Review These - Reviews

[sprangalang]

Oh man, I knew it. I had a feeling it was #1. That kind of oomph comes at a price.

First off, let me apologize to all for missing these great reviews for
this long !! I don't know how I did that, but sorry.

I'm glad you enjoyed the smokes Jeff , I like both of them as well. the smokes were:

Smoke #1 La Aurora Preferidos Robusto $9.95 at the b/m
Smoke #2 Excalibur 1066 merlin $3.50 at the b/m

jamie

[CgarDan]

Sorry for the delay but the New Years was pretty busy here.

I will do these reviews in real time.

Stick # 1:

Looks like a solidly constructed stick with a triple cap. (Cuban ? ) Smelling the foot produced a nice aroma. Wrapper is connecticutr shade color. Looks like it is packed heailly so could be a bit tight on the draw.

Cut was effortless. Pre light draw was very easy I guess no tightness in the draw on this one. Even the prelight draw hit me with spice.

Light it up.

Right away I got hit with peppery spice. After a few puffs I am starting to have doubts that this is a Cuban. Another thing that makes me lean in that directin is the ring size a little too big for a regular Cuban. Also I tend to notice more notes reminiscent of Conn shade wrappers. So far it seems a little one dimensional just peppery taste, although I do have to say no harshness on this one. The ash is grayish white and flaky.

One 1/3 through now. This cigar is a little too light for me. I doubt it has any NIC tobacco in it as well. Perhaps a DOM puro.

2/3 the pepper is gone now its more leathery and plain tobacco that is actually a bit sweet now.

into the last 1/3 now. Taste is earthy and sweet with some pepper creeping back.

Overall impression it's a nice cigar for those who like milder - medium body. It turned out to have enough comlexity to keep one interested. Still doubt its a Cuban but probably not a bad Dom perhaps an Ashton


Review # 2 to follow tom

[Desert Rat]

Right on the money Dan. I'll give you the line after you do the second cigar to compare the two.

[CgarDan]

Review # 2 in real time

THis cigar also looks like it has good construction. The warpper on this one is a maduro. By the way both this one and the first about 5 inches long although this one looks like perhaps a slightly smaller ring gage than # 1. this one is prob a 46 while #1 was a 50 i think.

Cut was easy and the prelight draw was nice noi plugs on this baby.

Lighting it up

Well this one has some spice but its very mellow spice. At the same time I get the sweetness that is usual for a maduro wrapper. this baby produces a lot of smoke which I like. The flavor at the beggining is chocoalety, woodsy and a bit of spice. THis feels to me like a NC profile.

1/3 ash is very solid and white very much lie the Nc tobacco

now into 2/3 flavor profile stays te same. I think I will rule out Gurkha, CAO, Padron, indian Tobacc, Sancho Panza, this is very simialr to 5 Vegas serie A could be Partagas or Montecristo

into the final 1/3 still the same flavor profile.

Overall I have to say that this is also a nice cigar and probably a $3-4 stick which is a nice value for this one . I think #1 is more expensive somewhere is the $9-12 range

[Desert Rat]

#1 Fonseca Serie F Robusto (5 x 52)
Binder: Mexico
Filler: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: USA/Conn. Shade

#2 Carlos Torano Signature Robusto
#2 Carlos Torano Signature Robusto (5 x 52)
Binder: USA/Conn. Broadleaf
Filler: Dominican Cubano Ligero, Nicaraguan Habano Ligero
Wrapper: Sun Grown Brazilian Maduro

I sent you two average ho-hum smokes to compare. Both were stored over a year.(I don't remember, but some of the riders are better gars). You hit #1 exactly on the head, except for price, and I agree that cigar is too light for my taste.

You called #2 right on too. I actually get a little more flavor out of the Torano, but nothing to write home about.

Either cigar can be had for about $3/stick or so.

Great job!!!

#2 Carlos Torano Signature Robusto
#2 Carlos Torano Signature Robusto

[CgarDan]

Wow interesting I think I will get some Fonseca gars for morning/afternoon smoke By the way if you haven't tried the Virtuoso from Torano you def should its much richer than the signature but also no harsh tones in that one and it def produces a more profound bang on the senses

Thanks for letting me review these and those of you who like the Ashton line this Fonseca is def a must try you will be surprised especially for the $$$ I was

[mauied1101]

Okeedokes - sticks had been sitting in my coolidor for 4-5 days now so I thought I'd take stick #1 and give it a whirl:

Stick #1

Pre-cigar activity: steak dinner at a buddy's.

Construction: Very tightly wrapped stick (still a little hard on the cap end). Saw a little triple cap, same thoughts as CgarDan on origins.

The light-up: Well, I had given my buddy a creme brulee torch and we fired it up in no time. Even burn (through about 1/2 the stick). Mild, smokey flavor, slightly choco-nutty flavor. Beautiful, thick, white smoke. Draw was fine. Nice finish.

Stick #2

Pre-cigar activity: mid-day coffee outside freezing my arse off

Construction: very similar look and feel as stick #1 (thanks for making this easy Dan). Similar very slight veins. Pinch test told me it was ripe.

Light-up: Nice even burn. Light salt-and-pepper smoke. Burned more evenly than stick #1. Milder taste than #1, no complexity - like a very light black coffee (and no, not b/c I was drinking it). One annoyance with the stick was that there was a plug in it - I tried massaging it out to no avail, then finally stuck a skewer up the foot which helped a bit. The intensity stayed the same until the last 1/4 - in which it shot up a notch. Short finish.

I'd have to say I liked #1 better, and therefore say it's the more expensive stick.

Cheers.