FOH International Blind Tasting Competition Cigar Number 1 : Your Reviews Please

[El Presidente]

You still have plenty of time but please post here your review for Cigar Number One of our 2016 Blind tasting competition.

You have until April 4th.

The post smoking process

1. First cigar (labelled Cigar Number 1) smoked by April 4th. This will give you enough time to lay them down for 30 days rest minimum. You will e-mail Lisa your nomination for that cigar by April 4th. Lisa’s e-mail is [email protected]

On this thread, post your review and thoughts WITHOUT naming the cigar. You are to e-mail Lisa (e-mail address above) your pick. You can e-mail her your picks for cigars 1-5 before the cut off dates of each cigar should you wish to get them all out of the way.....but for review purposes we are talking about Cigar Number ONE here.

We look forward to reading your reviews!

[Nrengle]

Cigar 1

5 5/8 long. Appears to be a corona extra

Bit of a cinnamon scent at the cap, otherwise a mild toasty tobacco and leather aroma.

Prelight draw tastes of nutmeg, black pepper, and apricot.

Light at 10:15

First initial taste reminds me of the typical H. Upmann profile which I love. Very mild to start bit of pepper hang on the tongue. Low smoke production, nice and white and creamy feeling. Light gray ash.

Not getting much on the retro-hale, so far very mild smoke, but enjoyable.

Starting to get a touch of angel food cake on the retro hale. And just a touch of umami on a regular draw half way through. Also a bit of molasses or raisin even.

Final third ended up picking up some of the stone fruit and roasted almonds in the flavors and a strong stewed stone fruit on the retro-hale.

Finished 11:40pm

[El Presidente]

great review

[LordAnubis]

I decided what this was going to be before smoking it. Box press. Corona Gorda size. Didn't measure it or anything but guessed the Vitola. Maybe this is why I've not won a blind tasting yet?

Flavours I got was some light cedar. A little bit of a floral note. And maybe some dried fruit.

The flavour is familiar to me. The last time I smoked one of these blind I got it right.

Smoked at the London herf with JoeyGunz who's also in the Comp. Was a good smoking evening with the usual misfits Tino and MrDowse also in attendance. Also special thanks to ayepatz who made a first appearance. Always brilliant to meet new people. Good night after catching up with cube and a friend from the whiskey club a few nights before hand. Always a good trip to London to smoke with the boys.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ken Gargett]

so the bloke who had no idea what we smoked on video when it was not hidden is running a blind tasting,

what could possibly go wrong?

[El Presidente]

so the bloke who had no idea what we smoked on video when it was not hidden is running a blind tasting,

what could possibly go wrong?

I'ts OK Ken....Lisa is running it

[LordAnubis]

I heard a brilliant saying the other day. "You couldn't run a two hole shitter, you'd double book!" ... obviously referring to the days of the good old long drops. A good alternative to the standard "You couldn't organise a root in a brothel with a wad of 50's". Should we run a poll on which one most reflects our current situation?

[TomF]

I smoked this cigar over the weekend and posted this in the Competitions sub forum, but here it is now in the proper thread.

Just finished smoking cigar #1. Here are my notes:

Great construction, silky smooth colorado/claro wrapper, invisible seams, perfect draw with slight resistance
Cold draw - Hay, Barnyard, roasted nuts
Medium body, Mild, Hazelnut/Pecan, Creamy coffee, Toasted tobacco, Sweet aroma, very slight citrus twang, very light salt and anise on the finish, Smooth through the nose. Good even slow burn. Strength grows in the second half. Earth comes out in the last third. No hard edges whatsoever all the way down. Smoked with coffee on a Saturday morning. 1.5 hours smoking time.

I really enjoyed this. I'm really wondering about it's age. I'm going to venture a guess but I can't wait to find out what it actually is, because when I do I will be buying a box.

[TomF]

I smoked this cigar over the weekend and posted this in the Competitions sub forum, but here it is now in the proper thread.

Just finished smoking cigar #1. Here are my notes:

Great construction, silky smooth colorado/claro wrapper, invisible seams, perfect draw with slight resistance
Cold draw - Hay, Barnyard, roasted nuts
Medium body, Mild, Hazelnut/Pecan, Creamy coffee, Toasted tobacco, Sweet aroma, very slight citrus twang, very light salt and anise on the finish, Smooth through the nose. Good even slow burn. Strength grows in the second half. Earth comes out in the last third. No hard edges whatsoever all the way down. Smoked with coffee on a Saturday morning. 1.5 hours smoking time.

