Newbie Review #5 Don Kiki Red Label
I'm getting lucky. Each new cigar I'm trying is getting better, or at least different, in a good way.
The DK Red Label I had tonight was a 6" x 54 torp. I find that I like the way the torpedo shape funnels and concentrates the smoke. In the hand this felt like a thick cigar. I think a 54 ring gauge is probably the thickest smoke I've had so far.
The cigar lit easily and had a very smooth burn. I only had to touch it up when I became so engrossed in the book I was reading that the cigar started to go out.
The taste is interesting. There's very much a chocolate taste that's pretty strong at first and continues throughout the smoke. But there's also a sweetness that complements the chocolate flavor nicely. Their web site describes it as :
Quote:
MEDIUM BODY TASTING CIGARS. Cigar aficionados describe the exquisite taste as medium-bodied with well balanced complex flavors of licorice & cedar. It has sweet notes of toasted nuts. It finishes with a chocolaty undertone.
Yep, that's it alright. Definite chocolate and sweetness. Toasted nuts? Yeah, I could see how that could sound right. I don't think I tasted the licorice.
Pre-light: It's a great smelling cigar. I clipped the end and the draw was harder than any of the other cigars I've had. But not overly so. I kind of liked the resistance.
1st third: Very sweet and chocolaty. Medium draw and very very smooth. From the first few hits I knew I was going to like this one.
2nd third: A bit more intense but not a huge change. The draw was getting a bit harder but not uncomfortably so. There was very little bitterness. A very pleasant smoke indeed.
Last third: The draw was getting hard enough that I had to squeeze the cigar a bit to find the hard parts and massage it some. The cigar opened right up. I smoked it down to the band, removed the band and kept going. Once it was down to about 2" long the taste started getting a little harsh. But I was ready to be done with it by then.
Newbie point of view: So far this one and the Cuban Crafters Cameroon have been my favorites. The sweetness might really appeal to other newbies. Now that I've had this one I don't think I'd buy more of the green labels. But I'm certainly going to have to get some more of the red labels in my humidor.
