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
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 WConstruction 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.
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
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.
- 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.