Cusano 18 Paired Maduro...Take 1

[fainc07]

Last night I found myself smoking a Cusano 18 Paired Maduro Robusto...My thoughts are as follows:

I'll say that to date, I've never met a Cusano I didn't like....UNTIL last night. This was my first go around with this particular stick, and I was shocked to learn that it just didn't stack up against the numerous other Cusano's I've enjoyed (admittedly they've always been the Corojo or Conneticutt sticks) in the past.

It started out hot and rough, I mean, down right bitter...which is fair, and sometimes you have to roll with it. About and inch or so it mellowed out quite a bit, produced a smokey grey colored ash, and some nice wet smoke. I was thinking to myself at the time "shame on you Mark for getting all bent out of shape for nothing...you'e got a solid 3.5-4 inches of smokey delight waiting for you!" Then...

It's like someone turned on the heater...ash turned a terribly dirty snow type color, draw was ueber hot, and it got bitter again. Against my better judgement, I kept going to see what would happen next, but unfortunately it just never got any better.

I've another in my h'dor now, and will give it another shot, hoping that I'd just gotten a dud, a Cusano anomaly if you will.

Til take 2, another review will follow

Cheers,

Mark

[ashauler]

I'm sorry to hear the bad experience. I smoke quite a few cusano's, and my fav is the maduro. I've never had one be bitter, maybe a little spicy for the first 1/2" or so on the finish but that always mellows down and a nice sweet smoke follows.

Let the other rest a bit longer and give it another shot, maybe you're right ya just got a dud.

[fainc07]

Hey Ash,

I do hope you're right...I'll let it work itself out hopefully and give it another college try.

Like most on this board that I've seen, I try to never pass judgement, good or bad, until I've smoked at least two of something...However, when something is REALLY good, I tend to say something...I get excited what can I say :)

Cheers,

Mark

[ashauler]

Hey Ash,

I do hope you're right...I'll let it work itself out hopefully and give it another college try.

Like most on this board that I've seen, I try to never pass judgement, good or bad, until I've smoked at least two of something...However, when something is REALLY good, I tend to say something...I get excited what can I say :)

Cheers,

Mark

Right on, I hope your next experience is better. I try to smoke 3 - 5 of a stick, as long as it is reasonably priced, before I decide its a "bad" cigar for me......this lets me try all the options like aging, dry-boxing before smoking, different beverages, etc......

[Newfie]

Mark, don't cut them off after just one smoke. They're great "economical" sticks and are a definate personal favourite of mine. I look at your experience like mine with the Avalon Juke Blue I smoked. I'm not going to write off any brand or particular brand just because I had one bad one. Stick with this one and try 'em again, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

[FunkyCold5]

Had a similar experience a robusto C18DpM. But, figured it didn't have enough rest in the coolidor, so I'm just waiting to smoke another in a month or two. Hope your experience improves the next go around, and the same goes for me.