to a recommendation. I feel we're talking about two different leaves entirely.

::: very ::: 

Lovely Cigars Bay City Connecticut Robusto Gordo in Review

BRAND: Lovely
BLEND: Bay City Connecticut

WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Connecticut
BINDER: Sumatran
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Robusto Gordo (5.25x54)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua (Tacasa SA)
INTENSITY: Mild/Mild-medium
SPICE: 2/5

NOTES:
Lemonhead candies | Vanilla Bean | White Pepper

A nice ginger vibe spins out from citrus. Vanilla extract more-so than bean? Maybe. But the bean seems more important. White pepper, finely ground. Dandelion bite and chamomile calm get rolled in buttery suede. Golden hay. Sweet with pale spice warmth. Consistent.

Salt | Honey Graham Crackers | Boiled Peanuts

TASTE: B+
DRAW: A-
BURN: B
BUILD: B+

FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

FURTHER KM. READING

Lovely Cigars Bay City Connecticut in Redux Review (Toro)

::: very :::