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I got the email for a freestyle review and knew immediately I wanted to smoke a cigar from my childhood. Growing up in Connecticut, the most abundant cigars were Topper, Muniemaker, and Marsh Wheeling. The last time I smoked a Topper my neighbor threatened to call the police for violating the no burning of trash ordinance in our city. My favorite, Muniemaker is no more. I found some Marsh Wheeling cigars on the bottom shelf of a shop last week while driving through Tennessee. That's the cigar I'm reviewing today. The cigar is 7 x 34, precut, with Connecticut and Pennsylvania tobacco. There's a faint smell of tobacco before lighting. Although these are precut, pulling on it reminds me of drinking a thick milkshake through a straw. I need to cut it for some smoke to come. After I cut, I get sufficient smoke to taste that Pennsylvania tobacco, not complex, definitely nostalgia inducing. I don't remember the 'pull' label on the band, but the way things are going in the world, someone needed that instruction. I teach history, and knowing that President Lincoln, P.T. Barnum, and Mark Twain smoked these adds a few points. I think if the latter two, who both lived in Connecticut, were alive today, they would choose to be like me and explore the abundance of quality options available today. I'm reaching the second third. The flavor is mild. The smoke production is great after cutting the pencil tip foot. I'm enjoying this smoke and might have missed some of the satisfaction received if not focused on writing this review. Sometimes these old machine style cigars can deliver what I can best describe as a shoe repair shop flavor. I guess that's wood, leather, shoe polish and the funk of one man's years of sweaty, solitary labor. I don't get any of that here. It's all wood and watery molasses. I keep comparing this to a PL Montecarlos, but the only similarly is the size. A box of 50 of these costs around 70, which is about what I pay for a box of Montecarlos. I wish I could still enjoy these nostalgic sticks. Globalization has spoiled me. Times were simpler, more permissive and filled with chemicals we had no clue were harming us. Ah, ignorance! I'm in the final third and NOW getting the leather sole taste Okay. This stick is done. Glad to know I have a Boli dryboxing for later tonight. Until then, a bit more nostalgia from a pre-nanny state era, a game of lawn darts - AKA Jarts. Final score: Nostalgia: 8 Enjoyment: 4 Suggested for Western movie enthusiasts and nutters from Connecticut. Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

Got a free five pack of these when I purchased a Xikar cutter and lighter combo. The cigar itself looked great construction wise and the wrapper looked beautiful. It smelled rich and delicious as I pulled from the cellophane. First third. Started off bland. But after the cigar got going it really took off. Strong chocolate coming through. It almost felt like I ate some chocolate and have that coating on my tongue. Very smooth. Second third. The chocolate continues though I’m detecting some other sweet notes. Hints of graham cracker, molasses, and a tiny bit of banana. Not banana as in a fresh banana or even a strong banana note. More like a banana chip flake was added into the tobacco to just peek out behind the chocolate flavor. Last third. Much of the same. Starting to ease up on the outside sweet notes. More of the chocolate with some pepper coming through. Not overpowering but breaks it up a bit so you can appreciate the chocolate again where as you might have grown bored with the chocolate the entire cigar. Towards the nub started getting hot and had to put it down. Wish it was a bigger vitola because it was a very enjoyable cigar. Smoked this outside and was walking around with a decent breeze or else the burn probably would’ve been perfect. Which makes the ash length even more surprising. Never had to relight. I’m glad I have 4 more. Might try a few singles in various sizes to see if I enjoy those more. Not bad for a freebie and now will probably stay in my rotation. I’m new to reviewing and cigars in general so I hesitate to put a number on here out of fear of giving it too high a number and then discovering cigars that blow this one away. 92