HdM Elegantes: UBM-NOV-18 (FHHJRW)

[StogieSteve23]

 

Opening Remarks: The Elegantes is a cigar I’ve been eager to try.  Not sure if it was the double band, vitola, fact that it’s a HdM or all the above, but I was never able to get my hands on this stick and was gracious enough to do a trade with @captaincaveman for a couple plus some others I have been wanting to try.  I’m not usually a pyramide fan, but the tacos vitola is more up my alley for its less pointed head.   

Cold Draw: After I clip the head and test the draw, immediate notes of ripe red grapes fill the mouth.  There is also a slight mixture of dark chocolate, cocoa and almonds.  Not an overwhelming flavor of any but more like dust of each.  The wrapper has a nice feel with some large veins but nothing protruding out that feels like Frankenstein in my hand.  I notice a soft spot about a ½ inch up from the foot and another small one just below the LCDH band.    

First Third: After lighting up the cigar, I notice smoke production is rather minimal but sometimes to be expected with a perfecto.  The first few puffs are milk chocolate, cedar and burnt cashews.  Very reminiscent of a dish my fiancé made the previous week where she absolutely burned the shyte out of cashews for a dish.  She’s usually a very good cook haha.  The retro is burnt marshmallows.   A couple more puffs and it needs a second clip of the head as smoke production remains minimal.  By this time I get a very weird runaway burn in the area of the soft spot. Smoke production picked up a little by now and a couple little touchups help to even out the burn issue.  Stale Hershey’s notes similar to the dusting I picked up in the cold draw accompanied by a slight sweetness like under ripe peaches make its way into the foreground. A few more puffs and there is honey that lingers on the tongue with a sweet cinnamon flavor but nothing spicy.

 

Second Third: By now the ash is excellent and burn has evened out very well.  Floral notes are predominant with a hibiscus flavor and some dried milk chocolate fudge that’s been in the fridge for a few days.  Florals leave and a grainy flavor comes in.  Chocolate chip bran muffins was all I could think of.  Honeysuckle and florals come back with another slight touchup being needed.  The smoke smells pleasant like fresh burning tobacco.  Lemongrass and dried hay close make its way in before getting into the final third.

 

Final Third: The burn like is very sharp by this time and that dusted milk chocolate flavor is predominant.  Cedar and boiled peanuts come forth.  Hershey’s Kisses and cedar are the main flavor spectacle to close out this stick.

Closing Remarks: Despite the burn issues, thoroughly enjoyed the stick.  I enjoyed this smoke and the subtle complexity it showed.  I really enjoyed the florals in the second third sandwiched between some fruits and chocolate notes.  It certainly is a keeper for me and I’ll continue to be on the lookout for boxes should they become available.   

Burn: 3/5 (Decent burn – runaway burn early on with a few touchups needed)

Construction: 3/5 (Docked a few points for soft spots and a lack of combustion early on)

Flavor: 4/5 (Satisfying but not overly complex – dried chocolate, cedar, fruits, marshmallow retro)

Smell: 5/5 (Pleasant – fresh burning tobacco)

Wrapper: 5/5 (Medium brown with no large veins – a nice feel)

Overall Score: 20/25

[Connoisseur Kim]

9 hours ago, StogieSteve23 said:

 

Opening Remarks: The Elegantes is a cigar I’ve been eager to try.  Not sure if it was the double band, vitola, fact that it’s a HdM or all the above, but I was never able to get my hands on this stick and was gracious enough to do a trade with @captaincaveman for a couple plus some others I have been wanting to try.  I’m not usually a pyramide fan, but the tacos vitola is more up my alley for its less pointed head.   

Cold Draw: After I clip the head and test the draw, immediate notes of ripe red grapes fill the mouth.  There is also a slight mixture of dark chocolate, cocoa and almonds.  Not an overwhelming flavor of any but more like dust of each.  The wrapper has a nice feel with some large veins but nothing protruding out that feels like Frankenstein in my hand.  I notice a soft spot about a ½ inch up from the foot and another small one just below the LCDH band.    

First Third: After lighting up the cigar, I notice smoke production is rather minimal but sometimes to be expected with a perfecto.  The first few puffs are milk chocolate, cedar and burnt cashews.  Very reminiscent of a dish my fiancé made the previous week where she absolutely burned the shyte out of cashews for a dish.  She’s usually a very good cook haha.  The retro is burnt marshmallows.   A couple more puffs and it needs a second clip of the head as smoke production remains minimal.  By this time I get a very weird runaway burn in the area of the soft spot. Smoke production picked up a little by now and a couple little touchups help to even out the burn issue.  Stale Hershey’s notes similar to the dusting I picked up in the cold draw accompanied by a slight sweetness like under ripe peaches make its way into the foreground. A few more puffs and there is honey that lingers on the tongue with a sweet cinnamon flavor but nothing spicy.

 

Second Third: By now the ash is excellent and burn has evened out very well.  Floral notes are predominant with a hibiscus flavor and some dried milk chocolate fudge that’s been in the fridge for a few days.  Florals leave and a grainy flavor comes in.  Chocolate chip bran muffins was all I could think of.  Honeysuckle and florals come back with another slight touchup being needed.  The smoke smells pleasant like fresh burning tobacco.  Lemongrass and dried hay close make its way in before getting into the final third.

 

Final Third: The burn like is very sharp by this time and that dusted milk chocolate flavor is predominant.  Cedar and boiled peanuts come forth.  Hershey’s Kisses and cedar are the main flavor spectacle to close out this stick.

Closing Remarks: Despite the burn issues, thoroughly enjoyed the stick.  I enjoyed this smoke and the subtle complexity it showed.  I really enjoyed the florals in the second third sandwiched between some fruits and chocolate notes.  It certainly is a keeper for me and I’ll continue to be on the lookout for boxes should they become available.   

Burn: 3/5 (Decent burn – runaway burn early on with a few touchups needed)

Construction: 3/5 (Docked a few points for soft spots and a lack of combustion early on)

Flavor: 4/5 (Satisfying but not overly complex – dried chocolate, cedar, fruits, marshmallow retro)

Smell: 5/5 (Pleasant – fresh burning tobacco)

Wrapper: 5/5 (Medium brown with no large veins – a nice feel)

Overall Score: 20/25

Nice HDM LCDH review @StogieSteve23! Do you prefer Escogidos over Elegantes?

[StogieSteve23]

16 minutes ago, Connoisseur Kim said:

Nice HDM LCDH review @StogieSteve23! Do you prefer Escogidos over Elegantes?

Thanks Kim!   I haven't tried the Escogidos yet.  I received two boxes the other week but have not given them a shot yet and probably wont at least for a few more months.  I'll do a little review once I smoke one though.  

[Connoisseur Kim]

14 minutes ago, StogieSteve23 said:

Thanks Kim!   I haven't tried the Escogidos yet.  I received two boxes the other week but have not given them a shot yet and probably wont at least for a few more months.  I'll do a little review once I smoke one though.  

I'm interested in Escogidos too, so looking forward to see your Escogidos review buddy! ?