Texas Duo Review - CoLa

[Çnote]

@Capn_Jackson

If you're going to smoke something, you may as well smoke something.

I'm kinda distracted but this is happening. I nip off the pigtail with fingernails. This starts with hay and honey and intensity on the tongue and lips. It's flavor all way to 11. After a couple inches, the honey thickens to agave syrup, then golden treacle. The hay keeps a beat. Graham crackers become involved about halfway. It's pure twang. The smoke is thick syrup. 

I don't like lanceros. They're fidgety to smoke, NC ones are often blended for power up front, I inevitably get ash everywhere. This is different. The construction is spot on, the draw immaculate, and it's just smooth and dreamy.

Getting to the band, I pick up toasted marshmallow and the twang becomes distinctly orange citrus. The golden treacle becomes condensed milk and the Graham crackers fade into baking spice. The nub brings in coffee that slowly builds into a bitterness that let's me know I done.

Great cigar. 👍 let's hope the rest of my day can be as good!

[RDB]

Nice review, nice cigar! When these are on they are the bomb.

[gormag38]

Good review. I love to see people smoking the 'heavy hitters' in their collection. I've experienced some piss poor construction issues with my 2019 CoLas. What year was yours? Happy to hear it burned well for you. 

[Ford2112]

I had to Google " treacle". Cointreau is a foreign word to me too. 

[Çnote]

1 hour ago, gormag38 said:

What year was yours?

@Capn_Jackson sourced these.

[Capn_Jackson]

Cohiba Lancero MAR OCT ‘21

Great-feeling cigar with a nice, even pack. Aroma is barnyard/hay, cold draw shows me hints of honey and gingersnaps to come.

Little Martha starts playing on the speakers, which is strangely coincidental. The first Cohiba I ever had was with my band by a pool, after a gig. Nearly 25 years ago. We were listening to Allman Bros, and I’m certain Little Martha was in that mix. RIP, Dickey Betts. Hope you’re having a hell of a time in Heaven with Duane and Gregg.

Light-up puff has just a hint of heat, not really pepper but more like a smoky chili oil. It was gone before my brain even registered, almost. A little toast and hay on the palate, and a blast of honey on the finish.

After light-up, though, things are muted for a bit. The first third takes its time opening up, but eventually shows me gingersnap and honey, with a great creamy texture. Smoke output is very good, and strength seems right around medium.

Nearing the second third, ginger isn’t as prevalent, and the gingersnap morphs into more of a graham cracker vibe. Cinnamon and honey. There is also some plentiful earth and hay in the mix. Texture turns a little dry here.

As the second third begins, the earthiness kicks up a notch, but doesn’t take away from the honey and baking spices, mostly cinnamon and nutmeg. These are baking spices that carry sweetness, but also some earthy qualities, and so the marriage really works. Also, I’m getting some coriander seed. Compliments the honey very nicely, and offers the slightest bit of citrus to the experience. The graham cracker seems to be fighting with some biscotti, as both alternate every few minutes. Fun little conflict between cinnamon and almond! Some construction problems here and there, involving a few touch-ups.

Around the midpoint, the honey starts to get darker, approaching molasses but not quite. A little vanilla too, reminding me of toffee. Texture also returns to a nice creamy vibe.

In the last act, graham cracker has beat out biscotti, with the almond all but gone. Honey returns to the mix, but it’s a slightly spicy honey. This heat might come from a couple of necessary relights. Construction here in the last half has been not the best, going out sporadically, but flavor is still nearly on point. As I remove the band with a couple inches left, some earthiness develops, a little bit of forest floor funk, and some wood. Hickory or oak. BBQ smoke. “Thin blue smoke,” as they say. Coriander also comes back near the end, along with a dusting of clove or anise. Nice herbal and savory blend here at the end, with a touch of that spicy honey and dark citrus.

Other than the handful of touch-ups and a couple of relights, this cigar has been a delight, bringing lots of complexity and a good  balance of sweet and savory. 

Smoke time was just under two hours for me, and I give this an 89. Would’ve scored higher, if not for construction problems. As I said before, the flavor did not suffer from this, but it’s annoying - and a waste of fuel - to touch up and relight such a high-value stick that many times. Even after dry-boxing a couple days. Still, a good morning spent!

[Çnote]

WE SMOKED THE SAME CIGAR

[Capn_Jackson]

8 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

I had to Google " treacle". Cointreau is a foreign word to me too. 

Treacle is good stuff!

 

1 hour ago, Çnote said:

WE SMOKED THE SAME CIGAR

Finally!!

 

9 hours ago, gormag38 said:

What year was yours?

These were from an Oct ‘21 box, so just about 2-1/2 years on them.

[Lfhard]

Makes me want to crack open my box. I have a MAR SEP 21 box, one month after yours. Good review...both of you. 

[Capn_Jackson]

I was just thinking how funny it is that we finally had a similar, consistent experience with a cigar…and it was a Habano!

[Çnote]

8 hours ago, Capn_Jackson said:

I was just thinking how funny it is that we finally had a similar, consistent experience with a cigar…and it was a Habano!

And a Lancero!