The KC/DW Review Series

[King Catfish]

Montecristo White Especiale No. 3.

This afternoon, after lunch, I smoked a Montecristo White. It appears to be an Especiale #3. It is a small robusto or long Rothschild in shape. The band a white circle with a gold Fleur-de-Lis. The wrapper color was light brown and very even and uniform. Prelight aroma was a pure tobacco sort of smell, rich and unassuming. The taste was immediately very rich and creamy on the lips and tongue, with a very slight hint of bite in the throat. Smoke was abundant throughout. The aftertaste lingered a bit and was somehow simultaneously slightly sharp and thick/creamy, perhaps a bit alkaline like black coffee. Wood and leather predominated the generous flavor. The harmony of presentation on the palate was superior. Strength was quite mild, medium in the last third, with coffee flavors ascending.

Overall, the cigar was possessed of a elegant, harmonious, and agreeable character that did not overstate its case. The cigar remained mostly steady through its lifetime, with no noticeable evolution except for increasing intensity after the midpoint.

16 (x 5) = 80.

Thanks again, DW.

[DeeDubya]

King Catfish,
I would say that your review of the Gran Hanano and Montecristo are right on. I don't have the discriminating palate that you have and I can't detect all the distinct flavors. I wish I could but I'm afraid that some of my taste buds are either lame or missing altogether.
However, generally speaking I know a good cigar when I smoke one. I have to say that the finish is most important for me with any cigar.
A perfectly good tasting, even burning cigar that has a bitter or harsh finish is IMO a bad cigar. I know that some people smoke a cigar just down to the band and toss it. But when I smoke a really good tasting cigar to the band I just can't stop there. I peel the band and continue to enjoy it, sometimes until my fingers are getting hot. Now that's what I'm talking about, a good finish that I truly enjoyed and a taste that I will remember. After all, the finish will determine the aftertaste.
Let me know if you try another one of the Gurhka "rejects". I held a few back for the goats but if you find a way to smoke them, I'll give them another try.

[King Catfish]

King Catfish,
Let me know if you try another one of the Gurhka "rejects". I held a few back for the goats but if you find a way to smoke them, I'll give them another try.

Well, I've had two so far, one lit from the "open" end and the other lit from the "overlap" end, and both times the wrapper came completely off the cigar. The Master Select has a taste I really like, so I fought my way through it both times. No luck so far on keeping the wrapper on it, though.

I'm enjoying them a lot, but it's a sit-at-the-kitchen-table-and-carefully-hold-the-wrapper-in-place sort of smoke. If I figure it out, I'll be glad to let you know, but I do not have my hopes up at this point.

King Catfish,
I would say that your review of the Gran Hanano and Montecristo are right on. I don't have the discriminating palate that you have and I can't detect all the distinct flavors.

Well, I was able to taste all those flavors, but without a "reviewing guide" checklist I downloaded, I would not have been able to identify them all by name like that. The checklist really helped a lot, showed me what to look for, and gave me an idea on what might be missing. Helped a lot in clarifying in my mind why I like a cigar. I'm just a beginner, really, but learning how to assess a cigar has been a lot of fun.

Except for the reviews in this thread, I have done as you do, which is decide simply whether or not I like a cigar and leave it at that.

[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.

[King Catfish]

King Catfish,
<snip>
Let me know if you try another one of the Gurhka "rejects". I held a few back for the goats but if you find a way to smoke them, I'll give them another try.

OK, having had a couple of beers in me, I tried another one of the Gurkha Master Select Perfectos you sent, the third one I tried. The first two completely unraveled, as I mentioned previously.

This third one is now half-smoked, and it is keeping completely together, and doing quite nicely. I cut this one at the "overlap/cap" end, and lit the other end. I'm not sure why this one is showing no sign at all of unraveling, but I am enjoying the hell out of it.

The only thing I did differently this time is to leave the band on. The way the cigar is smoking, that does not seem to be making a difference (ie, the cigar is not unraveling up to the band and pressing against it).

Not sure what's going on here, but I'm liking it. :)

Thanks again, DW. One home run of three at-bats, so far.

OK, it's now done, and did not unravel at all. I took the band off a little past the halfway-point. Nice stick. I wish I could definitively say why this one held together and the previous two did not.

[DeeDubya]

Well, strangely enough I too decided to have a Gurkha Perfecto tonight. I believe I had 3 beers though before I smoked it. Likewise it did not unwrap but was hard to draw. I had removed the band and double checked the direction of the wrap. It burned uneven and I noticed a consideable one-sided obstruction that was most likely the reason for the hard draw. I finished it, finally, still convinced that these are poorly rolled, low quality and would not recommend them. Unfortunately I still have a few left but the goats like them.
I think I will disect one just to see how they are constructed. I'll bet a trainee rolled these and they got mixed in with the #1's. What else? They're crap. No more for me, I'll smoke a Dutch Masters before I waste my time on another.
Tomorrow I think I'll have a God of Fire to make up for lost time.
Have a good weekend.

[DeeDubya]

Having now smoked 5 of the Diablo's I agree with others that it is a pretty darn good stick. For an inexpensive cigar, it has a lot of robust, spicy flavour in a well constructed package. Dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, with an even burn, firm salt/pepper ash. I haven't tried the other sizes but can vouch for the Caliente. This one makes for a very good "everyday" smoke at a price that anyone can afford.

