Amante IV Cananzo - Just Hit 4 months (FRWOct)

[GVan]

These Amantes hit my humidor on 06/15/23 with a production date of 4/1/23 (according to @El Presidente's posts).  They were initially stored naked on the bottom shelf of the humi at 63% Rh.  After ~ 2 months, I’d finished a box of Warped Cloud Hopper 53’s and the Amante Cananazo’s fit perfectly - so, now they’re stored in a wooden cabinet on the bottom of the humi.   Smoked on a beautiful Florida morning - 75 deg’s F and 68% humidity.  Drinking “Funky Chicken” whole bean coffee from Red Rooster Roasters in Virginia.  It’s one of my wife's and my favorites - it’s a medium roast proprietary blend that’s chocolate torte, bergamot citrus and slightly nutty.  A proper tasting would have stuck with water but it’s early and I need my coffee!

Colorado wrapper, very small veins and well rolled.  First inch very light bodied and light strength.  Very firm feel to the roll yet, easy draw and light, floral smoke output.  White bread flavor with a slight sweetness on the initial puffs.  Perfect burn. Smoking it slowly with slightly smaller draws than I might typically take on a larger ring gauge cigar.  Swirling the smoke around my tongue gives me a light hickory flavor with slight sweetness.  I’m surprised how light the flavors are for a NC - I have to focus to determine the flavors.  Much more like a CC than your typical NC that is in your face flavors.  First 1” takes 25 minutes - wow!

At the end of the first third the sweetness leaves and the strength ramps up to medium, but still light bodied.  Flavors are now a woody light oak a little spicy paprika and light tobacco.  It’s a nice transition, the first 1+ inch I was wondering how come no tobacco taste which is really pretty impressive for a NC.  I’m at 45 minutes at the end of the first third and I knock the ash off.

After I knock the ash off, I regulate my puffs to just when the smoke stops at the end of the cigar.  About every 30 the 40 seconds until the ash rebuilds.  It’s a pleasure to smoke slowly this morning.  Have a plane to catch at ~ 4:00 for a duck hunting trip this weekend in Illinois and I’m already packed.  It’s opening day tomorrow and my son is a big duck hunter - going to bring 3 of these Amantes for us to smoke around the backyard fire pit - see what he thinks!   This third the wood fades replaced by the cookie-dough flavor I’ve gotten on my last one (yes, I smoked one at less than 90 days - couldn't wait).   I’m also getting a little of the “Davidoff mustiness” that those are famous for.  Might be the aged tobacco used or the fact that I need to double puff a few times.  I find purging and double puffing in the last half common on young cigars until the ash returns to keep in the heat while I’m smoking slowly.  A hit from the single flame lighter around the edges of the cone helps as well.

Last third I’m watching some local fisherman at the dock - snook fishing is good right now as we’re at the tail end of the mullet run.  I slow down on the coffee to focus on the flavors.  Pretty much the same as the middle.  Light tobacco, a very slight baking spices at the back of the tongue with a long finish similar to a young Party Short.  Surprisingly I’m at an hour and 15 minutes at the start of this last third - the Amante’s smoking superbly - a credit to the roller.

Unfortunately, I’m not going to finish this cigar.  I’m getting hungry after the second cup of coffee with no breakfast.  I’m grateful for the light strength as no brain fog or nicotine hit on an empty stomach.

The first third was a solid 93 point cigar.  Pretty typical that the first third to about half is awesome at > 90 days of rest.  Also, that the back half will continue developing with more time.    I’ll bet the back half gets better in the cool, dry, fall air of Illinois in October.  We’ll see in just a day or two.   

The first third was a solid 93 point cigar.  Pretty typical that the first third to half is awesome at > 90 days of acclimating.  Also, typical that the back half will continue developing with more down time.    I’ll bet the back half gets better in the cool dry air of Illinois in October.  We’ll see in just a day or two.   

[joeypots]

Great review, thanks.

[anacostiakat]

Yea. Great review and this fell right into my wheelhouse. Received mine about the same time. I have not opened them yet. But I am thinking it won't be long. Heh...

[GVan]

Update - my son and I smoked these at 3:30 AM in the Duck Blind waiting for legal shooting time.  I will post some pictures from the hunt in the "FOH: A Week in Pictures" section.  It was 41 degrees and we had coffee in the blind with the cigars.  His comment was "this was a really good cigar and a credit to the blender".  He had the third one I bought the second day of the hunt upon our return home as we sat around an outdoor fire with bloody marys - needless to say he really liked the cigars.