Review These - Reviews

[chefchris]

Alright ReV, great reviews!

Cigar #1 Was an Indian Tubac Cameroon Legend
Cigar #2 Was a Gurkha Signature '101' Maduro

And you were right, #2 was the more expensive cigar.

I really like those Cameroon Legends. Good cheap smoke.

[ReV]

Alright, i got em' right. Thanks for the cigars chris, i cant get those localy.

[JJ Westbrook]

Ok, sorry it took me this long to post my reviews, but this was a LONG weekend at work. I will review in the order that I smoked the cigars.

Cigar #2

This stick is about 5 inches long and about a 48 ring gauge I would guess. The wrapper is very light in color. The "squeeze" on this stick is a little softer than I have seen before. I automatically assume that the draw on this is going to be very loose. I was correct. I used my favorite puch on both of these smokes just to be fair. The pre-light draw was, indeed, loose but kind of flavorful. It lit and burned fine. The taste started off pretty rough, but got better shortly after. Now I have to say that I was not over impressed with this smoke. It was too loose and did go out about 30% through it. I would like to say I got to finish it and give it a fair review. However, as usual, life (or more specifically, work) got in the way. My job requires me to be on-call at times. This weekend was one of those times. I got an onslaught of calls suddenly while I am trying to enjoy my smoke. It got so bad that I got frustrated and called it quits after about 50-55%. I really hope this is not the better of the two cigars that just got ruined.

Cigar #1

This stick is 6 inches long and about the same ring gauge as the first one. The wrapper is darker and tighter than the first. The "squeeze" was much tougher than the first, it was down right stiff. Not hard, but stiff. Pre-light draw was tough but very tasty. Lighting was easy but drawing was tough right from the very beginning. Also, the burn was even down the length of but I swear it burned primarily at the center of the cigar. It did not burn evenly across the foot. This was somewhat annoying, but the taste was good enough that I wanted to continue. The draw did improve a bit shortly into the smoke, but then just got worse. Smoking this thing was a real chore. It went out a couple of times within the 90 minutes I smoked on it. Finally, I surrendered around 3/4 through the cigar. I have never had one this tough before, so I guess this is what is called a plug.

Well, as tough a time I had with these reviews, I am still going to take a stab at picking the more expensive of the two. But for the plug, my choice would easily be Cigar #1. I am aware that this can happen at random with even some (usually) really good cigars. So, my choice is still going to be Cigar #1.

Either way, thanks for the chance to participate in this again. And thank you for the stow-aways that you sent. That was rather kind of you.

[ReV]

Nice::

#1, the longer stick was a Carlos Torano Noventa ~$11
#2, the shorth light stick, was a Gispert ~$3

[WOXOF]

Reviews for smokes sent by JJ Westbrook

Cigar #1

This was a very well constructed cigar with a natural shade wrapper. It looked to be a robusto size (maybe a toro) but I didn't break out the ruler. I sparked this one up for a walk with my son. The cigar lit up nicely with no touch-ups required. It started out with a perfect burn. The draw was a little tighter than I like but not so much that it bothered me. The initial flavor was what I was expecting. It was a mild nutty flavor, nothing special. The perfect burn continued through the first inch. The ash was very light gray and firm. About an inch into the cigar I began to pick up some spice (maybe white pepper) and the draw lossened up a bit. At about an inch and a half the cigar was at it's best. I lightly tapped the cigar to remove the ash, which revealed a perfect cone shaped cherry. From this point on, I didn't notice any further changes in the cigar. It remained just on the mild side of medium with a hint of pepper. Absolute perfect burn. It was a pretty enjoyable smoke for the walk through the neighborhood.

