The KC/DW Review Series

[DeeDubya]

KC,
Just got back from the PO with a nice little surprise. Some of those Gurhka's look delicious. Now I feel obligated. Sending you those goat-feed rejects makes me feel guilty. That's OK, since reading your in-depth reviews I've already been thinking and planning.

That's awesome KC. Just don't hold me to the fire and expect reviews like you posted. I need to search for one of those "Reviewing Guides" to help me. Maybe I could come up with some better descriptions than "dirt" or "cedar bark" or "garden mulch" or "goat feed".

[King Catfish]

KC,
Just got back from the PO with a nice little surprise. Some of those Gurhka's look delicious. Now I feel obligated. Sending you those goat-feed rejects makes me feel guilty. That's OK, since reading your in-depth reviews I've already been thinking and planning.

That's awesome KC. Just don't hold me to the fire and expect reviews like you posted. I need to search for one of those "Reviewing Guides" to help me. Maybe I could come up with some better descriptions than "dirt" or "cedar bark" or "garden mulch" or "goat feed".

Cool, I'm looking forward to your reviews. I hope you find a reviewing guide you like. Here's a link to the one I used:
http://www.tabacordillera.com/docs/AnalysisSheet.doc

[nhcigarfan]

Cool series guys, keep it up!

[DeeDubya]

Cool, I'm looking forward to your reviews. I hope you find a reviewing guide you like. Here's a link to the one I used:
http://www.tabacordillera.com/docs/AnalysisSheet.doc

Onyx Reserve #4 (5x44)

KC,
I smoked the Onyx first because I was most interested to see what my son was going on about liking them so much. I had just sent him a box but had not tried them myself.
Anyway, now I can say that the Onyx is a very good value. The cigar is box-pressed with an extra-dark Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper somewhat coarse in texture. I toasted the foot which emitted a subtle hint of chocolate. I was a little concerned with the softness but it commenced to burn slowly and evenly. About midway I could definately detect coffee/cocoa and roasted nuts characteristic of many maduro's. The medium gray colored ash was not white like many maduro's but was certainly firm and even. I was nearly half-way through before I tipped the ash. The finish was rewarding with memorable spicy overtones.
The Onyx Reserve #4 is a rich full-bodied cigar and a very good value. I will give it 8.9 on a scale of 1-10.

DW

[King Catfish]

Onyx Reserve #4 (5x44)

KC,
I smoked the Onyx first because I was most interested to see what my son was going on about liking them so much. I had just sent him a box but had not tried them myself.
Anyway, now I can say that the Onyx is a very good value. The cigar is box-pressed with an extra-dark Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper somewhat coarse in texture. I toasted the foot which emitted a subtle hint of chocolate. I was a little concerned with the softness but it commenced to burn slowly and evenly. About midway I could definately detect coffee/cocoa and roasted nuts characteristic of many maduro's. The medium gray colored ash was not white like many maduro's but was certainly firm and even. I was nearly half-way through before I tipped the ash. The finish was rewarding with memorable spicy overtones.
The Onyx Reserve #4 is a rich full-bodied cigar and a very good value. I will give it 8.9 on a scale of 1-10.

DW

Excellent! I'm glad you liked it; I'm a big fan of these myself. Nice work on the review.

EDITED TO ADD: I'll try to get to the review of the Gispert in a day or two.

[DeeDubya]

Thanks again to King Catfish for sending some cigars for review. I have enjoyed a Gurkha Regent Torpedo, one that I had not smoked.
The Regent is a model cigar. Regular roll with no lumps, smooth firm wrapper with very fine veins and even color.
As always, I toasted the foot and immediately detected a spicy, sumptuous "black pepper" aroma. An easy draw first led me to think that it would be fast burning and maybe to loosely rolled but came to find a very consistant, even, slow burn. So, for about an hour I enjoyed a medium-bodied, perfectly balanced, creamy and complex cigar. Never bitter or biting on the tongue even at the finish. As a matter of fact it was so consistant that it tasted exactly the same at the finish as the start. I tipped the medium gray (I like salt & pepper) ash twice during my enjoyment. I believe this cigar is aged for 5 years which evidently achieves the perfect blend between the Dominican Piloto filler, Indonesian binder and Nicaraguan Havana 2000 wrapper.

On a scale of 1-10 I will rate this cigar at 9.2.

[DeeDubya]

I wanted to compare the Regent that I smoked last night to the Napalese Warrior, mostly because the wrappers look so similar.
Maybe it's because that's what I was expecting or maybe it's so: If I were blindfolded I would not know the difference between the Regent and the Nepalese Warrior (taste of course, different shape). From start to finish, the same spicyness, burn rate, ash color, finish, everything. IMO the same cigar in a different shape.
Oh well, maybe I blew this one but that's my opinion. Both are excellent cigars and I enjoyed them.
Thanks again to KC for another good choice.
Tomorrow, it will be the Gurkha Black Puro.
I'm thinking 2 fingers of Macallan before, during, and after.

[King Catfish]

Well, I am practically speechless. The postman has brought me a another gift, from guess who. In the box was really just a huge pile of really primo sticks for me to try. I guess I have quite a few reviews to write! Thanks, D.W. You're quite a Prince.

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Nice reviews, D.W. I am in agreement. i find little difference between the Regent and the Nepalese Warrior... perhaps I will take a more in-depth look at each, try them again and see if I can qualify or describe the differences.