Friday, April 15, 2016

Project X: Offering #14 - Blind Review (Drew Estate Undercrown)


'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 every 1/3.

I will then offer a final grade ruling. THEN, on ye next Radio Herf (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*
5 1/2ish x 46ish
DECLASSIFIED
Drew Estate Undercrown
5 5/8 x 46 Corona Viva
w. Mexican San Andres Negro
b. CT River Valley Stalk Cut & Cured Sun Grown Habano
f. Brazilian Mata Fina & Nicaraguan Habano
ACT I

FLAVORS
Sweet: Bittersweet. Coffee & Cream. Molasses. Creamy.
Spicy: Black pepper. White pepper. Chili pepper. Mulling Spice.
Woody: Toasted. Hickory wood.
Vegetal: Bell pepper. Nuts, roasted.
Earthy: Heavy tobacco. Dirt/earth. Espresso. Manure.

K A P L O W I T Z SCALE
Appearance W
Construction W
Combustion O
Flavors/Body I
Strength O

NOTES
  • Cold draw goes from very cinnamon to muted red pepper melange.
  • First hot pull is a zetz of peppers. All thems.
  • Almost candied roasted nuts on RH after peppers clear.
  • Mulling spice always includes a citrus vibe, herein and generally.
  • Strength kinda sucker punches outta the gate, settles.
  • Burn starts a tick wavy... first re-touch is on the house.
  • Creamy is tres brulee.
  • Leather notes which appear not on this chart. Oiled catcher's mitt.
  • Very earthy and heavy yet smooth.
  • All vegetal notes are brief off Retro-hale, only.
  • Wavy burn. Slight canoe threat. Big re-touch, rest.
  • Some dark bread.
  • Slightly un-evenly filled smoke-hole.
  • Yellow/green smoke out-put. Medium+ volume.
  • Not very nuanced, but very definite notes.
  • Mouth-feel is very nice moisture and clean toasted cream.
  • Sweet meatiness begins as opening act ends.
  • Nice smoke time even after two r-touches.
  • Burn still ribbon'd but more even.
Prior to evening to a ribbon.
ACT II

FLAVORS
Animal: Roasted meat.
Sweet: Bittersweet. Coffee & Cream. Mollases. Creamy. Buttery.
Spicy: Black pepper. White pepper. Chili pepper. Mulling Spice. Licorice/Anise (vibe).
Woody: Toasted. Hickory wood (less). Cedar wood. Dark roasted coffee.
Vegetal: Bell pepper. Nuts, roasted. < Both less.
Earthy: Heavy tobacco. Dirt/earth. Espresso. Manure. < All more. Peat.

K A P L O W I T Z SCALE
Appearance W
Construction O
Combustion O
Flavors/Body W
Strength O

NOTES
  • Stew? Yes. Full-on!
  • Even draw tension, uneven results. Needs nursed.
  • Leather notes seep oils.
  • Espresso attaches to sweet. Very Cuban coffee, darkly sweet.
  • Waxy under tongue.
  • Meaty, earthy. Leather under-belly. Coffee notes drive.
  • Ash splits.
  • Big smoke -- still uneven in smoke-hole.
  • Packing softens length of shaft; noticeably.
  • Burn is more even now than it ever was.
  • No real transition -- sweetens.
  • Strength seems dialed back.
ACT III

FLAVORS
Animal: Roasted meat (less) (Veggie stew).
Sweet: Bittersweet. Coffee & Cream. Molasses. Creamy. Buttery. Fresh fruits* (see notes).
Spicy: Black pepper. White pepper. Chili pepper. Mulling Spice. Licorice/Anise (vibe).
Woody: Toasted. Cedar wood. Dark roasted coffee.
Vegetal: Mushrooms. Bell pepper. Nuts, roasted. < Both less again.
Earthy: Heavy tobacco. Dirt/earth (wets). Espresso. Manure. < All more. Peat.

K A P L O W I T Z SCALE
Appearance W
Construction O
Combustion O
Flavors/Body W
Strength L

NOTES
  • Someone cherry-picked the meat from the stew.
  • Peppers dial far back with strength (further).
  • Top-leaf cracks/peels a tick at char. Slight re-touch to get past.
  • Mini tunneling issue.
  • Spongy, a tick.
*Grape Jelly (briefly).
  • Draw gets more tension.
  • Vegetal notes soar on RH at band.
  • Burn ends even but slight ribbon.
  • Smoke heats up at end of 3/3.
  • Cayenne pepper in the band, particularly on RH.
SMOKE TIME
75mins(approx)

FINAL GRADE
****B****

REMEMBER: Tune into the next Radio Herf (check local listings) for the reveal.
POSTSCRIPT: In the interest of uniformity, I will be working from a flavor chart via Stogie Fresh.

EDITOR'S NOTE
This wound up being something of a Redux, as such the Firstdux can be read HERE. Notice please gentlepersons, the straight Bs.