The KC/DW Review Series

[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.

[King Catfish]

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.

Nice. I would love to read a review of it, if you're willing.

About the Diablos, they are discontinued, yes? I would like to get some (waiting for the funds)... I'll need to move on them soon, correct?

[DeeDubya]

KC,
I don't think so. Famous still has their 2-fer deal going plus free freight. I just got 2 boxes yesterday and sent one to my son. Find an bud and split an order.

[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.