2007 Quai d'Orsay Coronas

[mncz]

Hello Friends. I am happy to submit my first enacted cigar review here on FOH. This particular stick came to me as a gift.

I'll admit that after watching Ken and Rob's review of the QDO Coronas I did not have high expectations for the stick. I pulled it out tonight because I wanted to enjoy a cigar with a glass of rum after work. After consulting some correspondences with Hiro, I noticed that it was a 2007, to date a minimum of seven years old. Not forgetting Pres' comments about these aging quite well, my interest and expectations immediately rose. I poured out a decent helping of the Zacapa XO but, upon opening up the cigar, decided it best to leave the glass on the sidelines and spend some serious time contemplating the stick. Originally, this review began as an effort to take a few quick notes. It quickly escalated into a spirited review. Apologies for the strictly iPhone-quality photographs.

Opening and First Third

In the absence of a cutter or punch, I went with Rob's "barbarian" approach of thumbnail to the cap.

The cigar rewarded me with a congenial draw with suitable resistance. Very sweet, floral cold draw.

The opening yields floral throughout, slight spice and wood.

Beginning of the first third develops an aroma of gorgeous floral bouquet on the nose.

Savory spice and floral profile persist from the opening, albeit more developed. Smoke production increases.

A surprising coffee note slips through (!) followed by thick bread notes.

The first third soars forward with additional floral, a touch herbal, with still a bit of savory spice and a salty back-of-tongue characteristic.

Steady undercurrent of sweetness begins driving the cigar at the end of the first. It's been totally medium-bodied. The burn has hugged a vein slightly and worries me, but I leave it be.

Second third

Moving to beginning of second third with a beautiful 1.25 inch ash. Bespeckled light gray and hefty. The sweet seeks new expression and finds a cool sweetness characteristic of honeydew melon.

Well into second third, the body has lightened with the melon and now the sweetness is beginning to show a citrus lemon.

In a stunning evolution, the sweet driving force has been replaced by a delicate, subtle savory spice back.

More bread. Toward the end of the second third, the sweet characteristic has returned in full bloom.

Body shifts again to a much fuller side of medium. Heavy bread notes and dried grass, hay, and malt notes driven by a sweetness akin to dried apple.

Touch of cinnamon on the dried apple and still a little persisting spice. The burn line begins to come to balance with healthy, thick draws that produce mellow and pleasurable smoke.

Final Third

The bread has mellowed out. This stick has returned from pushing the heights of medium to a comfortable light-medium.

Dried fruits begin to take on a more defined character. The pleasant, back-of-palate saltiness returns and ties the dry grassy and fruit notes together.

Grass and fruits fall back to reveal more beautifully defined malt and barley.

Halfway through the final third and the burn line has evened itself out to almost perfect. Again, the ash is beautiful. It now holds securely for over an inch.

Another millimeter and a half and the burn line is razor sharp; perfect.

The profile has settled into a grassy, creamy with excellent texture driven by a reminiscence of the previous fruit notes, slowly pulling away and delivering long-lasting citrus-lemon backs.

We are deepening even more in complexity, signaled by a surprise of extremely well-defined wood notes, bringing the stick back to almost full circle. Rosewood and spruce – like the inside of my Yamaha dreadnaught guitar. I'm overjoyed to see the wood tease from the opening expanded upon.

The latter end of this final third is now characterized wholly by sweet wood, citrus and cream. Some leather is beginning to jump out at the finish.

Unbelievable how quickly this cigar switches. The wood has backed off and it's now revealing more bread and sweet cream. Slight grass and herbs on the finish begin to take over, again changing the profile entirely.

Grass, peat, and sweet holly are beginning to close out the final third. I'm not letting this go until I reach the nub.

The end of the final third becomes much more leathery, with the sweetness beginning to take the shape of raw wildflower honey and cream.

The final third culminates in sandalwood, savory spice, cream and honey and a touch of mint. The last inch and a half is mine to enjoy without attentive note-writing. I can finally tend to this glass of Zacapa XO that I've allowed to sit on the side so as not to confuse the cigar's flavors.

Posterior (Nub)

Till the end, this cigar did not relent in surprise and evolution. Mint, peat and malt with a rich leather back is how she ends at a perfect medium. I'd love to spend every night with her but have a feeling that she won't be calling me back until I've gotten some years on me myself. (A silly tip-of-the-hat to the "girlfriend" metaphor.)

Ratings

Smoke and Texture: Rich and dancing every line of medium, vibrant and eclectic aromas.
4.5/5

Flavor(s): Given my young palate, it's hard to ask for more. Perhaps a bit more confidence and stability. I enjoyed this cigar to a higher degree than multiple RASS of slightly younger age. Unyieldingly dynamique. No bitterness as sometimes perceived.
4.75/5

Construction and Burn: The quality of the roll, wrapper, and burn were not totally perfect but undoubtedly elegant. Colorado Claro with no major imperfections and a comfortable resistance to the draw. Little oil presence.
3.75/5

Overall, I will humbly grant this cigar as having provided a 93/94 point smoking experience.

Many thanks to Dave for the stick. I look forward to future such experiences from other friends and sticks of my own purchasing (though I can't yet afford aged cigars, I hope to age my own and remain open to surprises from some of my formidable young'uns.)

Thanks to the entire community for welcoming newcomers with such open hearts and minds. Cheers.

[Pedro2486]

Excellent review mate. Good job

[Arnehaj]

Great work!

Nice!

Skickas från en telefon

[Hafner32]

Great Review!

[ap67]

Very nice! Was considering getting a box for aging purposes and may look into that again.

[Habana Mike]

Enjoyed the review and look forward to more. Sounds like a great cigar experience!

[Stanislaw]

wonderfully written review of a great cigar, nice job Matthew!

[sw15825]

Excellent review! Thanks for sharing.

[Rye]

Nice review! I love those cigars

[Dimmers]

what an awesome first review!! well done sir.

[mikek]

Just saw this review,I dont know why but this is one cigar I have never tried!? After reading your review it made me want to spring for A box, It sounds like exactly what I like in an early day smoke!

Excellent review! mikek

[fabes]

Great review! These coronas are fantastic.

[Puffington]

Sounds awesome. Any ideas where I can order/get one?

[Skyfall]

Great Review & Great Cigar! I love these, they tend to be my go-to daily-style smoke.

[scottdurand]

I really need to try one of these Coronas. I keep looking but have yet to smoke one.

[jabuan]

Excellent review. My first ever qdo corona was an 07 as well a couple of months ago. Beautifully elegant smoke.

"Let no man pull you low enough to hate him." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

[laficion]

That's the way I see a review of this beauty , Just GREAT ,Well done indeed. Thanks !!!!!

Guy