Revealing Cigar Number 2 of the 2017 FOH International Blind Tasting Competition.

[El Presidente]

Cigar Number 2 

For those who have smoked their tasting cigar or will be soon this is the thread to place your thoughts about what you think the flavour profile is and how it smoked ...... PLEASE DO NOT DISCLOSE WHAT YOU THINK IT IS .. just email Lisa   [email protected]

Once we have everyone's responses we will reveal the cigar.

The final date for your result is May 1st 

Happy Smoking 

[LordAnubis]

I'll kick it off.

What's this ****!?!?





The proportions don't seem to make sense. Feels like a 46 ring gauge, but is too long to be that gauge and any reg production i know. The length suggests a lonsdale/cazadores size ( a few mm too short to be either) , but that guage then doesn't match that proportion.

Is Rob screwing with me? Bet he is, the bastard!

So box pressed. Well constructed, perfect draw, perfect burn. Quite a few green splotches on the wrapper. Tasting notes pretty much tobacco with a bit of leather wood notes. Wasn't anything to write home about in my books.

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[backbone]

I smoked #2 last night.  I really like the size of this stick.  The Lonsdale/caz felt right at home in my hand.  I have never had this vitola so I was excited to give it a try.

My stick was very rustic with green patches and raised tobacco veins throughout.

The construction was good, and it burned very well.

First third was mild with notes of cedar and a very light floral taste to it.

The strength built through the second third and had notes of espresso and leather.

The final third was more or less the same as the second.

I enjoyed this smoke, it was a good medium bodied smoke that would fill a void in my regular lineup.

Nothing but a pure guess on my part.  This comp is turning out to be way harder than I expected.

Cheers!

[nighttech]

After being disappointed with no.1 I smoked no.2 about two days later. I really enjoyed it. Can't wait to find out what it is. Will definitely add a box when all is revealed.

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[MahDooRow]

On April 12, 2017 at 5:58 AM, LordAnubis said:

 

What is the unit of measurement on those calipers?  It can't be mm.  11mm in diameter would roughly equate to a ring gauge of 28, and cigar #2 is definitely not 28 gauge.  Cigar #2 is also not 152mm in length.      

 

 

[luvdunhill]

What is the unit of measurement on those calipers?  It can't be mm.  11mm in diameter would roughly equate to a ring gauge of 28, and cigar #2 is definitely not 28 gauge.  Cigar #2 is also not 152mm in length.

 

 

Nice calipers! You read on the bottom 0 with these particular calipers.

[MahDooRow]

9 minutes ago, luvdunhill said:

 

Nice calipers! You read on the bottom 0 with these particular calipers.

Thanks!!!  That makes all the difference.  

[LordAnubis]

The way to read Verniers is like so;



First you look where the zero falls. In this case between 17mm and 18mm. Then to figure the measurement to 0.05mm you look at the second circled area. You basically decide which marking most closely lines up to another line above it. You'll notice 1-5 don't match up with a line above it. But 6, 6.5 and 7 match up quite well. From the image it's hard but when you're looking at the tool it's easy. So in this case the reading would be 17.65mm for example.




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[cardinalfan85]

Smoking selection number 2 this afternoon. The wrapper is quite colorful with a large frogs eye and oily mottled look to it, not the prettiest. Lighting up this guy is full strength/ full of flavors a little sweet, rich barnyard and a bit of cedar. There is a bit of a metallic taste to it that leads me to believe this is a younger cigar. I am certainly enjoying it now but feel like this would be an amazing cigar in 3+ years.
I got the Punch Punch right but I had another Punch to compare it to. I dont seem to have a cigar in a comparative size to this so I feel a lot less confident in my guess ( hopefully I can change that soon by getting some Lonsdale sized cigars which I believe this is). Anyway this cigar is another great one (not as good as the Punch Punch IMO) and I will definitely pick a box up from the Prez after it is revealed.


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Started getting hot.

[zeedubbya]

7 hours ago, LordAnubis said:

The way to read Verniers is like so;



First you look where the zero falls. In this case between 17mm and 18mm. Then to figure the measurement to 0.05mm you look at the second circled area. You basically decide which marking most closely lines up to another line above it. You'll notice 1-5 don't match up with a line above it. But 6, 6.5 and 7 match up quite well. From the image it's hard but when you're looking at the tool it's easy. So in this case the reading would be 17.65mm for example.




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If you like measuring cigars and other things a vernier is a great tool.  I would recommend if you don't have one pickup a dial vernier.  I really like mine.  My dad has it now, but it looks exactly like this one.  Now if only the rollers were as precise!  

