Review These - Reviews

[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.

[CgarDan]

Common Paul lets have that second review

[CgarDan]

Paul you got the price right and I am glad you enjoyed the first smoke more than the second

1) OPUS X Perfecxion # 4

2) Jose L. Piedra Cazadores ISOM ( machjine made I think ) ( this one costs about a $2.5 or so )


Great Reviews

[FunkyCold5]

Alright, Paul. Here goes Review #1 of Cigar #1.
Smoking it at 9am in 20 degree weather. Brrrrr!

Cigar is Robusto in size. Pretty well constructed. Smells really good.

It's the lighter of the two cigars. Not light enough to be Connecticut, but also not dark enough to be Maduro. I thought it was Corojo at first, but pre-draw provided a very sweet taste, same pre-draw taste as I've experienced with Cameroon cigars. The sweetness reminds me of a port wine. Like eating raisins.

Once lit, there was tons of smoke. White Ash and smooth draw. No plug throughout the entire smoking process. It burned pretty fast (maybe due to the cold weather?), but burned even.

The sweetness continues with the first part of the cigar. Started getting stronger 1/3 through the cigar. I'm guessing it's med-full bodied. I was able to keep the ash at least 1-inch through, before tapping it (don't like ash all over my clothes). I tasted a hint of nuttiness, but wasn't overpowering.

It was a really good smoke. Once I find out what it is, I'll include it in my rotation. Hope this was a decent 1st review from me. Review number #2 for cigar #2 will come soon. I'm guessing this cigar is a Camacho Select Cameroon Robusto.

Andrew

[chefchris]

I did these reviews in the order that I smoked the cigars.

Cigar # 2
Looking at this cigar, it is very well contructed. Cut and lit fine. Instantly had a tight draw. So tight my jaw is actually sore. After further examining, I found the cigar to be plugged. I gently massaged it out and this opened it up a little more, but not much. This cigar is very mild. I mean MILD. So mild I contemplated not typing "mild" in all caps. It's only strong points are it's good construction (minus the plug) and it's even burn. I would could consider this a bland, not mild but comatose cigar. What little flavor I was getting was not good. Made it half way though before letting it die. My jaw could not handle it.


Cigar # 1
This cigar is rough looking, very veiny. Straight up ugly. Cut was ok, a little messy which makes me wonder if this is machine made. Now right off the bat there was something that I've never tasted in a cigar. I cannot put my finger on it. Even the smoke smelled different. It's toasty, kinda twangy. This cigar started on the mild side of medium, then moves into a more of a medium smoke halfway through. This one also had a tight draw, but didn't piss me off as bad because I enjoyed the flavor and aroma. The draw loosens up about halfway through. The burn got a little off at times. The strength really intensified towards the end, but I really enjoyed the last 2" of it. All around a good cigar. Wouldn't mind having a few of these in the trunk.



Now, if I rated these cigars on construction I would have to say that Number # 2 was the most expensive. But now if I rated it on taste, I would go with Number # 1.

But my final decision is number 2 was the more expensive, although it honestly was a tough decision.


This is an awesome idea, i'll probably wait and let everyone get a turn in and try again. Lots of fun. i'm lame.

Thanks FunkyCold!