I was at first confused about the labeling. This Diablo line is called Picantes. However, one of the Picantes is also a Picantes (Diablo Picantes Picante) which I have not tried.
They are: Diablo Picantes Caliente, Picantes Gran Fuego, Picantes Picante and Picantes Pimiento.

Anyway, good stick for a good price.
On a scale of 1-10 I will give the Caliente 8.5.

[King Catfish]

Deedubya’s post above inspired me to have another go at this reviewing thing. Hopefully I’m doing a decent job at it.

This is a firmly packed robusto with a light brown wrapper of medium texture with some noticeable veins. I enjoyed it today after lunch with a glass of water, listening to talk radio. This cigar comes from DW, and I thank him again for the opportunity to experience a new cigar.

Prelit aroma was faint and unremarkable. Not much of an oily sheen. Construction and color were very even. I managed to cut it perfectly. After toasting the foot, upon lighting the cigar I was greeted with a voluminous cloud of tasty smoke. The taste was a bit woody and certainly mild. A leatheriness started to assert itself almost immediately, with a spiciness following. A very eventful first few puffs.

The first third saw the leatheriness start to fade almost as soon as it arrived, and the woodiness reigned. Smoke volume stayed solid. A spiciness was deep in the background, the spice taste reminding me more of cinnamon rather than black pepper. The draw remained pleasantly easy throughout. The wrapper tasted lovely on the lips, moreso than any cigar I have had in recent memory. Usually the taste of the wrapper on the lips fades before the increasing press of the smoke itself, but not so with this cigar. Near the end of the first third a nice sensation in the upper soft palate was developing, perhaps vanilla? I’m not sure how to describe it, but it was very pleasant. The aroma of the smoke filling the room was soft and creamy and very nice.

As the cigar progressed into the second third I was beginning to be very glad I decided to have a glass of water with this cigar rather than whiskey or coffee. Coffee probably would have been a good pairing, but this cigar carries enough with it that it deserves the palate’s full attention. The second third presented a waltz between leather and wood, with spice fading into the background in envy at their dancing prowess. The last third was largely a continuation of the second third.

A most lovely cigar. I smoked it right down to the point at which it started to burn my fingers, and I was sorry to see it end.

Score 19.1 (x5) = 95.5

EDITED TO ADD: The cigar was a nice slow smoke, too. Lasted for about 1.5 hours.

[DeeDubya]

Deedubya’s post above inspired me to have another go at this reviewing thing. Hopefully I’m doing a decent job at it.

This is a firmly packed robusto with a light brown wrapper of medium texture with some noticeable veins. I enjoyed it today after lunch with a glass of water, listening to talk radio. This cigar comes from DW, and I thank him again for the opportunity to experience a new cigar.

Prelit aroma was faint and unremarkable. Not much of an oily sheen. Construction and color were very even. I managed to cut it perfectly. After toasting the foot, upon lighting the cigar I was greeted with a voluminous cloud of tasty smoke. The taste was a bit woody and certainly mild. A leatheriness started to assert itself almost immediately, with a spiciness following. A very eventful first few puffs.

The first third saw the leatheriness start to fade almost as soon as it arrived, and the woodiness reigned. Smoke volume stayed solid. A spiciness was deep in the background, the spice taste reminding me more of cinnamon rather than black pepper. The draw remained pleasantly easy throughout. The wrapper tasted lovely on the lips, moreso than any cigar I have had in recent memory. Usually the taste of the wrapper on the lips fades before the increasing press of the smoke itself, but not so with this cigar. Near the end of the first third a nice sensation in the upper soft palate was developing, perhaps vanilla? I’m not sure how to describe it, but it was very pleasant. The aroma of the smoke filling the room was soft and creamy and very nice.

As the cigar progressed into the second third I was beginning to be very glad I decided to have a glass of water with this cigar rather than whiskey or coffee. Coffee probably would have been a good pairing, but this cigar carries enough with it that it deserves the palate’s full attention. The second third presented a waltz between leather and wood, with spice fading into the background in envy at their dancing prowess. The last third was largely a continuation of the second third.

A most lovely cigar. I smoked it right down to the point at which it started to burn my fingers, and I was sorry to see it end.

Score 19.1 (x5) = 95.5

EDITED TO ADD: The cigar was a nice slow smoke, too. Lasted for about 1.5 hours.

A decent job? I would say that even had I not smoked an Aurora, your colorful discription would make me want one right now.

Which I might add is exactly how it smoked for me. Great cigar. I believe the La Aurora line was awarded "Cigar of the Year" in Aficionado a few years back. I'm going to try the Brazil this evening. I fully expect a little more body so I think I'll have a small glass of Dow's 10 Tawny Porto.

[ashauler]

Having now smoked 5 of the Diablo's I agree with others that it is a pretty darn good stick. For an inexpensive cigar, it has a lot of robust, spicy flavour in a well constructed package. Dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, with an even burn, firm salt/pepper ash. I haven't tried the other sizes but can vouch for the Caliente. This one makes for a very good "everyday" smoke at a price that anyone can afford.

I was at first confused about the labeling. This Diablo line is called Picantes. However, one of the Picantes is also a Picantes (Diablo Picantes Picante) which I have not tried.
They are: Diablo Picantes Caliente, Picantes Gran Fuego, Picantes Picante and Picantes Pimiento.

Anyway, good stick for a good price.
On a scale of 1-10 I will give the Caliente 8.5.

The Picante size is one of my daily's. Good short PC smoke and there is not much drop off in flavor from the bigger rg's, imho.