TacoSauce NC Diary

[TacoSauce]

Emilio Cigars Cavatina (++): A dark looking 4.5x48 stick with a truncated pigtail. Pre-light aroma is musty barnyard and the cold draw had only a faint sweetness. After lighting, the cigar opened at a medium-full body. The initial flavor was an intense dried plum blast that quickly faded. It was replaced by a well-balanced mix of earth and wood bark with some baseline sweetness and the occasional dried fruit note poking through. This was the profile for the entirety of this short stick. A good flavor experience that didn't overwhelm. On the bolder side for me.

[TacoSauce]

Black Label Trading Co. Salvation Toro (++): A big 6 x 52 stick. Too big for my tastes, yet here it is in my humidor. Pre-light aroma and cold draw both remind me of the reptile house at the zoo. After lighting, the cigar opens at a medium body level with the flavor of damp, pine tree wood bark and a smidge of earthiness. The flavor itself is delivered at a mild-medium level, but the wrapper imparts a tangy intensity that brings the whole experience up to medium bodied. At the half-way point, candied citrus peel appears which elevates the whole experience. This is a really nice flavor profile, I just wish I had bough a smaller vitola. 

[TacoSauce]

Warped La Colmena 10th Anniversary Amado No. 50 (+): I thought the regular production La Colmena was a weird cigar, which puts my opinion at odds with many others. Hearing good things about the 10th anniversary version, I thought I would give it a go. This is a very densely packed stick with a beautifully smooth wrapper. Nothing of note on the pre-light aroma and nothing off the cold draw due to a completely closed foot. After lighting, the cigar opened just under medium bodied and the initial flavor is cedar wood and a light white pepper. Retrohale is easy, but doesn't add much flavor. There is no sweetness here until the half-way point when a smidge of sweetness joins. Beyond the cedar wood, there is aged tobacco flavor and occasionally you get a gritty graham cracker note which reminds me of a milder version of the Trinidad profile. Nothing bad here, but also nothing that would bring me back for another one -- even at a lower price.

[TacoSauce]

ADVentura The Explorer Corona Gorda (+++): When I smoked this, I thought I was trying a new blend from ADVentura, however it turns out that this was my second tasting of this blend. Previously I had sampled the short Robusto and rated it highly. For this stick, the pre-light aroma gave off a pungent sawdust aroma. The cold draw had a pronounced burnt toast note. After lighting, the cigar opened at a medium body and the initial flavor was toasted bread with some of the edges burned. Unlike the short Robusto, there was no sweet Cedar here, but that wasn't a demerit. This stick had a delicious opening. The remainder of the stick maintained the toasted, slightly burnt character as its predominant flavor. Sometimes it was toasted bread, other times toasted pastry. Very flavorful and solidly medium at all times. This was a different experience than the short Robusto, but delicious in its own right. Top marks.

[TacoSauce]

ADVentura The Royal Return Queen's Pearls Corona (++): A 6" x 44 Connecticut Corona. A nice shape and size. I put off smoking this because more and more these days, I find these milder CT sticks to be boring and a waste of time. However, I bought this with the intention of trying it, and so try it I will. The pre-light aroma reminded me of a dirty carpet and the cold draw reminded me of almond milk. After lighting, the cigar opened at a mild-medium level. I proceeded to smoke the whole stick, enjoying the excellent construction and burn the whole way. But what did it taste like? I have no recollection. It was a good cigar and I enjoyed smoking it, but the flavors certainly didn't catch my attention or stand out. That being said, enjoyment level was high, so I will order more of these. One last note: the band on this cigar was made of soft metal -- like the thick metal foil cap on some wine bottles. This was different and interesting, however I recall learning that those wine foil caps often contain toxic metals that can leave an unhealthy residue unless you wipe it off. I wonder about this band...