Diesel Cigars Vintage Series Natural in Review

BRAND: Diesel
BLEND: Vintage Series Natural

WRAPPER: Ecuadorian
BINDER: Nicaraguan Habano
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Robusto Gordo (556)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
INTENSITY: Medium
SPICE: 2/5

NOTES:
Praline | Pink peppercorn | Suede

Lots of caramelized sugar, mixed nuttiness, you know, praline. A pepperiness a bit more fruity-floral and vivid than usual, you know, pink peppercorn. A chicken coop laced suede earthiness carries all along nicely; envelops via progression. Stratified bits of tea, cedar, and dessert spices. Table sugar threatens to imbalance somewhat at the second-third's opening.

Then, about at midway, the structure falters a tick. Profile muddles some. Borders bleed. Quite dandelion then, and traces of weak, wet softwood. A glimpse of sweet grassiness. Still, a nuanced and surprisingly affable smoke. Cardamom. Seems to rev up toward its final act in terms of flavor-pacing. A bit like putting the pedal to the metal in an electric car, maybe. Very transitional.

Sends off plumes of creamy smoke, leaving a gently-sweet aroma. I smell-taste duck sauce. A half-bit cloying. Ash builds loosely but holds. Burn line wiggles and self-corrects. Nice burn-rate. Excellent smooth draws. Cap and seam assemblage holds quite nicely. Smokes like a rather decadent fruity dessert. Ambrosia Salad. Overall, a fun and attainable ride.

TASTE: B+
DRAW: A
BURN: B+
BUILD: A-

FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very ::: 

Big Sky Cigar Co. Bitterroot in Redux Review

BRAND: Big Sky
BLEND: Bitterroot

WRAPPER: Habano
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Toro (654)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
INTENSITY: Medium

BITTER: .25/5 (blonde coffee)
SALTY: .25/5 (milk chocolate)
SAVORY: .25/5 (toasted oats)
SOUR: 1.5/5 (lemony cedar)
SPICE: 1.5/5 (spiced cider)
SWEET: 1.25 /5 (caramel)

TASTE: B+
DRAW: A-
BURN: B
BUILD: B+

FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very :::

Link to my original review >>> Big Sky Cigar Co. Bitterroot in Review. 

ROOM101 Cigars Hit & Run Redux in Review

BRAND: ROOM101
BLEND: Hit & Run Redux

WRAPPER: Mexican San Andres
BINDER: Ecuadorian Sumatra
FILLER: Nicaraguan, Pennsylvanian

FORMAT: Robusto
ORIGIN: Dominican Republic
INTENSITY: Medium-full
SPICE: 3/5

NOTES:
Walnut mocha torte | Paprika | Pumpernickel

Depth. Complex layers. Dense and weighty. Plush. Well-balanced. A dark unfurling of motion and stillness. Dappled sunlight exhibits traces of mulling spice, cola, black dahlia.

TASTE: A-
DRAW: B+
BURN: A-
BUILD: A-

FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

A word about dahlias (black and otherwise, I'd imagine) from The Perfume Society: "One thing's for sure: dahlias don't smell as blowsy as they look. It's the leaves and the stems which are used in fragrance, giving a slightly bitter note."

In the fullest of disclosures, this review was conducted nigh immediately upon receiving this sample. While I'm not normally as big on 'resting' cigars as some folk are, I will dully note this here. As well as promise a deeper (if not longer) redux review in fair time. thx

::: very ::: 

Big Sky Cigar Co. Yellowstone in Redux Review

BRAND: Big Sky
BLEND: Yellowstone

WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Connecticut
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Robusto (550)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
INTENSITY: Mild/Mild-medium
SPICE: 1/5

NOTES:
Lemonade | Cedar | White peppercorn

"Anything so innocent and built like that just gotta be named Lucille." Dragline, Cool Hand Luke. Classic scene. Sunshine, sundress, bit-of-soap. Rural. Stifled-frenzy. Builds intensity-focus.

... Sweetness. Not afraid of biting; don't. An old car. Tom Petty tune(now). "I call her Honey Bee." Must be Spring. Must be a Springtime smoke.

TASTE: B
DRAW: B+
BURN: B+
BUILD: B+

FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

Original review link: Big Sky Cigar Co. Yellowstone in Review. 'Tween this and that, you'll grok the smoke.

::: very :::