11:49AM
Being in a funk as of late, I decided it was time to lighten up a tad. I opted for this Macanudo Cafe offering with that alone in mind. Not wanting to be bored, I figured the Mexican binder would safeguard against all that with the tobacco's usual nuances -- if not complexities.
I have noted near ad nauseum and possibly beyond, that certain cigars beg solitude smoking, as do others beg the company of friends. Here is another profile distinction to ponder: does a smoke make you push the brim of your hat down over yer eyes, or back on your head? I generally prefer ones that drag my brim down over my eyes.
I'm hoping this one pushes my hat back and lets some sunshine in.
The Cigar:
Macanudo Cafe Seleccion
Connecticut Shade wrapper
Mexican binder/Dominican filler
5 1/2 x 50 Robusto
A nose of grassy hay, light floral perhaps chamomile or feint apple on the wrapper. At the open foot, all that and heartier, with a note of airy leather on a light caramel backing.
A cold pull is green herbal with a delicate cinnamon hint. A creaminess lingers but is light and delicate -- sweet, but not sugary. It feels odd to be at the onset of autumn, holding spring in my smoke-hole.
The mechanics of the pull are on the somewhat tighter side of medium but not in any sort of problematic way.
The packing joins the pull on the tighter side of medium and is not completely even throughout, as there are a few squishy parts. A vein at the foot threatens to bum the burn for the first five minutes or so, and seams are noticeable throughout. Again, not terribly problematic, but definitely rustic. I’ll not go as far as to say rough-hewn.
Light:
toasting the foot let loose some white bread and un-roasted nut scents. The first pull was grassy and again springlike with floral notes and a nice light toastiness. The finish is that of hay and sun-filled meadow. The second pull is an introduction of sweet spices and honey. Not heavy spices, nor sickly sweet honey. Very nice. A retro-hale adds a white pepper to balance a further deepening of honey. The balance is nice on the palate and longer than expected.
The burn is not laser even, but not either requiring of a touch-up. I’ll readdress post vein. The ash is white and flaky and piling up hurriedly. The smoke output is robust and very pleasing with traces of softwood and new leather.
We’re safely into
Act I:
The honey deepens its floral notes as the stick heats up. Too, the white pepper builds. A saltiness develops on my palate and is nice as a counterbalance to the sweetness, but not entirely needed, as the white pepper was already employed for that gig. Balance remains, but in a more complex manner -- not a complaint, to be clear.
The tang of dry white wine is setting in. The floral notes have matured into delineated tart fruits and a very light floral honey that tastes like May -- the month, not the woman. There is some earthiness that reminds me of a field of dandelions like the one at the opening of the Little House on the Prairie TV show. I don’t get much earthiness or nuttiness or pepper at this point. White bread comes in and out, but even when in, it remains far back.
The finish is a tangy floral almost to the point of tart, but not unpleasing. There are white wine and a certain grassy hay saltiness that lingers to the next pull.
Mild to barely medium body that brings to mind a frail woman in a floral dress. Maybe her name is May. If it is, she has a larger lingering presence than her willowy limbs would lead ya to believe. The strength of May is akin to her month’s end. Lamb, not lion -- definitely not baaa--aaa-aaad. Okay, I’ll stop.
The burn has mostly corrected itself. I’ve not clumped off yet, but it is an unattractive mess, destined for my lap and/or shirt. I assume the burn will wholly be fixed when the ash does, well, ash…
...and there it goes at around an inch. Very light, powdery, and all over my Levi’s.
Act II:
The complexities -- some were fleeting and we now have a floral, nearing herbal front with a trace of light honey. Behind that is grassy hay with a recurring pale nut flavor. A tangy white wine joins in on the finish and is chased by a salty note. Still, it lasts long and well into the next draw. As the second act goes forward, the salt arrives sooner and with greater impact. Still mellow, still smooth. Still very much a brunch offering that would work well with a glass of lemonade or yard work.
Burn remains straight enough. all else re: construction and combustion hold. The burn has mayhap slowed a tad.
The white pepper joins back now and sticks to my tongue, all flavors stay true to previous drivel and there is a somewhat deepening all around that lends to a creamy mouth-feel. We’ve reached nearly a definite medium profile.
See ya in
Act III:
It strikes me that there is a certain old-world grizzle to this offering that I usually find only in a fuller-bodied specimen. This is a Jack Lemmon old age, not a Walter Matthau. Lemon? I believe I detect a slight lemongrass…
An almost medium honey note whose flowers have now been adorned with heartier blooms. A certain caramel has joined in with the bread which is now lightly toasted. The pepper remains white but warms a bit more, and there is some aging of the wood. White wine remains the same and saltiness has dialed back.
There’s a bit of a touch-up of the burn which is required but evens nicely and I’m guessing I’ll just leave ya alone now and enjoy another ten minutes or so.
