The KC/DW Review Series

[mrtr33]

I have so many cigars to try as a result of this thread. Thank you both so much.

[DeeDubya]

This is a very "authentic" looking cigar if there is such a thing. Robusto size, tawny and oily Nicaraguan wrapper, heavy feeling, thick, sweet aroma before lighting. I think the fillers are a blend of Colombian, Costa Rican and Nicaraguan.
Toasting further exemplified it's appearance. Cocoa, almonds, fresh ground columbian coffee all filled the air as I anticipated that first puff.
A medium draw and some very thick and creamy smoke started an hour and one half of very pleasurable smoking. Surprisingly it did not build in intensity or bitterness like some of the full-bodied cigars do. I've had some that started smooth but ended downright nasty. Like the Manolete Belicoso's that the goats won't eat.
It definately lives up to it's "robusto" classification as a full-flavored, full-bodied and well-balanced cigar. This is most likely one of the best sticks I've had lately. I plan to smoke another tonight just be sure.
I had Scotch but maybe Guiness would compliment this stogie as well.
A cigar like this needs appreciation. Don't waste them on someone who doesn't normally smoke. We all have friends who want one only after they see you light up. This cigar will kick their ass and they will most likely toss it.

On a scale of 1-10 I would rate this cigar 9.6

[DeeDubya]

This evening I will smoke a big cigar. I could see Paul Bunyon puffing one of these after a 64oz Porterhouse. For me it's a little too big. Being a generous contribution from King Catfish I will give it my best shot.

A little research indicates a blend of rare Italian and Piloto Cubano Dominican fillers. The wrapper is a jet black triple-fermented Brazilian maduro leaf. A very nice oily sheen and toothy to the touch, it is an impressive looking stick.

This heavy duty maduro certainly did have that "manure" aroma discussed elsewhere in this forum. I imagine "triple-fermenting" would have something to do with that. Toasting didn't reveal anything different than any other maduro other than taking a while to get it glowing. The first half was fairly mild for a reputedly full-bodied smoke with plenty rich sweetness and smooth tobacco taste. However, I did detect some slight ammonia on the palate, again probably due to the triple-fermenting.
The firm ash held for about 3" until I tipped it, afraid that it would fall unexpectedly and cause some discomfort with it's inch wide coal aglow.

At halfway the heavy layers of tabacco flavor were getting my attention but I had to search for "special" flavors other than just plain rich tobacco. The ammonia scents went away and it settled in to what turned out to be a pretty decent stick. It did burn a little uneven toward the end but not unmanageable. The ash was never pure white in keeping with a good maduro and had some large dark clouds that I think were due to the binder and not the wrapper.

All in all I was not impressed but it might be just the stogie for someone like, well, Paul Bunyon or Monica Lewinski.

On a scale of 1-10 I will give it a 7.

[King Catfish]

Hey there. Nice Review, DW. I have to agree in full. I found this cigar not too spectacular, but it was different and interesting, so I thought you might like to try it.

I caught a couple of nice trout, and a trophy smallmouth that I had to throw back of course (not in season right now). My team failed to win the pool, though.

I will try to resume reviews this week. Thanks for keeping it going, DW.

[DeeDubya]

Occasionally I will dig around in my humi and come up with something I didn't know was there. I don't remember buying this cigar so it must have been in a sampler. Anyway it turned out to be a decent stick so I thought I'd write a quick review.

The 1927 has a beautiful Brazilian wrapper, oily and covered with tooth. It was a little light in the hand and the dry draw was easy so I expected a fast burn. It started out burning a little too fast for my liking but did not get hot and the ash was very nice, white like a maduro ash. So, the wrapper did it's part.

Inside was concealed a well rolled blend of extra-aged Cuban-seed Nicaraguan and Dominican long-fillers. So I got some pleasurable coffee, dark chocolate and slightly spicey aromas around the half-way mark along with some complex tobacco flavors.

The finish continued to burn very even and the flavors strengthened a little along with the addition of some woodsey flavors. All in all a pretty good value for a cuban wannabe in the lower price range.

