The KC/DW Review Series

[King Catfish]

Nice reviews as always guys!!

You two don't have to review everything I sent ya........

Thanks for the kind words. I want to review the sticks you sent, though... somehow it seems like part of the gifting process for me, makes it really special.

Being busy is only part of the reason I have been neglecting reviews lately; also, everything in my humi I have smoked many times, and nothing in there inspires a review. So, although I know you bombed me in true spirit with no strings attached, I feel it is impossible for me to neglect reviewing this great stuff.

[King Catfish]

Connecticut wrapper
Binder: Connecticut, Dominican Republic
Filler: Brazil, Dominican Republic
Strength: Mild



Another goody in Ashauler’s care package was the Cusano 18 Paired Maduro in the robusto vitola. This cigar was chocolaty dark and firm with a slightly wrinkly, bumpy look; it was covered with plume and had a very slight sheen of oil. To my eye it appeared that my brother of the leaf had had this one around for a long time. The cigar cut cleanly and easily, and prelight draw was open, easy and airy with very little taste or aroma. I toasted, lit, and commenced to smoke.

The taste was immediately nutty and sharp, like black coffee. What a gorgeous taste, right from the start! Strength was mild, as billed, but the flavor was enormous, as was the smoke volume. The burn was initially less than even, but the burn zone, although not razor-thin, was well-defined. Queen Catfish took a puff and agreed that it had coffee and nuts dominant in the flavor profile.

The first third was a lesson in how smooth a smoke can be, and a lesson in how a lot of flavor can be delivered in a mild cigar. The ash was light gray and solid, but did not hold up very long, falling off at three quarters of an inch in length. Aftertaste was light but lingering. The nutty flavor came to the fore in the second third, with coffee remaining steady, and a bit of saltiness and bitterness in the aftertaste developing. I gave it a purge and let it rest a moment and the bitterness faded a bit.

The final third showed a strengthening of all flavors, and the addition of a bit of grassiness. The cigar was increasing in complexity as it progressed. The burn did become very uneven in the last third, with a bit of the wrapper flaking off.

Score = 82, gaining 1 point for a really excellent start and another for uniqueness; losing a point for a little bitterness in the aftertaste, for a final score of 83. If a mild cigar with a lot of flavor is what you’re after, I would certainly recommend you try this one. Many thanks to Ashauler for a fine smoke.

[ashauler]

Nice Review KC... (its getting to be redundant to type that to you two).

Yep, I've had that one for quite awhile.....these are a regular purchase for me and I always have some in the humi and coolers. Sorry you had the wrapper problem, these normally burn very well and the construction is usually consistent. I should have sent you a fresh one as well.......these things are much more powerful then, moving solidly into the medium category, imho.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[King Catfish]

Nice Review KC... (its getting to be redundant to type that to you two).

Yep, I've had that one for quite awhile.....these are a regular purchase for me and I always have some in the humi and coolers. Sorry you had the wrapper problem, these normally burn very well and the construction is usually consistent. I should have sent you a fresh one as well.......these things are much more powerful then, moving solidly into the medium category, imho.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Oh, no, it was fine. The wrapper problem was very minor and near the end anyway. A very tasty smoke. I enjoyed it, especially at the beginning. What a great start.

I have something that I really need to get off my chest. You both are horrible, horrible people. I have spent countless hours over the past week tirelessly researching different makers and blends. I have been digging through pages of online samplers and deals trying to decided what to spend my money on. Then, I start going through this wealth of information, reading, checking the index, rereading, over and over. If it weren’t for your incredibly thorough and informative reviews, I may have made up my mind on exactly what to order already. I may have just settled on a few safety smokes that I am already familiar with, or maybe even blindly picked out a box of dog rockets. Thanks for all the awesome reviews guys, keep em coming! Maybe I’ll make up my mind one of these days.

Thanks for the kind words.

[chefchris]

Glad you enjoyed the Signature Series. I don't hear a lot of people smoking these, but I enjoy them every now and then and so does Sarah. You can get a box of CBid for cheap.

[King Catfish]

Wrapper: Ecuadorian sun-grown Sumatra
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Honduran and Dominican

Thanks to Ashauler for scaring the crap out of me with this big Toro. The cigar comes well dressed in a cedar sleeve and a triple band in black and gold. When I pulled the stick out of its cello wrapper the aroma immediately drifted up as if to whisper to my nose that I was going to have my ass kicked. Yes, this cigar smells like a beating one looks forward to, a really strong classic tobacco smell. Read on, it turns out to be more gentle and civilized than it looked.

The wrapper was a dark-chocolate brown and very shiny and oily. Did I mention it smelled great? Construction was firm and solid and let’s light this thing already. The cut was made with no problem, toasting smelled nice, and away we went. Smoke volume was immediately admirable, and the flavor was milder than I was expecting at the start. The first asset the flavor profile showed me was nuttiness, followed by a glimpse of earthiness. (I am beginning to think Ashauler likes earthy, nutty cigars, no?)

The first third showed my poor lighting technique by starting out with a slightly uneven burn. The burn evened itself out pretty quickly, the burn line became very sharp indeed, and the taste of leather, oh, yes, my very favorite cigar taste of leather started to appear upon the palate. Coffee followed soon after. The ash was light gray and solid and fell off after about an inch.

In the second third the taste of black coffee was getting stronger, with nuts immediately behind; the leathery taste was relegated to the role of entertaining the palate in the lingering aftertaste. The final third showed more assertiveness from the leather (again) and perhaps a bit of a fade of the coffee, with all flavors getting stronger. I thought I detected a bit of black cherry (of all things) toward the end of each puff in the final third, which was a pleasant surprise. This was a very long-lasting smoke, about an hour and a half.

