2025 FOH International Blind Tasting Competition Review Thread.

[Luca]

On 6/14/2025 at 3:53 AM, LordAnubis said:

I don’t even think you’re smoking the blind tasting pack from the looks of your guesses. 

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 😶‍🌫️

[DrCaffeinated]

On 6/14/2025 at 8:57 PM, Montezüma said:

Love the look of your cigar terrace, can enjoy the vibe from all the way over here across the Pacific!

Thanks! We spend a LOT of time out here. After dark is my favorite.

[Boxer31]

Well, guess I got #4 wrong too, unless it’s also a Epi #2.

[BlueWS]

Cigar #4 8 month old JL2. I'm calling it.

[EMC12]

Cigar 4

Smooth, shiny wrapper

Easy draw, good smoke output

1st third: Starts off very Mild

Chocolate 

Toasty tobacco

A little cream

Sweet spice

2nd third: a little more body - Mild+

Sour fruit- under-ripe apple?

Milk chocolate dominates

Cedar

Sweet Spice

Last third: just up to medium

Earthy notes

Spice

Dark chocolate 

Dessert wine - whatever that means?

Twang

Ends with toasty tobacco and cream

Decent stick, but mild for my taste - 87

[Superhans]

Cigar 4

Strongly flavoured cold draw and a deep cocoa scent. 

1/3 Rich and extremely tangy citrus opening. Best start to any cigar I've had in ages. Delicious. Draw could be slightly better but burn is flawless. Medium body, slight spice, flavourful.

2/3 Very enjoyable cigar if a bit one dimensional. At the midpoint the draw gets restricted. Flavours start to get bitter. 

3/3 Absolutely no progression in profile. Second half is just bitter tobacco and a real slog to get through. Shame.

Medium throughout (maybe slightly under by the end but likely because of the poor draw). This one could be anything. First third was fantastic but ended up a disappointment. Will smoke a recent JL2 to compare as seems similar.

[pohlmad]

Perfect evening to have cigar #4. Unfortunately the cigar did not perform. On the cold draw I noted a very sour taste, one I haven’t had with other cigars. First third was full ammonia flavor but I pressed on. Into the second third the ammonia transitioned into a bitter sour, similar to the cold draw. The cigar instantly went out 3 times in the second third and I ended up quitting on it. I have quit on a cigar maybe 3 times in my life which shows how significantly this underperformed. That leaves me in a total guess scenario for my pick!  Unfortunate but we know this can happen with handmade products!  

[GavLew79]

Behind the curve, but just smoking no.3. 

Mild start, creamy, rich, hint of youthful bitterness, but slow puffs quell it. 

Quality wrapper. Well filled, if a little overfilled. Rested at 60% RH for quite a while now. Cedar, toast, subtle honey, hay. Gonna go in high.