A pleasantly surprising stick, this Valacari Invictus. A new name to my ears.
Says the company's rather sparse internet digs (apparently a new site very-well may be live by the time you're reading this), "The Invictus is our medium-full bodied offering ... Both spicy and earthy, a cigar for the true aficionado." Dammit, and I left my True Aficionado ID card home & laying next to my lacy-frilly panties. I'll try to hang, Gentlepersons. Sin Promisio.
Even though its predominately darkly dry notes do on occasion lead to a gruff throatiness, 'tis a smoothness akin to talc (not cream nor oil) which takes up most of the smoke-hole cool-temp'd texture. Add to this a somewhat tingly tongue and you've done built a solid medium-full body. The long extension-of-draw finish is somewhat pedestrian. Ends cleanly tho. A robust medium-full height of flavorful flavor notes. Quite nice on-the-draw complexities twixt the bitter & pepper-spice overtones and sweet-sour undertones.
The depth of nuance has a slight issue in failing to fully dig its heels into a rather rigidly siff or stiffly rigid profile delivery. Balance could be better, but ain't egregiously woeful. It gives the feel of a purposeful wobble toward aforementioned overtones. Too, there is a ever-present and flexing via progression toasted-scorch attachment which dries the palate a wee-bit. Strength is a medium -- you know yer smoking, you're just not fish-eyed fool swooning.
Even and flat seams. Rolled into a density tighter than a nun's cunt from gate-to-wire with no hard/soft spots along the way. There still is a lovely smooth draw with just the right tick a' tension. A continuously wavy burn is the lone combustion gripe I can muster. A pleasant surprise, yes.
WRAPPER: San Andres Maduro
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan
STRENGTH: Medium-Full
FORMAT: Toro
ORIGIN: Esteli, Nicaragua
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan
STRENGTH: Medium-Full
FORMAT: Toro
ORIGIN: Esteli, Nicaragua
FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59