This is a solid, civilized, lovely cigar that looks brutal and strong; it starts gentle, making one feels as if this stick is all bluster and no balls; but the strength, complexity, and flavor build until the end, which is a crescendo of music for the tongue’s ear, as it were.

Score: 94. I could not find anything not to love about this stick. Ashauler, I thank you very warmly for this very nice evening.

[DeeDubya]

Great review KC. Now I've got to find some these because of you, the very person who warned us about the slippery slope.

[DeeDubya]

Ashauler sent me a special cigar. I don't know where these are still available except in some private humidors. It is the first of Oliva's Master Blends. They have since produced the Master Blends 2 (2006, a few are still available) and now the Master Blends 3 which have already been on the market for nearly a year. Note: this cigar might have been classed a "Double Robusto" instead of a Toro.

Ashauler if you accidentally sent me one that you intended to keep, well it's too late. It has gone up in smoke.

This cigar has a nice-looking wrapper, evenly colored in a milk-chocolate hue, and delicately branded with a laser engraved insignia beneath the band. Somewhat veiny, which is not unusual with Sumatra wrapper, but with an oily sheen and a virtually seamless roll. Well-packed and slightly pressed, but more oval than square. I used my v-cutter so as not to remove the cap. The pre-lit draw was somewhat earthy, typical of Nicaraguan tobacco.

It toasted and lit evenly with an effortless draw and collecting a light grey ash. It started very smooth and spicy. I detected a little white pepper bite on the finish along with an earthiness that remained on my palate. You might say the taste of excellence. Balance and consistancy were perfect throughout the first half.

At midpoint the flavors began to stack up but not to a point of becomming to strong or harsh. Just really robust goodness. It continued to smoke smoothly maintaining the full-bodied clouds of thick creamy smoke. Definately an afternoon or evening cigar. Perfect to help relax a full stomach.

I really enjoyed this cigar that Ashuler sent me. I'll bet he's wishing he had smoked it himself. Now I feel indebted to him and a little guilty for smoking this rare beauty. Just kidding, I would smoke it again in a heartbeat.

I have now smoked all 3 of the Master Blends in reverse order beginning with the Master Blends 3 which I reviewed early on in this thread. Just knowing that the original Master Blends is no longer available made it better, or was it the aging in Ashauler's humi or was it that Oliva's first effort hit on perfection. Their claim is that the Master Blends are made from surplus tobaccos that were intended for family consumption. All rolled to perfection by their best rollers.

Since these were made in very limited edition, I suggest the collectors among you reading this, take note. I'm certain it will become a quite valuable cigar down the road. I would like to have another if I can talk (buy, beg, steal) Ashauler out of one more.

On a scale of 1-10 I rate this cigar 9.5.

A reminder for readers. KC diligently keeps the posts in this series indexed on the 1st page.

[ashauler]

This is my very favorite cigar!! I'm glad you enjoyed it...... As far as getting another one........from me the chance is zero as that was my last one.

I flipped a coin to see if you or KC got it........you won. Now I'm off to look for more, but I fear I will have no luck.....they are indeed difficult to obtain. I have searched a couple of times and, total, I have only had in my possession 15 of these cigars.

[logan37]

Awesome reviews KC and DW. I'm really learning a lot from you guys. Keep it up

[bigwhiteash]

Gotta hate Jamie for hooking us up with awesome cigars that are not obtainable


The MB-1 is an outstanding cigar, judging by the single example I have had the pleasure of setting on fire!

Great review(s), Keep 'em coming guys

[Eville]

I have something that I really need to get off my chest. You both are horrible, horrible people. I have spent countless hours over the past week tirelessly researching different makers and blends. I have been digging through pages of online samplers and deals trying to decided what to spend my money on. Then, I start going through this wealth of information, reading, checking the index, rereading, over and over. If it weren’t for your incredibly thorough and informative reviews, I may have made up my mind on exactly what to order already. I may have just settled on a few safety smokes that I am already familiar with, or maybe even blindly picked out a box of dog rockets. Thanks for all the awesome reviews guys, keep em coming! Maybe I’ll make up my mind one of these days.

[logan37]

I have something that I really need to get off my chest. You both are horrible, horrible people. I have spent countless hours over the past week tirelessly researching different makers and blends. I have been digging through pages of online samplers and deals trying to decided what to spend my money on. Then, I start going through this wealth of information, reading, checking the index, rereading, over and over. If it weren’t for your incredibly thorough and informative reviews, I may have made up my mind on exactly what to order already. I may have just settled on a few safety smokes that I am already familiar with, or maybe even blindly picked out a box of dog rockets. Thanks for all the awesome reviews guys, keep em coming! Maybe I’ll make up my mind one of these days.

Try 'em all!

[ashauler]

I have something that I really need to get off my chest. You both are horrible, horrible people. I have spent countless hours over the past week tirelessly researching different makers and blends. I have been digging through pages of online samplers and deals trying to decided what to spend my money on. Then, I start going through this wealth of information, reading, checking the index, rereading, over and over. If it weren’t for your incredibly thorough and informative reviews, I may have made up my mind on exactly what to order already. I may have just settled on a few safety smokes that I am already familiar with, or maybe even blindly picked out a box of dog rockets. Thanks for all the awesome reviews guys, keep em coming! Maybe I’ll make up my mind one of these days.

LOL......I hope you don't think it gets any easier. If you haven't already, try the newbie sampler........that will make your head spin.

Try 'em all!

Famous last words........as you tip over the edge of the slope.