Outstanding but confusing evening with the "Czar"

[laficion]

Hello FOHers,

yesterday, it was the " Tampa " and tonight, the " Czar "

What a beautiful cigar, oily, great sheen, perfectly constructed.

Such a great feeling holding this vitola in my hand, perfect fit, better then a glove.

I cut the pointed head on a deep angle and discovered the draw a bite tight but

the pre-light aromas were very animal and barnyard but also some hints of sweet floral.

You don't even have to put the Czar to your nose to smell it, the scent is so strong

that it quickly envelopes the room that your in.

( the wife was out so things were looking good) LOL LOL

Feeling that the cigar would be medium full to full, I paired the Czar with a light Bourbon,

a" Elmer T. Lee , single barrel sour mash". I must admit that a Bourbon will do it for the Czar.

1st Third /, The Czar had a tight draw in the first cm or two, but opened up quite well after.

The first draws had a very salty taste that really surprised me and the aromas were very

mute , but I could sense the deep dark chocolate and leather that was just waiting to burst

out of this beauty.

2nd Third /, The Czar had a perfect burn and the ash was very compact and of a lighter tone

then the "Tampa".The salty taste was still there but started to fade a little leaving room for

some earthy moss, dark Tea and leather with hints of fruits to express itself but in an odd

and confused way, as if all the flavors and aromas were going in all directions.

Last Third /, At this point I was having a great time, I'd say like on a merry go round.

Everything was there but I didn't know where . It was as if all the flavors were not yet

settled into place. For me, unlike the " Tampa ", the Czar really needs more time to

complete the blending process and settle in a definite and perfect balence.

The "Czar" is a wild and bold mustang that needs time to mature into something more

posed and elegent to bring out all of it's beauty and complexity.

Final comments/, A true work of art and as Colt said, in one of his reviews, you can really

feel and taste the Cuban "terroir" in this cigar.

The only thing it needs is time .

NOTE: 89/100

Thanks you for reading me out.

[soltino]

Outstanding review! Thanks for sharing

Love the ashtray and the cigar stand (I have one of them as well, courtesy of the Czar - lost it several times in various Chinese spit and sawdust bars but somehow it always managed to find its way home!).

Love the comment about everything being there but just not sure where, it certainly does sound like with some time these will become one of the greats.

[jsd]

Great review. I like your wild mustang analogy. Hope to try these some day.

PS. From what I can see of your smoking area, it looks like it has a nice atmosphere.

[mbrody]

Guy, thanks for another great review!

[nonameno]

Hello Guy,

Wonderful review and lovely photography. It sounds like the Czar is still a bit of an enigma. It will be fun to see if time will give some clarity to this one.

Thank you for sharing,

Curtiss

[Colt45]

Nice, Guy.

I don't think it should take all that long for things to flesh out a bit.

[Chrome]

Looks delicious, and hope one day i can pick some up.

Do you really notice a difference with the di@k head/angle cut?

[rusty]

nice review, great photo's

cheers

[dicko]

Guy does everything with style!

[qman22]

Outstanding review! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these. I'm currently debating on whether to smoke any now or wait. I think I'm going to wait on the Czar and smoke the Tampa sooner rather than later...

[thechenman]

Simply another great review Guy...thanks for sharing your insights on the Czar and the Tampa.

[Habanos2000]

( the wife was out so things were looking good) LOL LOL

I can certainly relate to that comment!

A cigar will all these attributes while young certainly offers plenty of hope for the future. I can't wait to get my hands on the next batch of samples!

[n2advnture]

Stellar review bro. The saltiness is reminiscent of some classics, so I'd love to grab some to put done!

[ajgagnon]

Not only was that a great review with excellent pictures, but that is an exquisite smoking room you have going on there! Looks like an amazing place for a fabulous experience. Now I wish I'd got in on those... maybe on the next round.

[CanuckSARTech]

Excellent, Guy. You fellas are all making me jealous of not having my hands on mine yet! Anticipation....

[Ellery]

Thanks for both reviews. Im torn on whether I should try them now, or let them rest.

[El Presidente]

Great review Guy!

While the Tampa is smoking great now (I encourage everyone to try a fresh one) the czar will need a little more time. part of the reason is the difference in gauges and vitola with the Tampa being a 43-44 gauge cigar and the Czar with significantly more tobacco being 50-52 at its widest gauge. More leaf in a tapered format means a little more patience needed for it all to meld together. I suspect 6 months.

[adic88]

Grrr, roooooooobbbb when can I get some of these?

[El Presidente]

Grrr, roooooooobbbb when can I get some of these?

All out i am afraid but Lise is taking orders for the next batch due in a month. Drop her a line