Blind Tasting Reviews Cigar Number 2 : FOH INT 2018 Blind Tasting Comp

[First Lady]

Hello again everyone 

I hope everyone enjoyed the first cigar in our Competition , everyone did pretty well but let’s see how we all do on Cigar Number Two

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 Monday May 7^th  ( Australian Time  )  Note: I DO NOT take bribes LOL

Just to remind everyone of the rules 

The Rules 

First of all thanks to Di and Lisa. Keep in mind with some 100 + participants, communication and re-banding cigars (numbered 1-5) is a time consuming process.

There will be Five cigars picked by myself . These are Standard Production Cigars (No Regional, Edicion Limitada or Specialty Cigars). I will pick the cigars when in the warehouse this week.

1. Cigars (all 5 and bandless and are numbered 1-5 in order they are to be smoked) will be sent the week of the 6th of February. I will select cigars from same code and aroma/wrapper appearance as best I can.

2. . Cigars selected will be in current production.

 

For the following cigars it is easy. Cigar 2 by the first Monday of May, June, July, August.  Each time I will post the results via spreadsheet on the forum 7 days after the close of date. 


To the winner (who can correctly select most cigars sent) A $500 Gift voucher (USD/AUD). In the event of a tie, prize is split.  Must be used within 90 Days of the end of the competition 

 

Also: A $25 credit for any cigar you pick right to be used on a box (or sampler) purchase over $125 (USD/AUD) from the carts or 24:24 stock. This must be used within 20 days of the winners of that round being announced (prior to the next round of winners being announced). This will keep the admin process nice and easy...says I ....who will have no part of the admin process

 

Happy Smoking 

 

[Philc2001]

Cigar #2 FOH Blind Tasting

Parejo, roughly robusto size, with a Colorado hued wrapper. There are a couple of thick protruding veins. It feels slightly soft near the foot, but firmer near the head. Draw is very, very loose, no resistance. 

First Third —

• Thick rich smoke, toasted tobacco flavor, mild medium to start. Nice and rich woodsy aroma.

Second Third —

• Very straight even burn, lots of rich smoke, toasted tobacco spine, earthy, still mild and quite creamy. Some traces of baked bread.

Final Third—

• Perfect burn, no touchups so far. Still producing thick rich smoke, but not much has changed in the flavor, still mild to medium, very creamy. It has a woodsy character, with a slight bit of baking aroma.

Overall—

Nice mild robusto, somewhat one-dimensional. No roughness or any bitterness, just a creamy pleasant smoke. There isn't much here to dislike, but not much to make it a standout either. This is a sociable cigar that you can smoke when you’re not trying to focus on the cigar, but more focused on your social surroundings. I don't smoke many robustos, but I think I have an idea what it might be based on the characteristics of the aroma and flavor. I'm sure to be 100% off though, fried taste buds I think.

[ElJavi76]

This will be the stumper. There will be little yellow in the spreadsheet for this cigar. I smoked it along with @fastkiller13 on Saturday and there were some very interesting flavors here. I've never smoked another CC with this flavor profile. I won't give too much away. We gotta earn it. LoL

If I get this one right... I might just drop the mic and quit the rest of the competition.

Cheers 

[tigger]

Cigar #2 Started out with a vague cold aroma of tea and caramel. It appeared underfilled and squishy, thought upon cutting, the draw was just shy of where I like it.

Cold draw had notes of salt, tea and paper.

When put to the torch, it brought me on a pleasurable journey of consistently building body and flavor. There were notes of sweetness, earth, cocoa, pepper and cream, and a hint of fruit here and there.

I feel surer of my guess on this than I did on #1. Which probably means I'm wrong. 

[shaffer22]

I feel just as unsure on this as I was on the last one! I don’t believe I’ve had this cigar. 

[fitzy]

I'm lost on this one. Also mine looks a good bit different than the others posted in this thread. I wish I took a picture of it before I smoked it.

[ElJavi76]

Anyone else get fresh cut grass and/or pine needles? This cigar was very very green to me.

[fastkiller13]

I wish I took a photo before I smoked as well, mine was seriously box pressed. I also got a very vegetal smoke with some cream coming in at the end. I have zero idea on this one. 

[Guantanamera]

The cigar I received for #2 reminded me of a 24:24 PSP something. Dark wrapper with several even darker spots through out. I was happy to be outside as the weather was perfect, 75 degrees and no wind which is a rarity for the plains.Cold draw was spice cake and tobacco, little tight on the draw so I used my draw tool to fix the problem. My initial impression was a very mild cigar with a good amount of sweetness. At one point there was a momentary blast of pure peanut butter, very exciting. Then transitioning into a grassy, barnyardy thing for the remainder. Overall, a nice mild to medium cigar with a little complexity and only one minor burn issue.

Anyway, I have a couple of ideas...probably incorrect, but we will see.

[ElJavi76]

21 minutes ago, fastkiller13 said:

I wish I took a photo before I smoked as well, mine was seriously box pressed. I also got a very vegetal smoke with some cream coming in at the end. I have zero idea on this one. 

