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

[zeedubbya]

Blind #1

6:25 punch cut flat head box press Corona Gorda. initial toasty tobacco slightly acidic with short finish. Bitter chocolate opening reminds of something I've had before for sure. fairly light at beginning. a bit of spice now once settled in. Burn very messed up. May be correcting. Getting bitter chocolate. A touch of stone fruit. Very light smoke although there's plenty of smoke, very short finish. Not much there. Slow down some get nuances. Wonky burn makes it hard to..not much on retro..grassy with slight spice through nose. Get a little of that stone fruit but not much. Citrus starting to come on a bit now. Woody in second and start of third. Mainly harsh, citrus and woody. Crap burn. Little bit of stone fruit coming through with some bitter chocolate. Still having burn issues. Touch of spice and a woodiness. Burn issue caused me to toss it a little earlier than expected. Might like to try this again. Think maybe I got a bad one..will be a mainly a half ass guess at this point. I agree with fair at best.

Tossed it at 7:45...

[Bennettjohnl]

Nice wrapper and construction with even burn throughout. Waited two weeks to pick the right time to have this, ended up with my three year old having a meltdown halfway into the 1/3. Had to relight and going off of memory here. Mostly toasted tobacco, cedar, light sweetness every now and again. Some baking spice clove, had to really search to find these. Nice body to the smoke, wanted to chew it.

[ShortFatHokie]

When I first opened my package back in February and saw that cigar #1 was a corona gorda, I knew my chances were slim on guessing this one as I've only smoked one Cuban corona gorda in my life. Well, I finally got around to smoking this cigar.

It had a veiny, colorado wrapper and was somewhat box pressed. First sniff of it was quite floral. Clipped it, first draw was quite firm and it a tea taste pre-light.

Fired it up, first flavors were peppery with a sweet, fruitiness.

First third was started a bit peppery, white pepper, and stone fruit. The pepper evolved into a spiciness as the stone fruit continued.

Second third was more of the spiciness and stone fruit with hints of sweetness. I found it to be medium in strength with a rich, savoriness.

Final third, the pepper returned and the stone fruit continued as the richness faded a bit.

I thought it was a very enjoyable cigar. I loved the smell of the burn and the stone fruit was fairly dominant throughout the cigar. I'm about 99% sure this isn't the same as the only other Cuban corona gorda I've ever smoked. I will only be able to offer a guess as to what this cigar is.

[PointFivePast]

Just finishing mine up and right in the nick of time!

The wrapper smelled of pure honey with notes of chamomile tea on the foot. Fired it up and found leather, fruit (white/yellow), a bit of sweetness and some cinnamon. There was a constant sweet note throughout the cigar. Got a bit of nuts on the second third and a building wood note through the last half. A touch of cream for the first couple of thirds kept everything balanced.

Submitting my guess as soon as I finish this. Excited to see what this one is!

[HarveyBoulevard]

Email on its way. Had it last night.

[billh1]

Here we go with No. 1...

No hard or soft spots, foot looks tightly bunched. Smell of wet hay and barnyard. Cold draw had a faint hint of sweetness otherwise unremarkable.

Used my Zikar 11mm punch to open it up and my Vertigo torch to ignite.

Opened with a hint of white pepper which quickly gave way to stone fruit and orange zest. Ummm, delicious! I'm pretty sure I recognize this flavour profile and am ready to name it after only the first inch but I want to see how it develops and confirm my suspicions. Ash is light gray with striation and burn is slightly uneven. Draw is perfect and smoke production good. I'm trying to resist the urge to touch it up this soon but it's trying to go out so I go ahead and even it up. Ash held on through the first third and dropped after a second touch up to relight it as it did finally go out on me. Picked up a hit of cinnamon on the relight.

Second third picked up where the first left off with stone fruit being the dominant flavor. I picked up my smoking pace a bit here and detected hints of honey and leather. Still getting stone fruit but not as overwhelming at this point as it begins it's transition in this section. Still burning a little uneven and required another touch up. I occasionally detect a hint of cedar but just lingering around the edges. Continues to require touch ups as the body has moved into solidly medium but no mongrel here, smooth and refined. I suspect this has a couple of years on it, maybe 2013 or 2014 production? Hard to tell though as good as they all seem to be smoking so good, so young the last few years. As I near the end of the second third the stone fruit once again comes to the fore. Unless something changes drastically in the final third I'm still convinced it's what I thought it was initially. Ashed again just before the end of the second third.

Final third begins with a bit of pepper on the retro and the sweetness is fading a bit although it's not vanished completely. Could be that I need to slow the pace again now that I'm in the last couple of inches. Strength continues to build slightly but still in the medium range with sweet stone fruit still detectable. Finishing up this stick with a Founders All Day IPA and Little Steven singing "Never Gonna Be Your Friend". Final smoke time approaching 2 hours and now l'm listening to "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" by Red Hot Chili Peppers as I fetch another beer.

Cheers!

Bill

[mikemerry]

Been saving this cigar for today. It's my bday so seemed like a perfect fit. Great cigar so far. Email coming after this last third! Good luck everyone!

[RickHendeson]

Been saving this cigar for today. It's my bday so seemed like a perfect fit. Great cigar so far. Email coming after this last third! Good luck everyone!

Happy Birthday!

[tomaszgeorge]

I smoked this cigar a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it.

On initial inspection this was a box pressed corona gorda with an oily wrapper and barnyard smell.

The draw was perfect with woody and fruity elements.

Initial draws were woody, with a slight apricot fruity note. The body was medium.

1st 3rd:

Still mainly woody, but now with a sweet nutty flavour, a bit like nougat.

2nd 3rd:

Flavours became more integrated with pronounced sweetness and nougat, with the woodiness taking a lesser role. Very smooth smoke. Unmistakable cuban “twang’ in the aroma.

Final 3rd:

The sweet nougat dissipates towards the end and there is a more pronounced nicotine hit. The cigar remains medium in body and is very smooth and enjoyable.

Overall this was a delicious cigar.

I am torn 50:50 between 2 marcas, hope I choose wisely.

[RijkdeGooier]

As it is the 5th of April 2016, in this era of instant gratification enquiring minds would like to know....

What did we smoke?

[ElPuro]

As it is the 5th of April 2016, in this era of instant gratification enquiring minds would like to know....

What did we smoke?

[ayepatz]

As it is the 5th of April 2016, in this era of instant gratification enquiring minds would like to know....

What did we smoke?

Rob said he will post 7 days after deadline, if memory serves. Besides, he has a fishing comp to win first!

[RijkdeGooier]

Rob said he will post 7 days after deadline, if memory serves. Besides, he has a fishing comp to win first!

I am not going to quote mr. Garret here but I do believe that someone else is overseeing the Blind Tasting Competition?

[ayepatz]

I am not going to quote mr. Garret here but I do believe that someone else is overseeing the Blind Tasting Competition?

Just saying what Rob said on the pinned topic.

"For the following cigars it is easy. Cigar 2 by May 2nd, Cigar 3 by June 1 st (guys I changed the date as I fly out to Europe on the 3rd June party.gif - Lisa ) Cigar 4 by July 4th Cigar 5 by August 1st). Each time I will post the results via spreadsheet on the forum 7 days after the close."

[PointFivePast]

The suspense is killing me! Really want a box of whatever it was... that was fine cigar IMHO

[El Presidente]

Give me until Monday (if not sooner).

[First Lady]

I am ready but there are still a couple of guys who have not sent in their choice ..... they will have until the weekend to send it to me and I will forward the results to Rob Monday

[Fuzz]

Guys, do not upset Lise. She has a mean right hook.