Sin Compromiso Selección Espada Estoque (lonsdale) - late 2018 (SM3RW)

[The Squiggler]

Seems like it may be a bit of a faux pas to review a NC for one of these SMRs, but I figured since the "any lonsdale" category popped up it was as good an opportunity as any to exploit the technicality and rock the boat (and I'll gladly also review one of the Cuban marcas on the list if this doesn't cut it).

Anyhow, I happened to have taken some notes on the Sin Compromiso Selección Espada Estoque lonsdale anyway, so I figured I'd go ahead and post them here:

This dark, oily beauty looks like its ready to go to war, but wound up surprising me with its subtle complexity.

At first light cream and aged tobacco dominate, partially giving way to cacao, damp, woody earth, and light leather in the first third.  The flavors are remarkably subtle given the fullness the smoke.  Strength is low-med.

Around the halfway point the cacao and earth ramp up and a soft spice begins to surface… earth and dark chocolate remain at the core.  The body remains full and creamy, now delivering a light tingle on the palette.  Strength remains consistent.

 

There is an interesting herbal quality on the back end throughout the second half, especially in the final third, but there is no ‘pepper’ to speak of.  Overall, this is a very smooth, earthy cigar, but there is a great deal of pleasure in attempting to untangle the more subtle flavors as it burns toward the band (there seem to be tinges of smoked meat and cream sauce mingled with peat moss, ginger and cinnamon but none of these ever really seem to make their way to the front).

Toward the end, a nice touch of anise and chicory begin to surface among the cream and earth... This thing finishes with a bang and is a shame to put down.  Strength maxes out at ~medium.

Winds up bringing me back to Café Du Monde—hot beignets and chicory coffee on the New Orleans riverfront. (Score: 92)

Cheers!

 

[Wookie]

I bought one of these in something like a toro size and found it to be well balanced. Nothing jumped out at me. They have a lofty price point.  I think his Sobremesa line is his most creative and interesting smoke.

[The Squiggler]

2 minutes ago, Wookie said:

I bought one of these in something like a toro size and found it to be well balanced. Nothing jumped out at me. They have a lofty price point.  I think his Sobremesa line is his most creative and interesting smoke.

I wasn't all that impressed by the other sizes for some reason, but I bought a 13 box of these (got a pretty good deal on my favorite auction website).  The flavors are definitely quite subtle for a maduro this dark.  I wouldn't call it an all-out stand-out, necessarily, but it still manages to tick most of the boxes for me.  I do find myself craving one on occasion, but at full MSRP I'd probably either reach for a single or a different stick altogether--you're certainly right about that.