Cigar #2

Well I finally got to cigar #2 tonight. The smoking activity for the night was watching Casino Royale. This cigar was a robusto, about 4.74 X 50 ish. It looked like a natural wrapper. The construction was average with no large veins. It was a little soft on the squeeze test. Prelight draw was surprisingly tight. It lit up without a hitch. I only had to do a slight touch up at the beginning. The flavor started out rich with a good tobacco flavor. Not much spice to this one but a good medium flavored cigar. Within the first inch the burn evened out and stayed consistant. At about the inch mark the ash fell off unexpectedly, but I recovered. It's not the first time I've had hot ash in my lap. The draw remained just a little on the tight side. The smoke remained one dimensional for the remainder of the cigar. It was what I would call a medium bodied cigar at best. Nice flavor to it but nothing that piqued my interest. It finally quit on me with about two inches left, leaving me wanting more. I grabbed a PSP2 to finish out the movie.

Both of these cigars were good. Based on the construction and quality of cigar #1, I would have to say it was the more expensive of the two. Cigar #2 actually had more of the flavor profile that I prefer, it was just missing a little spice.

[Kass]

Review for smokes from WOXOF

Cigar#1
This cigar had a dark wrapper, well constructed, box pressed and around 6x48 I'd guess. Predraw was good, had a nice earthy taste. I'd say it was a medium (light side of medium) smoke with lots of flavour. It started off with a nice earthy flavour, got a little sweet and creamier after the first few puffs. The ash fell off after around an inch and a bit. Then I started to taste some chocolate flavours along side the earthyness. Only had to do a couple minor touch ups on the burn. This flavour stayed pretty constant until about 2 inches left and it got a bit stronger. At an inch left it started to get a stale taste to it, plus the wind was picking up quite a bit so I let it down to rest. I really enjoyed this smoke, it was much to my liking. Wouldn't mind having a bunch of these in my stash.

Cigar#2
This cigar looked very similar to cigar #1, same size and very well constructed. I think it was a bit darker though. It cut well, but the cap came loose and was hanging off, so I ripped it off and it didn't cause any problems, no unraveling of the wrapper. Predraw seemed a little tight and had a nice sweet earthy tatse. I lit it up and it was pretty mild with some nice earthyness. Draw was a bit tight until it got burning a bit but then it was perfect. After a few puffs it became sweet and a bit nutty. Ash fell off before an inch, and I could tatse some chocolate nutty earthyness flavour. With about 2.5 inches left the flavours became a bit stronger and I think I could taste a bit of woody flavour, along with the chocolate/nutty flavours. This smoke burned perfect, no issues at all. I nubbed it. I really liked the last 2.5 inches of it.

Man... its hard to tell which one was the most expensive. Both were great smokes.
I'm gonna go with #2 being the better one, because of the great burn and it tasted great until I nubbed it. Although I personally liked how cigar #1 was a bit heavier.
I wouldn't mind having a box of each.

So how'd I do?

[WOXOF]

Review for smokes from WOXOF

Cigar#1
This cigar had a dark wrapper, well constructed, box pressed and around 6x48 I'd guess. Predraw was good, had a nice earthy taste. I'd say it was a medium (light side of medium) smoke with lots of flavour. It started off with a nice earthy flavour, got a little sweet and creamier after the first few puffs. The ash fell off after around an inch and a bit. Then I started to taste some chocolate flavours along side the earthyness. Only had to do a couple minor touch ups on the burn. This flavour stayed pretty constant until about 2 inches left and it got a bit stronger. At an inch left it started to get a stale taste to it, plus the wind was picking up quite a bit so I let it down to rest. I really enjoyed this smoke, it was much to my liking. Wouldn't mind having a bunch of these in my stash.

Cigar#2
This cigar looked very similar to cigar #1, same size and very well constructed. I think it was a bit darker though. It cut well, but the cap came loose and was hanging off, so I ripped it off and it didn't cause any problems, no unraveling of the wrapper. Predraw seemed a little tight and had a nice sweet earthy tatse. I lit it up and it was pretty mild with some nice earthyness. Draw was a bit tight until it got burning a bit but then it was perfect. After a few puffs it became sweet and a bit nutty. Ash fell off before an inch, and I could tatse some chocolate nutty earthyness flavour. With about 2.5 inches left the flavours became a bit stronger and I think I could taste a bit of woody flavour, along with the chocolate/nutty flavours. This smoke burned perfect, no issues at all. I nubbed it. I really liked the last 2.5 inches of it.