I really enjoyed this. I'm really wondering about it's age. I'm going to venture a guess but I can't wait to find out what it actually is, because when I do I will be buying a box.

[skalls]

Had mine today. Corona Gorda, box pressed, Claro to Colorado Claro wrapper (leaned toward Claro). Didn't burn the greatest but I'll chock that up to the wind today. I'm also reasonably confident I've never had this cigar.

I was impressed with the wrapper. I didn't like the shade, but it had a nice sheen to it, was silky smooth and supple. It had a great draw.

Was a milder cigar, might have gotten to mild-medium but the body was very very light. Not much was going on with flavors. Primarily got cedar, toasted tobacco and almonds. Wasn't very complex. Lasted a bit over an hour.

[ayepatz]

Tasting notes for Cigar Number 1:-

Construction - Fair bit of box press, otherwise good

Nose - tea, hay

Cold draw - quite firm draw, but fruity.

1st third - Cream from the get-go, just under medium, white pepper, hint of leather, more milky than creamy now, tobacco, sweet nuttiness coming though, toasted brioche, hint of caramel

2nd third - more biscuity now, quick burn down one side, off-centre cone, not much flavour coming through.

3rd third - Over medium now, spicy, black pepper, tobacco, leather, cream, lanolin?, sweet nutty flavours

Overall - dry on palate, tanniny, leather, nutty, tobacco, pepper, milky

[Yagermeister]

Was happy to see the topic pinned yesterday -- I thought I had missed it!

Smoked this bad boy last night. Didn't take the time to do a nuanced review, but I made some notes:

Box pressed Corona Gorda. Barnyard aroma. Heavy citrus zest at first light. Overall: Nice peppery richness at times alternating with a very dry fruitiness. Started light bodied but ended up at medium.

I liked the rich notes but they were few and far between. Not much smoothness to this smoke. It felt young and capricious. I have a pretty good idea what it is, but I've been humbled by this competition before. I've narrowed it down to 2, maybe 3 possibilities. Just need to smoke one from my collection and see how it compares before I submit my final answer.

[foursite12]

Corona Gorda with some box press as others have noted. OK wrapper in Claro/Colorado shade, Nice light zest at cold.

First third--light body; slightly tight draw but not problematic. Woodsy overtones.

Middle--remaining light but gaining some (although not much) nuance. Dry (as in the opposite of sweet) character is dominant--if we were talking beer this would be a hoppy IPA. Still a bit tight but-oddly-some definite loose squishiness developed in the grip area where the band would be.

Final--light in body to the end; still no real complexity, although a toasted background comes through here and there.

Overall, I don't particularly love this one versus its competition in this crowded vitola. No complexity or evolution to speak of.

[ElPuro]

Initial impression: Corona Gorda, box press, nice chocolate brown wrapper with good sheen. Spongy to the touch - raised concerns about burn and draw. Used a punch instead of a straight or V-Cut.

First third: Light to medium body, heavy smoke output and easy draw (just a tad looser than I like, but still within the acceptable range). Flavor was primarily toasted tobacco, maybe a bit of citrus in there for a puff or three. Tad bit of sweetness. Irregular burn but no need for touchups (yet). Ash was flaky and held on for an inch.

Second Third: Toasted tobacco and baking spice/bready flavors are predominant in this third. Not too much evolution but overall a pleasant experience. I have paired this with a port, which work well together. I find port works well with a lot of sticks. Burn continued to be uneven and required a touch-up or two.

Final third: A bit more toward medium body in the final third, but still relatively light for this far into the stick. Predominant flavors are fleeting hints of chocolate and a bit of baker's spice/bread.

Overall, not a whole lot of evolution but an enjoyable stick. I'd give it an 89, but what the heck do I know. This is my first "published" review (watch out Rob).

[archosaur]

Finishing up mine as I type this. Great cigar. As noted, a corona gorda with good sheen on the Colorado wrapper.

Opening: Just under medium body, toasted tobacco, a touch of buttered toast. I know I am going to like this.

First Third: Touch of leather, sourdough bread, a little clove on the retro. Settling in.

Second Third: Wants to go out on me, requires a touch up here and there. More clove, baking spices. More sourdough bread, some dark chocolate notes, and a nice long finish. Straight on medium and very smooth.

Final Third: Getting earthy and a bit richer. Aromatic woods come into play - the lit end smells like a high desert juniper campfire! A cacophony of baking spices on the retrohale. Still requiring touch ups, but no complaints here. Flavor profile right up my alley, a rich and savory medium bodied cigar.

