The KC/DW Review Series

[DeeDubya]

Nice review DW. I guess I will wait to smoke this one. Do you know how long you had the stick in your humi? Over a year? 2+?

I know I've had it at least a year. But I don't know when it was rolled. The problem with singles is just that... you don't know the production date. Boxes are always marked, so if you buy some singles just look at the box and make note of the date. Some are aged in the box but then I've bought a number of boxes that are only a month or two old.

[logan37]

Thanks DW. I wont be able to find out when the box was packed because the shop I bought it at just refills the boxes/cases that are already on the shelves usually.

[ashauler]

Thanks DW. I wont be able to find out when the box was packed because the shop I bought it at just refills the boxes/cases that are already on the shelves usually.

That's a very common practice, both my regular stores do the same thing.

[DeeDubya]

Thanks DW. I wont be able to find out when the box was packed because the shop I bought it at just refills the boxes/cases that are already on the shelves usually.

Yep, that pretty much does it. I think Rob here at HCH tries to keep them in the original box, at least the high end sticks.

[DeeDubya]

Another cedar-sleeved cigar.
KC did an "informal" review on this cigar some time back. I found one hibernating in my humi that I decided to try and compare to what he found. Now, given that he bought a bundle and immediately smoked them and this one has aged at least another 6 months might make a difference. I'm not sure if this is actually one that he had sent to me from the same bundle but I know I have had it at least that long.

I have no problem with the Shaggy-Foot. I toast and light them as any other stick. It would seem that they would flare up and start to burn crazy with all the loose filler sticking out but not so. They might even light better. I suspect it is more old-world novelty than function.

They are considered to be a premium handmade blend even at the low price of around $3-5 when bought on sale. There are so many factors that determine a cigar's price but of course the old faithful "supply-and-demand" theory is probably in play here with this line. If it catches on and attracts some attention, look out, prices are going up. It's a good cigar, it just needs a few more fans.

It is composed of a blend of heavy Nicaraguan long-fillers with a rich Ligero core and wrapped in a lustrous Honduran Corojo. Contrary to KC's "bundle" they are supposedly box aged for 6 months prior to distribution. This may be traditional oak box aging from which they are removed and re-packed to sell. It certainly had some oak wood flavor and really nice spicey finish. It had an unattractive salt-pepper ash but burned evenly and firmly. Overall it smoked very smoothly, producing thick creamy clouds of smoke with little effort. I enjoy a smoke just a little more when I don't have to coax it to burn properly.

I would consider this stick to be another "good value" at this time. KC gave this cigar an 82/100. I'm going raise the pot a little and attribute it to the extra aging.

On a scale of 1-10 I rate this cigar 8.5.

[mrtr33]

I have no problem with the Shaggy-Foot. I toast and light them as any other stick. It would seem that they would flare up and start to burn crazy with all the loose filler sticking out but not so. They might even light better. I suspect it is more old-world novelty than function.

On a scale of 1-10 I rate this cigar 8.5.

Yet another fabulous review. I have two questions.

One: Do you think the shaggy foots seen now in the more boutique brands more of a novelty, and what function could they possibly serve?

Two: Care to perhaps go a bit more in depth of the way you light a cigar? I'm still a newb. I just torch the fucking thing until I'm sure the end is entirely lit, and I know I'm doing it wrong, but all searching the forums only brings up vague descriptions. I sometimes use a torch, but most often, use matches, lighting the cigar (of course) after the sulfur burns off (but could be 5-10 matches). Thanks.

[DeeDubya]

Yet another fabulous review. I have two questions.

One: Do you think the shaggy foots seen now in the more boutique brands more of a novelty, and what function could they possibly serve?

Two: Care to perhaps go a bit more in depth of the way you light a cigar? I'm still a newb. I just torch the fucking thing until I'm sure the end is entirely lit, and I know I'm doing it wrong, but all searching the forums only brings up vague descriptions. I sometimes use a torch, but most often, use matches, lighting the cigar (of course) after the sulfur burns off (but could be 5-10 matches). Thanks.