Man... its hard to tell which one was the most expensive. Both were great smokes.
I'm gonna go with #2 being the better one, because of the great burn and it tasted great until I nubbed it. Although I personally liked how cigar #1 was a bit heavier.
I wouldn't mind having a box of each.


So how'd I do?

Cigar #1
Rocky Patel Vintage '90 toro, around $6.75 each

Cigar #2
Sancho Panza Double Maduro Cervantes, around $2.25 each

Nice reviews. If you go for a box of the R.P. Vintage, sample a '92 first. I enjoy them a little more than the '90s. You almost have to buy a box of the Sancho Panza Dbl Mad. For less than $50, it's a good box of smokes.

[JJ Westbrook]

Reviews for smokes sent by JJ Westbrook

Cigar #1

This was a very well constructed cigar with a natural shade wrapper. It looked to be a robusto size (maybe a toro) but I didn't break out the ruler. I sparked this one up for a walk with my son. The cigar lit up nicely with no touch-ups required. It started out with a perfect burn. The draw was a little tighter than I like but not so much that it bothered me. The initial flavor was what I was expecting. It was a mild nutty flavor, nothing special. The perfect burn continued through the first inch. The ash was very light gray and firm. About an inch into the cigar I began to pick up some spice (maybe white pepper) and the draw lossened up a bit. At about an inch and a half the cigar was at it's best. I lightly tapped the cigar to remove the ash, which revealed a perfect cone shaped cherry. From this point on, I didn't notice any further changes in the cigar. It remained just on the mild side of medium with a hint of pepper. Absolute perfect burn. It was a pretty enjoyable smoke for the walk through the neighborhood.

Cigar #2

Well I finally got to cigar #2 tonight. The smoking activity for the night was watching Casino Royale. This cigar was a robusto, about 4.74 X 50 ish. It looked like a natural wrapper. The construction was average with no large veins. It was a little soft on the squeeze test. Prelight draw was surprisingly tight. It lit up without a hitch. I only had to do a slight touch up at the beginning. The flavor started out rich with a good tobacco flavor. Not much spice to this one but a good medium flavored cigar. Within the first inch the burn evened out and stayed consistant. At about the inch mark the ash fell off unexpectedly, but I recovered. It's not the first time I've had hot ash in my lap. The draw remained just a little on the tight side. The smoke remained one dimensional for the remainder of the cigar. It was what I would call a medium bodied cigar at best. Nice flavor to it but nothing that piqued my interest. It finally quit on me with about two inches left, leaving me wanting more. I grabbed a PSP2 to finish out the movie.

Both of these cigars were good. Based on the construction and quality of cigar #1, I would have to say it was the more expensive of the two. Cigar #2 actually had more of the flavor profile that I prefer, it was just missing a little spice.

I just realized that my response, with the picks, did not come through. So, I will try this again.

#1 = Romeo y Julieta Medallas de Oro 1875 = $5.27

#2 = Quorum (Nicaraguan handmade) = #2.00

Good reviews. I hope you enjoyed.

[borovy3488]

Review for #1 from Kass.

OK, I'm not going to lie to you guys, these aren't going to be the best reviews in the world, but hopefully they'll work. Today I smoked the #1 cigar I got from Kass. The wrapper looked OK, a little rough with a small hole at about the center part of the cigar. The prelight aroma was good, and the prelight draw was a little tight. The taste of the cigar after light, to tell the truth, wasn't the best in the world. To me, it tasted like, well tobacco. Not much of a flavor to it. The ash was more black than anything, white here and there, but mostly black. Didn't produce that much smoke. I had to touchup the burn probably 4 times. This cigar at best was OK. So far, I would say that this is the cheaper one. #2's prelight aroma is excellent, cant wait to smoke it. Hopefully tomorrow.... How'd I do?
MORE TO COME!!

-Wayne

::By the way, I'm still working on my end. I think I've got the right combo to send out, it will go out tomorrow, if not, the next day. Going to Dan in NY!