WRAPPER: San Andres
BINDER: Dominican Corojo
FILLER: Dominican
(all oak bourbon barrel aged)
FORMAT: Corona Gorda (647)
ORIGIN: Dominican Republic
INTENSITY: Medium/Medium-full
NOTES:
Black Cavendish | Andes Chocolate Mints | Black pepper
Harmony, and achieved somewhat daringly, at least not lazily. There are some edges but more savory oil velvetiness. Sating like a big lunch. The earthen underbelly is lip-smacking dense but not overly-ponderous. The Earth itself spins but you can't ever tell as you're riding it. A bitter almond flirtation toasts and gets candied lightly. Heavy grains, burley and buckwheat, sparingly. Beef jerky.
The evolution of notes here is almost like the Earth's rotation (getting back to that) but if you try really hard, you can pick change out from the practiced consistency. (I Feel the Earth Move by Carole King) Mainly said movement is in the roasted coffee beans and spiced espresso drinks. Cuban coffee. Harmony--I'll say it again. And quite unique to boot. The spices are red and once churned independent; smoked paprika, cumin, and cayenne.
As far as the nuts and bolts of combustion and construction: this thing does feel a bit like a cheroot. Nothing wrong with that, Mark Twain smoked 125 of those a day, or so the legend goes. Draws well but a tick damply toward the end. Burn-line is wavy and self-correcting; a single retouch is needed. Good ash growth. Seams and cap assemblage stay true 'nuff. Excellent smoke out-put yields the aroma of italicized notes up-top.
Nubs splendidly in my clay pipe.
TASTE: A-
DRAW: A-
BURN: B+
BUILD: A-
FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79
::: very :::