Genuine Counterfeit Cuban Robusto
I've been smoking these for about 2 months now and I am about halfway into my box of 25 I got from JR Cigars. So I feel it's about time I weigh in with my impression of these smokes.
First off, these cigars are a square-pressed brand that I initially thought were only available from JR, but that turns out not to be the case. They can be had at a multitude of on-line shops. This is the blurb from JR's site about them...
"The Genuine Counterfeit Cuban Cigar is a blend of potent Esteli, Nicaraguan Ligero and Viso from the Perez Plantation, mixed with a base of Cuban-seed Seco. Bound with an Ecuadorian binder and rich, silky rosado Ecudorian Sumatran wrapper, this cuadrado-pressed cigar offers the smoker a velvety-soft smoking experience with a distinct spicy bite."
Now, what do I think about them? I LOVE THESE SMOKES!!! The taste profile is intense right off the bat with an aroma to match it. The first puff makes my nose hairs stand straight up and my ears start ringing. After the initial assault, my senses get acclimated and I can settle down to savor the flavors. In this case, I would say it's a woody and dense, maybe leathery taste. But what I absolutely love about these is around the halfway point these babies really take off with the finish lingering in the mouth forever. And, that flavor always makes me think of anise (black licorice) - and, so far, that has never failed. I love it because you two distinct components to the experience - the initial taste explosion of smoke coming in and then the fine aftertaste once the smoke departs. The burn always tends to go off course a bit on these, but it's no big deal since it doesn't detract from the enjoyment. I am definitely going to be buying some more and probably the coronas to see if they burn a little more evenly and to see if the taste opens up even more.
Once again, I LOVE 'EM!