I'd go 94 on this. Don't really care if my guess is right, as long as I can get my hands on some more of these.

[Wrangler]

Fired mine up this weekend. Paired it up with some Johnny Black. Good construction with light veins. The cigar had a firm draw and was torch lite.

1/3 Leather with sweet under tones like Caramel and light cream.

2/3 some burn issues but the cigar corrected itself. The caramel really started getting rich. Had to relight.

3/3 I don't know what happened here but the cigar when south on me. It became real acidic and lost any desirable flavors. I tried pushing though but ultimately had to pitch it early.

Just my humble 2 cents....

[ElPuro]

Interesting differences in the reviews on this one. Polarizing!

[Scrubber]

Just finished my first blind cigar. Had it on a weekday evening paired with some Zacapa 23.

Very well constructed stick. Firm and well packed. Draw was close to perfect. Lots of smoke when drawing and lots of foot smoke when sitting it down.

First third: Lots of cedar with some slight sweetness. Just below medium for me. Not picking up many flavours apart from cedar and toasted tobacco. Not getting any floral flavours but the foot smoke was very aromatic with floral notes.

Second third: cedar continues but also joined with some leather. The sweetness was a little more pronounced particularly in the retrohale. Towards the end of the second third I was also getting some slight pepper. Left a tingly sensation on the tongue. Medium.

Final third: no real changes. Started to get a bit "grubby" with about 2 inches to go. It wanted to go out in the last third but managed to avoid having to relight. Started to get a little bitter in the last third. Built to just over medium.

Didn't nub this stick as I wasn't overly impressed.

Overall it was an ok cigar but nothing special. Not sure if it was truly representative of this particular cigar or if I just happened not to get a great example.

Looking forward to cigar number 2

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jeremy Festa]

Smoked it a while ago. I actually forget what I thought it was. Will be a total blind guess.

Smoking the second blind tasting cigar right now. While I water the herb garden. And the smell from all the herbs is confusing me. This will also be a total guess.

Damn it.

Sent from my iPhone

[qualudecosby]

Well then smoked #1 last night after being in the humidor for 30 days or so and dry boxed for 3 days.

The draw was tight from the get go, felt a hard area and worked it a bit for some relief but was conscious work to get a draw throughout.

I thought the cigar was too bitter through the beginning but found some enjoyable smoke close to creamy the second half. The final half called for several relights.

In summary, I found it a fair at best cigar but wonder after a year or two down if the high notes will become more prominent. Cant wait to find out what it is, I have no bloody idea.

[wabashcr]

Just finished #1. Gorgeous 60F day, sunny and light breeze. Draw was on the tight side throughout. Should have dry boxed.

First third started on the medium full side, before settling at a solid medium. Flavors were fruity, apricot and some citrus.

Second third changed into some baking spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, maybe a touch of shortbread or pound cake.

Final third developed a dominant leather note with the spice in the background. Still fighting the tight draw, perhaps causing it to burn a tad hot.

I have no idea what this is, but I'm fairly certain it's nothing I've had before. Overall very interesting, wish I had another to dry box and try again.

[TypicalSituation]

Working on cigar no 1.

First third was a mellow and slightly spicy taste with a touch of leather and sweetness.

Second third the flavor picks up, heavy leather and some black coffee, with a background of spice.

Last third is about to start...

[GavLew79]

Cigar #1. Really enjoyed this one. Smoked it after a BCG and thought it might drown, but no chance; this was a flavousome stick. (some palate-cleansing champagne might have helped! ?)

Construction: good, full but some give, claro to colorado-claro wrapper, smooth, sliky.

Pre-light: delicious bready, cakey, cinnamon bun. Timely, considering it's easter with hot-crossed buns everywhere.

First impressions: Sweet. Cedary. A little cream. Cake spice.

1st third: Toasty tobacco, cedar, nice and creamy. Hint of Lemon? Voluminous smoke.

2nd third: still lovely and creamy, nutty sweetness (praline) with a fruity aftertaste.

3rd third: a few touch-ups and purges needed to keep it on track. Strong nuttiness and coffee. Think hazelnut syrup latte. Really fruity also. Delicious.

Overall 92. A beaut.

[RijkdeGooier]

Box pressed Corona Gorda.

Nice colorado wrapper, muted on the cold draw.

First puffs are sweet with some spice, leather, some black pepper, cream and stonefruit

Afterwards the stick goes from light to medium. Stonefruit and sweet spices.

Tough to call.

[First Lady]

There are still a lot of guys who have not sent in their pick ,don't forget to email me