Don't lie to them Ted, I gave you the answer already. ???

[fitzy]

3 hours ago, fastkiller13 said:

I wish I took a photo before I smoked as well, mine was seriously box pressed. I also got a very vegetal smoke with some cream coming in at the end. I have zero idea on this one. 

Yup mine was box pressed as well. 

[prodigy]

Are we allowed to discuss the vitola? I'm not sure I've ever had one this size. It's definitely not a robusto, but that doesn't help me get very far haha

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[ElJavi76]

4 hours ago, prodigy said:

Are we allowed to discuss the vitola? I'm not sure I've ever had one this size. It's definitely not a robusto, but that doesn't help me get very far haha

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My two cents...

I noticed the size is a bit off as well, but even though this isn't a head to head traditional competition... I think the astute smoker will figure this stuff out on their own. I wouldn't dive very deep into your findings other than flavor profile and your general experience smoking the stick. Diving any deeper would just be giving away too much, but again that's just my opinion. 

Good luck to you all... Makes little or no impact to me as I've already submitted my guess.

[prodigy]

My two cents...
I noticed the size is a bit off as well, but even though this isn't a head to head traditional competition... I think the astute smoker will figure this stuff out on their own. I wouldn't dive very deep into your findings other than flavor profile and your general experience smoking the stick. Diving any deeper would just be giving away too much, but again that's just my opinion. 
Good luck to you all... Makes little or no impact to me as I've already submitted my guess.

Time to bust out the ruler haha.

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[ElJavi76]

47 minutes ago, prodigy said:

Time to bust out the ruler haha.

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I kid you not... I used a tape measure. Listen this is all fun and games, but I'm in it to win it brother. Some guys might be more lax about it and just go on general info and how it smoked. I haven't smoked every Cuban there is to smoke. As a matter of fact, the first two cigars... I know I'd never smoked those before. But we'll see. I got 1 right. Let's see if I get lucky again. 

So yeah guys... It's definitely, maybe, a robusto. Or not. ??

[fitzy]

I measured it before I smoked it and the length was of a robusto. 

I can't wait to see what it is. I put in my completely wild guess. 

[Guantanamera]

1 hour ago, fitzy said:

 

I measured it before I smoked it and the length was of a robusto. 

 

I agree, the length was correct, but the ring gauge was a little off.....wasn’t it?

[fitzy]

43 minutes ago, Guantanamera said:

I agree, the length was correct, but the ring gauge was a little off.....wasn’t it?

yes I thought so as well. Not sure if it was because mine appeared to be box pressed. 

 

Also I wasn't sure how much of this we could talk about. 

[MrStixx]

Cold draw - a nice clean sweetness

Pre-light draw, a burst of super sweet - quickly disappeared and first few draws bring solid roasted tobacco - draw is great

 

1/3 - leather, roasted tobacco - some mild spices come into play, nothing over powering in flavor however right when I thought it is heading to solid medium it dropped into sweet and smooth creamy mildness  - burn is flawless thus far

 

2/3 - Mellowed out very nicely - i really don't know the flavors (no expert) but man I'm really digging it - a smooth richness has begun and I don't want it to end!  It might be peanuts, toasted tobacco, as I get close to the final third this flavor stays and strengthens - touch of spice is back, Y-U-M!!

 

3/3 - the spice takes a back seat again and the flavor is just spot on for me; i get touches of this from one of my favorite marcas but this delivering it in with each draw....now getting some wood and hay flavors...but comes right back to that flavor - roasted peanut maybe ??  slightly bitter at nub, put it down.  The burn was flawless - 80% flavor just perfect for me; age would probably make this a great smoke for my profile

 

 

[tonyd58]

I'm not ready to smoke this bc I will be anticipating the answer right away. In the meantime I might smoke all the same vitolas pr what it might me that o have to compare

[Fatshotbud]

Got nothing positive to add.
My sample was kind of a dud - over first half was vastly Underfilled; enough in my opinion to where having a decent chance of identification is very slim.
I typically would have tossed the stick and gone in search of something pleasent - However, I pushed on to the end hoping for some positive nuances and clues to the identity of this sample.
Nothing.......
Getting caught (by Sister Mary) as I was chewing my #2 yellow pencil and thus receiving a couple smart raps with her ruler comes to mind on reflection of suffering through this sample.
All I got for my review

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[Arctic Dude]

Another fine sample...excellent construction, draw and burn. 

 

[Philc2001]

These being from Cuba, how much faith do you have in their QC? Does anyone think they would reject a specimen for being 5-8mm off in length, and 3-4mm off in girth? LOL! 

My guess is this is was a second rate Churchill  and the torcedor that rolled it probably got an attaboy! 

[Fatshotbud]

Short Churchill was born that way

These being from Cuba, how much faith do you have in their QC? Does anyone think they would reject a specimen for being 5-8mm off in length, and 3-4mm off in girth? LOL! 
My guess is this is was a second rate Churchill  and the torcedor that rolled it probably got an attaboy! 

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[Philc2001]

53 minutes ago, Fatshotbud said:

Short Churchill was born that way

 

Exactly!