MOFOH Spada Gorda (FFSAug24)

[Capn_Jackson]

It’s been awhile since I’ve visited this stick, and upon lighting up, I remember why I like these so much. Loads of dried berry, mixed with Cointreau or something even more bittersweet.

The first third opens up to honeyed cashews and cocoa, with a great Hoyo-like creamy texture on the tongue. It’s all I can do to slow down and keep from smoking this too fast. An extremely long finish is sweet and almost tart, a little like vanilla yogurt with berries, and a spoonful of honey on top. Going further, there is a slight salty vibe too, while the forward note alternates between honey and caramel.

Going toward the second third, I lose cocoa but pick up some stout flavors, along with dark cherry. Stout isn’t something I remember getting from these, so maybe it’s been too long since I’ve had the Spada Gorda, or maybe my palate is off today. Either way, it’s more than welcome here. I’m beginning to think @El Presidente and Hamlet put some kind of spell on the Spadas. Every one I’ve had, has hit the exact flavor notes I needed that day. Trickery…. and well done!

About midpoint and I’m in a world of honey-roasted nuts and bright coffee, with maybe a bit of cantaloupe cream, and traces of marzipan. That and the salted caramel notes have me thinking of a Sancho Panza Molinos I had some time back. Need to put out an ISO for some of them….

The construction on this stick has been outstanding, with a razor-sharp burn line and solid ash that only comes off when bidden. Gotta love not getting ash all over myself!

The last third continues to volley between honeyed nuts, dark fruit, and alternating caramel/vanilla flavors, but orange peel comes up strong toward the end. Not a bitterness, so much as mellow earthiness, with a crisp sweet bite. The nub of this great smoke, to me, is molasses and cashew butter, with a bit of sweet kernel corn. Once again, kudos to the team!

At my slow pace, this was an hour and a half of rich, flavorful leaf. The end did not seem quite as refined as the beginning and middle, though still brimming with good sweet tobacco, and I did enjoy the citrus it picked up. Overall a little sweeter than my usual, but today it hit just right, coming from a guy who doesn’t always go for the sweet stuff. Started around medium strength, maybe creeped up to medium-full, but never brash. Full flavor, and an utter delight.

94!

P.S. I don’t think I’ve ever typed or uttered the words “cantaloupe cream” before today, but as Ian Malcom said “uh, well, there it is.”

[Fugu]

3 hours ago, Capn_Jackson said:

P.S. I don’t think I’ve ever typed or uttered the words “cantaloupe cream” before today

Yeah, had to look it up...