On a 1-10 scale I will rate it 7.5

[King Catfish]

I think it was me who sent you the 1927. If I didn't I meant to.

You package arrived today, DW. Thanks very much! It's a big stack of fabulous sticks to try.

I think this thread is going to become very large indeed.

[King Catfish]

Today I am reviewing a big (7. 5/8 x 54) torpedo, the Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Royal Salute. It appears to be the sun-grown Ecuadorian wrapper version. It comes with a black stripe on the lower edge of the usual red Arturo Fuente band, a cedar sleeve, and a black ribbon for a footband. Its garb, shape, color and thickness make for an impressive presentation. The cigar was very firm in the hand, but without an excess of weight.

The wrapper was a medium brown with a fine texture; it was medium brown in color, with a slight sheen of oil. Construction appeared rock-solid, absolutely perfect. This cigar appeared to my not-quite-expert eye to have the tiniest bit of plume on it; it was also a bit light (in weight) for its size. I would wager this cigar has been in Deedubya’s humidor for quite a while. Prelight aroma was spicy and cedary. The prelight draw was very free and easy, and my mouth was watering to get this stick started, so I took my diamond file to my el-cheapo cutter and made the cut. Unfortunately, the cut produced a small crack at the cap, which flaked just a bit. I really need a new cutter, I think.

Toasting the foot brought to the nose a dark, earthy, complex smell I enjoyed but could not name; the first puffs arrived with great volume and character. Right away earthiness, leather and spice were at the fore, with nuts in the background. The aroma of smoke in the room was pleasant and “classic”. I don’t know how else to describe it; it was just a classic pleasant cigar smell. The ash was white from the very beginning, and quite firm.

The first third delivered an abundance of spice and a taste somewhere between earthiness and leather. The cigar was obviously full-bodied and very flavorful right from the very first half-inch; no weak start for this one! The burn was acceptably even although not perfectly so. The aftertaste was pleasant and persistent. This cigar was like a confident karate master at tea or a champion boxer at an opera; the strength and huge character did not attack the mouth or throat, but gave a civilized display of power without wrecking the place. Perhaps like a mild-tempered draft horse: nonaggressive but strong. You get the idea.

Before the first third was over, the burn perfected itself without any help from me. By the time the middle third got started a mild saltiness was emerging, and the cigar burned very cool and smooth. It was at this point the entire first third fell off as a single ash, well over an inch and half in length. The saltiness was increasing slightly, as was my impression that this is a very individual, unique cigar, different from any others I’ve had. The spiciness remained center-stage, and the leatheriness was fading; there was perhaps the smallest hint of unsweetened chocolate, perhaps coffee, maybe some wood, but none of these were pronounced or central to the overall taste. Smoke volume remained simply enormous. The next ash that fell off was nearly three inches in length.

The final third brought in an alkaline, “black coffee aftertaste” sort of flavor, with the leatheriness, earthiness, and saltiness fading; the spiciness remained. Taking the band off produced some tiny cracks in the wrapper and worsened the crack already in the cap, and the cigar started to unravel a bit. It seems the band was stuck to the cigar just a bit, and I was not deft enough to get it off without damage. Despite my care not to rush it and puff too often (hard to do with a smoke this tasty), the flavor profile started to blend together and become a little less complex, and the aftertaste started to become a bit flat and bitter, although still pretty good. In the final inch, a purge brought back some of the flavor quality, but construction issues prevented me from smoking it quite to the finger-burning stage.

An hour and a half had passed. Make sure you have enough time for this one.

Score 19.25 (x5) = 96.25, losing a point for not surviving my inexpert cut unscathed and another point for a somewhat flat and bitter finish, for a final score of 94.25. This is a most excellent, well balanced cigar, with a complex, strong, delicious flavor profile, especially in the first half. I smoked it with a glass of water (trying to cut back on the drinking). I would try my next one with a rich, flavorful meal, and I would not worry about overpowering it with strong drink, although I would avoid anything sweet, which I think would clash with the taste.

Many thanks to the generous DeeDubya for this fine experience.