At the end of the final act, there is a somewhat inconsistent draw and pepper which bites a bit sour. The wrapper threatens to unwrap, as well. Too, the strength is elevated to a dead center medium.
Pairings:
Lemonade. A quite dry sherry. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. A sunlit garden.
A cold pull is green herbal with a delicate cinnamon hint. A creaminess lingers but is light and delicate -- sweet, but not sugary. It feels odd to be at the onset of autumn, holding spring in my smoke-hole.
The mechanics of the pull are on the somewhat tighter side of medium but not in any sort of problematic way.
The packing joins the pull on the tighter side of medium and is not completely even throughout, as there are a few squishy parts. A vein at the foot threatens to bum the burn for the first five minutes or so, and seams are noticeable throughout. Again, not terribly problematic, but definitely rustic. I’ll not go as far as to say rough-hewn.
Light:
toasting the foot let loose some white bread and un-roasted nut scents. The first pull was grassy and again springlike with floral notes and a nice light toastiness. The finish is that of hay and sun-filled meadow. The second pull is an introduction of sweet spices and honey. Not heavy spices, nor sickly sweet honey. Very nice. A retro-hale adds a white pepper to balance a further deepening of honey. The balance is nice on the palate and longer than expected.
The burn is not laser even, but not either requiring of a touch-up. I’ll readdress post vein. The ash is white and flaky and piling up hurriedly. The smoke output is robust and very pleasing with traces of softwood and new leather.
We’re safely into
Act I:
The honey deepens its floral notes as the stick heats up. Too, the white pepper builds. A saltiness develops on my palate and is nice as a counterbalance to the sweetness, but not entirely needed, as the white pepper was already employed for that gig. Balance remains, but in a more complex manner -- not a complaint, to be clear.
The tang of dry white wine is setting in. The floral notes have matured into delineated tart fruits and a very light floral honey that tastes like May -- the month, not the woman. There is some earthiness that reminds me of a field of dandelions like the one at the opening of the Little House on the Prairie TV show. I don’t get much earthiness or nuttiness or pepper at this point. White bread comes in and out, but even when in, it remains far back.
The finish is a tangy floral almost to the point of tart, but not unpleasing. There are white wine and a certain grassy hay saltiness that lingers to the next pull.
Mild to barely medium body that brings to mind a frail woman in a floral dress. Maybe her name is May. If it is, she has a larger lingering presence than her willowy limbs would lead ya to believe. The strength of May is akin to her month’s end. Lamb, not lion -- definitely not baaa--aaa-aaad. Okay, I’ll stop.
The burn has mostly corrected itself. I’ve not clumped off yet, but it is an unattractive mess, destined for my lap and/or shirt. I assume the burn will wholly be fixed when the ash does, well, ash…
...and there it goes at around an inch. Very light, powdery, and all over my Levi’s.
Act II:
The complexities -- some were fleeting and we now have a floral, nearing herbal front with a trace of light honey. Behind that is grassy hay with a recurring pale nut flavor. A tangy white wine joins in on the finish and is chased by a salty note. Still, it lasts long and well into the next draw. As the second act goes forward, the salt arrives sooner and with greater impact. Still mellow, still smooth. Still very much a brunch offering that would work well with a glass of lemonade or yard work.
Burn remains straight enough. all else re: construction and combustion hold. The burn has mayhap slowed a tad.
The white pepper joins back now and sticks to my tongue, all flavors stay true to previous drivel and there is a somewhat deepening all around that lends to a creamy mouth-feel. We’ve reached nearly a definite medium profile.
See ya in
Act III:
It strikes me that there is a certain old-world grizzle to this offering that I usually find only in a fuller-bodied specimen. This is a Jack Lemmon old age, not a Walter Matthau. Lemon? I believe I detect a slight lemongrass…
An almost medium honey note whose flowers have now been adorned with heartier blooms. A certain caramel has joined in with the bread which is now lightly toasted. The pepper remains white but warms a bit more, and there is some aging of the wood. White wine remains the same and saltiness has dialed back.
There’s a bit of a touch-up of the burn which is required but evens nicely and I’m guessing I’ll just leave ya alone now and enjoy another ten minutes or so.
At the end of the final act, there is a somewhat inconsistent draw and pepper which bites a bit sour. The wrapper threatens to unwrap, as well. Too, the strength is elevated to a dead center medium.
Pairings:
Lemonade. A quite dry sherry. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. A sunlit garden.
A longer smoke than I had guesstimated. Light to light-medium profile but with no shortage of interesting notes and transitions perhaps not complex, but far from boring. Nuanced. A very nice br/l/unch stick that will serve to recharge your day.
Final Grade:C+ B-
(A firm B if this is your preferred thing.)
That said, it did deliver what I was looking for. B-
Final Grade:
(A firm B if this is your preferred thing.)
That said, it did deliver what I was looking for. B-
Prologue:
12:53PM
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