 

[Jfeath74]

Gave #2 a go today, being today was the best day in this weeks forecast and i'll be traveling next week. 70F and sunny with a nice breeze was the perfect way to enjoy what i believe was a Lonsdale formatted cigar. 

Pre: Firm draw, bordering tight, light spice and salt on the predraw.  Constructions was a bit rugged with a few thick veins and a small tear, however I must admit the days in the humidor did this cigar well because upon delivery I thought the cigar looked papery and rough. However, when I pulled the cigar out today it appeared better then I remembered, with a light sheen and the wrapper wasn't has rough as I remembered. 

1st: Medium strength, full flavored, nutty off the light, roasted almonds came to mind early in the first third. Pleasantly surprised with the flavor considering my skepticism from the construction and predraw. Along with a nutty after taste, the first third consisted of a lightly burnt white bread or more simply burnt toast. 

2nd: Medium has progressed to Medium Full, burnt toast developed into more of a lightly toasted white bread with butter, very smooth and flavorful. At about the half way mark in the cigar the burnt toast edge had diminished and got more notes of fresh baked bread, sourdough came to mind on a few puffs. 

3rd: Held at Medium Full, more baked bread with some coffee notes coming through from time to time.

Overall: Medium Full, firm draw but not problematic, even burn throughout, Flavors dominated by bread notes, although it was a wide spectrum of bread notes, with the appearance of nut and coffee notes that made this a complex cigar for me. I may be in the minority here, but I enjoyed this more then cigar #1, rating it a 90 point cigar, I would be happy to add this cigar to my rotation. 

 

[dominattorney]

I very much enjoyed this cigar.  I imagine, depending upon the price once revealed, that I'd purchase a box for an every day smoke, or golf course smoke.  It was very well constructed, despite the wrapper having a few dings on it, and burned very well.  The only problem I had construction wise was that it started to go out in the middle of the last third.  I think it may have been under filled, because I had kept the stick at 62% 65 degrees since it arrived, and accidentally dry boxed it for 5 days prior to smoking it--put it in my office desk travel humidor and went to trial in a neighboring county. 

In any event, the flavors I got from it were mostly earth, toasted tobacco, and a little espresso and bean.  I did not get the peppery notes that I was expecting given some other reviews of this, or the cigar's appearance.  All in all, I'd describe it as medium bodied.  Certainly not my favorite cigar, but it was very good.  I don't believe I've ever had one of these before either, so it was nice to try.

 

[MahDooRow]

This evening I smoked cigar #2 during my evening walk.  The wrapper was medium brown, fairly even in color with a few veins.  I found no soft spots, but the cigar had a little give to it when squeezed.  The pre-light draw was very loose and yielded a strong flavor of sweet tobacco.  It wasn't "wind tunnel" loose, but there was little resistance.  

Upon lighting cigar #2 I was greeted by a strong earthy flavor and a large volume of smoke.  Earth remained the dominant flavor throughout the 1st third.

The 2nd third introduced some coffee notes that underpinned the earthiness.  The flavor combination reminded me of black sumatra coffee.  The burn remained pretty even and the overall strength kicked up a notch.

The final third introduced some pepper into the flavor profile.  The coffee remained, but the earth continued to dominate.  

Overall I found cigar #2 to be medium-full bodied with strong, straight forward flavors.  If I didn't know it was a CC I may have guessed it was a NC.  

[BuzzArd]

Gave No2 a go just now.  Pepper and spice. Shortbread and some hay-like flavors. Quite nice.  I think I've had these before.   In fact, I'm sure I have. 

[boopdeep]

Cigar no. 2 -- construction is very good, wrapper has a nice sheen, but is somewhat veiny.  overall, good looking cigar.  pre-light smell is rich in barnyard.  Cigar's draw is just how i like it - requires a tad of pull.  The first two thirds are uni-dimensional.  Strong cedar with hints of leather.  Very spicy.  peppery.  The first two thirds are very strong.  And a bit harsh, which I attribute to age.  One of the stronger cigars i've smoked in a while.  The last third mellows out for me. Flavors are not as sharp. Still has that spice though.  Still getting cedar and leather with hints of toast.  Overall, i personally was not a big fan of the cigar.  ...and i have no idea what it is... 

[Fuzz]

On 17/04/2017 at 0:53 PM, zeedubbya said:

If you like measuring cigars and other things a vernier is a great tool.  I would recommend if you don't have one pickup a dial vernier.  I really like mine.  My dad has it now, but it looks exactly like this one.  Now if only the rollers were as precise!  

 

Or get a digital one, if you're too lazy!

