Kinky Friedman Cigar Review Series

[DeeDubya]

Good review BigWhite. You took this one on unbiased and with an open mind. I hope the "Willie" fares better. This is a CI interview from last October: http://www.stogieguys.com/2007/10/10...-friedman.html

Oh yes, I think that is very ingenius of Kinky to blend a few raisins in with the Honduran tobacco, but apparantly cause black blotches in the ash because they don't burn well.

[bigwhiteash]

Oh yes, I think that is very ingenius of Kinky to blend a few raisins in with the Honduran tobacco, but apparantly cause black blotches in the ash because they don't burn well.

Are you serioous? I didn't see that in the article, I guess that would explain the prelight aroma, huh?
I'm really not a fan of smoking anything other than pure tobacco, so I may have to knock a pioint off if that's true.

[bigwhiteash]

Willie

This is a 6" X 48 shaggy foot toro sized cigar of very nice build, somewhat toothier than the 'Jewboy, firm to the touch, and heavy in the hand. Nice pigtail cap. Siffing the Willie, I get a nice sense of hay-farmland-woodsy-tobacco, very pleasant, and reminds me of the aroma of some of the better smokes I've had. Not always EXPENSIVE cigars, just ones that pleased me flavor-wise. Prep for smoking is the standard cheapo cutter, and torch light.
Interesting thing with shaggy cigars is being able to taste the change when the wrapper begins to burn... I can't really describe the flaveors, but there was a definate change at that time.

This cigar started off almost exactly as the prelight aroma indicated, nice earthy tobacco flavors with a hint of sweetness. again medium boddied, with just a hint of spice on the pallate. The burn is straight as can be, and the ash is very similiar to every isom I have ever smoked, you know that dirty gray, loose on the outside, tight on the inside ash. It was holding on very well until I got a little rough setting it in the ashtray

I really didn't notice this cigar changing at any point, more like it slowly faded into a more robust, medium-full flavor. never got harsh or bitter, but kept on with the great tobacco taste. If anything, it picked up a bit on the spiciness just a hair. After the Jewboy got bitter on me last night, I decided I would purge this one more often. Not sure if that was it, but it seemed to keep it under control.

Overall, this was a cigar that I found very enjoyable... the kind of cigar I like to smoke while loitering around a campfire with friends. A well built cigar that doesn't need a lot of attention, just light it and smoke it. The flavor profile may have been a bit one dimensional, but I don't have a problem with that, as long as it's pleasant to me.

Now, I know that Willie Nelson usually prefers leaf of sweeter origins, but this is a rugged cigar that IMO is worthy of carrying his name.

On the informal rating scale, I give Willie a 8.7


Next up, Utopian

[DeeDubya]

Good review. I think maybe a no-nonsense type cigar is what Kinky was striving for. I wonder if Willie actually had any influence on his namesake? Also, you didn't say anything about any seeds poping or euphoric hunger spasms or the like?

[ashauler]

Good review. I think maybe a no-nonsense type cigar is what Kinky was striving for. I wonder if Willie actually had any influence on his namesake? Also, you didn't say anything about any seeds poping or euphoric hunger spasms or the like?

Maybe he saved it for the Utopian!!

[bigwhiteash]

Willie hasn't rolled a seed since 1968

[bigwhiteash]

Utopian

The Utopian is another Toro size cigar, this one is 6" X 52, again of marvelous construction. Thick leatherlike wrapper, almost shiny, dark habano color. Very firm, no yield to finger pressure. Prelight aroma at the foot is nearly identical to the Jewboy, sweet with sense of raisins being the most dominant scent.
Cut and lit same as previous cigars, although this one had an ever so slightly tighter draw, it was well within my preferences.

First third of the Utopian was barely distinguishable from the Jewboy, in terms of flavor, burn, however was much improved. staying right on track, producing a nice white ash with none of the black blotches. Unlike the previous two cigars, this one didn't build in strength at the middle. Rather it seemed to smooth out along the upper medium bodied lines, staying very civilized. like Willie, never getting hot or bitter. The last portion of this cigar did seem to pick up a bit on the "tobacco-y" flavors, but as with the willie, it did seem rather one sided.

Overall, I would say I enjoyed this one also, but I see a trend developing in the fact that none of these so far have blown me away. I purchased this sampler from anpother BOTL at what was probably very close to MSRP, if not less, about $8.00 a stick, and most will tell you there are MANY world-class cigars in this price range. I'll reserve comments in this area untill I have finished the series.

On the ole rating scale, I'm giving this one another 8.5


On Deck.. Kinkycristo

[cinda]

I happen to be checking these out and did a search and saw you were doing review on theses once upon a did you ever finish the series's?