WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Cameroon
BINDER: Honduran Corojo
FILLER: Dominican, Nicaraguan, USA (PA)
FORMAT: Robusto (4.75x52)
ORIGIN: Dominican Republic
INTENSITY: Medium-full
NOTES:
Marzipan | Mulling spice | Cocoa butter
This thing just keeps on keeping on. Notes get folded in and layered on but with all that happening, the oak cask structure holds fast the delineation. That woody-bit has an unerring accompaniment of supple cashew butter. Each puff begins and ends with a mulling spice, heavy on the orange peel. 'Tween start & finish is a bevy of notes riding on lanolin and malt; a separate allspice. I'm impressed.
Them middlings tho. Raw cane sugar, toffee, and nougat frolic in rock salt. Then there are honeysuckle floral bits and orange blossom honey. The mulling spices really show themselves via progression; cinnamon, anise, and cardamom. I almost want to say this thing is trying too hard but it's wrong to fault talent. Especially since there is harmony, balance, and an orchestrated movable consistency.
Performance-wise, The draw is a tick-toward snug but perfectly acceptable, sating. Burn-line is thin and although it slightly wobbles, self-corrects quickly. This, even though the pace is slowly even-keeled. It feels like there is a lot of baccy in this portly robusto. Excellent ash. Smoke out-put is big and kindly spicy-sweet with a leathery addition. Seams and cap stay true. An early front-runner for my cigar of the year.
TASTE: A+
DRAW: A-
BURN: A-
BUILD: A
FINAL GRADE: A
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79
::: very :::