WRAPPER: Nicaraguan Habano
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan
FORMAT: Toro
ORIGIN: Nicaragua (N. Caribbean Cigars SA)
INTENSITY: Medium
NOTES:
White pepper | Cedar | Cardboard
Stifled notes all jumbled together sans delineation. Cedar, cardboard, lemon, and dirt; listed in no particular order because there just ain't one. A white peppercorn somewhat harshly distinguishes itself as the driving bit. Hints of caramel, nougat, milk chocolate. Did I say cardboard? Not assaulting to the senses but definitely not complimentary of their abilities either. A retro-hale brings in more dirty lemon-pepper.
The real issues arise in construction and combustion. Without them, this is simply a thing to smoke while doing another thing. An at least pleasant lingering taste in your mouth. (Except for that it burns hot, thus is somewhat scorched in that alluded-to finish.) The problems don't end there. Tries to tunnel out of the gate. Draw is quite hesitant throughout, demanding double/triple puffs, lending to its hot temp, singed remains.
The ash is flaky with brick-like clumps that confirm less than ideal bunching, it also splits. The good news is that a threatening mouse-hole burn doesn't make good on said threats--simply due to this thing smoking past it at Mach speed. An uneven burn-line requires numerous re-touches but never fully behaves. Seams loosen by the puckered mascara. Top-leaf cracks audibly. My humidor is working fine, thanks for asking.
All too often, budget sticks aren't worth the cost.
TASTE: B
DRAW: B-
BURN: B-
BUILD: B-
FINAL GRADE: B-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79
TASTE: B
DRAW: B-
BURN: B-
BUILD: B-
FINAL GRADE: B-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79
::: very :::