[GavLew79]

Didn't get the luck of the draw with Cigar #2. Rustic would be a complement. Huge veins, RAF wrapper. It looked like "leatherface" or someone who's sewn another persons skin on! Draw was a bit too loose so most puffs caused a bit of over-heating and that Basil-y, soapy character. When being ultra careful with the draw there were lovely smatterings of oreo cream and a nice woodiness. 

Guess submitted. After the blunder with cigar #1 I hope I've chosen correctly here. 

[Azksig]

Smoked this cigar yesterday on the patio on a gorgeous Arizona day.  As others have mentioned the wrapper was very veiny but the construction and burn were right on.  Aroma at cold was pepper and spice.  This cigar reminded me of a straight up old school Cuban cigar.  Lots of pepper and spice with some power.  Not sure if it was because I had it before lunch but I started to feel this cigar around the final 3rd.  Had some earthiness to it as well through the cigar.  Pretty straightforward cigar but I did enjoy it.  I don't think I have ever had one of these.  Looking forward to seeing the reveal. 

[jmg]

Rustic, dry looking cigar. Appearance wise, this is the worse of the 5 blind I received.

Before lighting up, i checked the draw and it was very loose. Upon lighting up, the 1st two puffs were great. Light cream, wood, leather and some slight floral notes. After the 1st two puffs, however, the cigar went downhill. I half expected it from the initial loose draw but was dissappointed, nonetheless. No matter how hard I tried to slow sip and keep the cigar cool, it would not work. Got flavors of wood, leather, toasted tobacco, and black coffee but the smoke was rough. Tossed it after the halfway point. I'm not having any luck with this blind cigar review pack.

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[SinfullyPatient]

Smoked this with 2 other FOH members.  Ugly as hell stick, veiny with parts of the wrapper pealing.

1/3:  Black pepper, maybe some coffee, definite leather.  Pretty harsh/bitter.

2/3:  Black pepper, some sweet spice.  Mellowed out a bit.

3/3:  Black pepper, coffee, leather, harshness/bitterness is back with vengeance.  

Dumped the stick with 1.5" remaining.

I really hope I don't own a box of these, but I think I do.  

[Bennettjohnl]

Dry boxed for two weeks by accident due to the stomach flu.  That probably didn't do me any favors with this cigar.

Very tight draw.  Light nuttiness Woodsy hints of spice and vanilla.  Really had to look hard for those. Wood, earth, mushroom not much else.  Lots of coffee, char, pencil shavings and some leather.  Aroma much sweeter then anything I'm tasting.  

2/3 still woodsy and earthy but even more so.  Strength picking up black coffee spice toasted tobacco straight in the face. Pretty straight forward so far, first signs of sweetness.

Final third earth, mushroom, black coffee and wood notes still dominating.  Sweet sourdough notes trying to come out.

Overall enjoyable smoke but drier then I would have preferred.  By no means a favorite.

[wabashcr]

I made a comment in the recent PE thread about the prettiest cigars not necessarily being the best when it comes to smoking. This cigar has one of the gnarliest looking wrappers, but it's an absolute delight to smoke. Very smooth, creamy smoke with soft notes of leather, graham cracker, and some pleasant floral notes on the fringes. Not overly complex, but right in my sweet spot.

I know it's not a cigar I've had before, as the vitola is new to me. Whatever it is, I look forward to picking up more. Perfect size for me, and the flavor is spot on.

[tomaszgeorge]

Box press, light brown wrapper quite toothy appearance. A size I don’t sample very often, with most vitolas discontinued as far as I am aware, should narrow down the choices slightly.

 

perfect draw

woody on the pre-light

 

Initial draws are wood and cream with a bit of citrus, Light to Med body.

 

1st 3rd

flavours are of wood cream and a hint of vanilla.

 

2nd 3rd

The wood is dominant at the start of this third with the sweet, creamy vanilla in the background. the strength remains quite subdued, with a light body.

 

Last 3rd

The vanilla and cream flavours have now come to the fore. 

 

If this is the cigar I am thinking of, I wish habanos would produce more, either that, or I will have to get my trigger finger ready the next time they come up in the 24:24 sales.

[mrsgucia]

I couldn't figure out this cigar so to get inspired I took it back to the matherland.

We got on the double decker bus around Havana..

Finally lit it up at my favourite place.

Conclusion: Tasted like somthing I had in the past at the beginning of CC times and it wasn't interesting enough to make me get the whole box.

 

 

 

[sam]

I couldn't even make a guess. I'm not aware of any current production cigar of that size (mine was 48 x 155).  Good luck to those of you that are more astute than me. ----sam