TX Duo Review - Warped Sky Moon 2023

[Çnote]

@Capn_Jackson

Cigars are an emotional experience. Branding is more about emotions and psychology than anything else. Why CC? Why boutiques? Flavors are subjective. Why not just smoke Fuente DC or Padron 1926? Is it boredom that propels consumers into new brands? FOMO? The crushing desire to consume and control? Deep thoughts for a short cigar...

To me, there's just something about a figurado. The lines are sexy. I've found coronas offer the best smoking experience for me, lots of intensity without the fiddliness of lancero, short enough to schedule. A corona figurado from a boutique I respect? In a 50ct? Sounds serious. I ended up with a box and a couple of handfuls, so for me this is a revisit.

I had some extreme hot sauce yesterday that totally cleared out my sinuses. I really didn't notice until I opened the humidor and smelled the rich nearly overpowering tobacco aroma that I usually only get when opening a box that's years and years old. It's bloody magic.

Cold draw immediately hits that CC twang. I'm salivating. 

The texture of smoke is all rich creme, but the flavor is more salt and stick, not Sancho Panza driftwood, but in that direction and disjointed. The 2nd third becomes grilled portobello with teriyaki. Past the band it's banging rich tobacco, very satisfying, but overall I'm not in love.

I smoked a couple of these fall 2023 and spring 2024 and liked them enough to stock up.

Trying it today, i wouldn't have gone so heavy, but I distinctly remember smoking one last April and being estatic that I had already gone heavy, so here we are. Lots of emotions.

Is that all we are looking for, a connection?

I'll have to smoke a bigger cigar next time for thoughts like this.

Viaje PK Lime next, but only because it's unbanded and I seek to reduce confusion.

[Capn_Jackson]

And now, for my side of the story.

I love the look of this Corona. Fairly smooth wrapper, and a really good draw after a straight cut. Cold draw gives me quite a kick…white pepper, along with some sort of dough. Rye, I’m thinking. Some honey and earth, too.

On light-up, I’m hit with just a little heat, a trace of clove, and crushed peanut (shell included). Nice opening! A few minutes in and the pepper, which has resided mostly in the nose, gives way to a good bold coffee with more than a little leather. Throughout the early stages, there’s a lot going on. Jagged, abrupt transitions between coffee, cinnamon, and candy sugar. Leather stays on throughout all of it, a pleasant undertone, and a little funky mushroom floats on the finish.

Heading toward the second third, a couple relights are required, but afterwards the burn line is straight on for the rest of the smoke. Good texture, not quite creamy. Buttery, sort of. Strength hovers just under medium, and the smoke output is plentiful.

Around the midpoint, hints of brioche bun with some …garlic? Pesto? There’s something very savory here I can’t quite place, but it goes nicely with the bread and nutty vibes. Strength climbs up a bit, still not a powerhouse but a good punch for a smallish package. 

Last third is all raisin, caramel, and leather, with a whisp of citrus crème. This is probably my favorite part of the stick. Up to this point, this cigar seemed to have trouble settling on anything. The conflict appears to have ended now, and peace is restored. Great flavors of sweet tobacco, finishing up with lots of coffee and damp earth. A little bitter after getting past the band, but I can forgive it for its youth. Pleasant smoke, but far from my norm. I’d like to see what this becomes in five years, after the jagged edges are gone.

[Çnote]

26 minutes ago, Capn_Jackson said:

like to see what this becomes in five years,

#2030