Good questions but I'm afraid I will fail the first. I have not found a solid answer for why "Shaggy-foot" other than "Old World Tradition". I suspect it might go back as far as the first cigars. Now, yes I think it is just a novelty.

Properly lighting a cigar is probably as diverse as smoking one; But, I have some solid "Must do" and "Must not do" rules.

Lighting media - Get away from sulfer matches. They are only better than rubbing two sticks together. Basically, any match or torch that can introduce any contaminates to your cigar can and will taint the taste. It is almost impossible to avoid contaminates, mainly soot, so that's why it is so important to:

Toast - Use a blue flame torch or cedar spill to get the best results. Hold your cigar in one hand (not your mouth) and the torch or spill in the other. Keep the foot just above the tip of the flame where it is the hottest and most contaminates have been consumed. Slowly roll the cigar above the flame until you see an ember start to glow. Do not allow the flame to light the wrapper, just the very end of the foot. When it starts to glow, pull the flame away and blow on the foot, watching for a full ember. If you see some dark spots or it looks uneven, toast a little more and blow again. This really takes much less time than you might think and will vary with each vitola. A robusto would take longer to light than a corona. As soon as you have a full ember, puff away. Because you already have a full ember you won't have to draw very hard, it is already well lit. I promise, it will be become a natural and you will appreciate the result over time.

The Results - Because you have not drawn any contaminates into the cigar it will be in it's purest state. Let's take an extreme case with a sulfer match. Strike the match and immediately start to light your cigar. The burned sulfer is pulled completely through the entire length of the cold tobacco filler. As it does it condenses on the cooler tobacco and remains there. You have ruined an otherwise good cigar and it will not change as you smoke it. Oh, you will probably not notice it after a few minutes because you are now used to the sulfer taste. I am so picky that I can even taste the soot from a soft flame lighter if it is allowed to blacken the foot of a cigar. Zippos? Don't even ask. This is a cigar not a cigarette. You are in a different league.

Spills - The correct name for a cedar splint or stick or even the rolled up cedar sleeve you just removed from you cigar is a "Spill". Use one to toast your cigar. It is not as easy as using a torch because they sometime burn faster than the time it takes to toast. I like cedar spills but they also produce a lot of soot and sometimes pop and shoot little embers which can also be a challenge. Some justify the extra effort with an improved taste.

I hope this will help. I don't claim to be an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I have picked up some helpful hints along the way. Quite a long way I might add.

[mrtr33]

Do not allow the flame to light the wrapper, just the very end of the foot. When it starts to glow, pull the flame away and blow on the foot, watching for a full ember. If you see some dark spots or it looks uneven, toast a little more and blow again. This really takes much less time than you might think and will vary with each vitola. A robusto would take longer to light than a corona. As soon as you have a full ember, puff away. Because you already have a full ember you won't have to draw very hard, it is already well lit. I promise, it will be become a natural and you will appreciate the result over time.

Spills - The correct name for a cedar splint or stick or even the rolled up cedar sleeve you just removed from you cigar is a "Spill".

I hope this will help. I don't claim to be an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I have picked up some helpful hints along the way. Quite a long way I might add.

You haven't the slightest idea how far my imagination can stretch. THANKS! That was awesome.

But more questions.

For one thing, if no part of the flame touches the wrapper, I only allow the embers to burn the wrapper, where, as I've been told before, the majority of the taste resides, correct?
I have a dual-torch, which it would seem make lighting smaller ring-gauge cigars more difficult. But because only the top of the flame is touching / toasting, it won't make any difference, will it? So how high do you set your torch, then?

The advantage to using a spill is to add a bit of a smoked cedary taste to the cigar, correct? I don't suppose it makes any difference what you light the cedar spill with, is there?

Thanks again.