San Cristobal El Principe EMA ABR 08 : Ode to the 40 and 42 gauge review week

[Cmelle]

I've reviewed this box before and I think I owe another review because they have changed dramatically.

I purchased this box approximately 8 months ago. I received it very wet and moist. Highly over humidified. I smoked one for a San Cristobal review week back then and it was terrible. 

I let them rest for 6 months or so and they have changed completely. One of my go to boxes. I've smoked through over half and have enjoyed almost all of them. 

The draw/burn/construction was perfect. The smoke density was around average. Not thick and chewy, but not wimpy either. Lots of smoke with each draw. Paired with a cappuccino. 

The first half of the cigar was very nice. Sweet coffee notes, cocoa, very smooth. Almost a liquorice flavor. The retrohale is what I enjoy most on these. It's a very distinct dusty cocoa. Kind of like milo without milk. It had me retrohaling almost every draw. 

Unfortunately it turned bitter at the midway point and didn't recover. Might be due to me smoking too fast. Didn't end up nubbing.

This box has been pretty stellar. After the 6 month rest, only 2 have had a bitterness through them. And I can only imagine it is because of the state they were stored in prior to my purchase. 

I hope you enjoyed the review. 

[TheMonk]

Good job! These do tend to turn bitter quite early, IMO... and age doesn't always help with that.

[JohnS]

The El Principe is one of my very favourite 'go-to' cigars and I know what you mean about 'bitterness'. They pack a punch when it comes to flavour and thankfully they usually deliver much more often than not, from my experience.