TX Duo Review - Warped Isla de Cocodrilo Corona Gorda

[Çnote]

@Capn_Jackson and I are getting aggressive! 5 in a week! Can we keep it up? Probably not, but we'll try!

Warped has been around a minute. As a boutique, they are often mentioned with the adjective 'Cubanesque.' Supposedly Kyle Gellis' father introduced him to cigar smoking young and preferred Cubans, so there's that. There's a lot of Warped/DROP branding that plays on the Cuban theme, occasionally there's a little spark for me. Most of what I've really liked from Warped has been on-offs, has been recently discontinued, or is at a price point that is clogged up with other cigars I'd rather stock up on. The marketing here is looking like a full homage to Cuban tradition, but my perspective is that's the world today. Savvy brand owners know guys are looking to scratch the itch at a price and are filling shelves with what they think will resonate in market. Kyle is a smart dude, just look at DROP. Why leave money on the table when you can market small batch and ship DTC?

This starts paper bland with white pepper and high toned nasal leather, not promising at all. Even with controlled slow puffs, it burns very hot and fast. After about an inch, it starts to show a little shortbread and light spice, pleasing but very muted and not very satisfying. Smoke is harsh and retros burn. At about 1/2 way, the burn finally flattens out and a richer texture comes out, still sweet shortbread with some peanut brittle and praline vibes. Going into the 3rd3rd this really opens into a powerhouse of 'mild & intense,' cream, dried apricot, nutmeg. Smoke is still texturally warm and brittle, retros aren't very pleasant. If like anything in CC, an HdM that just isn't firing on all cylinders. Nub shows a little buttered toast and marmalade, but overall it's not doing it for me. I'd try it again, but I'm not going out of my way at the price.

Call this a generous 82 and what's next up?

[CigarCulture09]

Enjoyed reading your review. 🙏

[GVan]

Thanks for the review. I'm a Kyle Gellis fan with about 10 boxes in my collection and also bought a box of these to try but had not smoked one yet. It is troubling that lately, Kyle has been following an increasing trend in cigars by coming out with many more limited editions at much higher prices.   

As you said above, a disappointing review but there were some hopeful flavors emerging at the end. I've found that most of his stuff requires some aging similar to my Cuban cigars. One of the best smoking cigars in my collection is his Warped La Hacienda Superiores that were a very reasonable purchase and are now ~ 3 years old. My son-in-law grabs one of these almost every time he is over and eventually bought a box to add to his collection. Also, the Warped Cloud Hopper 53's that I bought back in 03/2022 are now showing a slight sweetness similar to a 10-year-old PLPC. I bought 2 - 50 cabs and wish I'd bought more since at the time they were $4.35 per cigar and almost qualify for a "cheap and cheerful" these days. The Cloud Hopper's has turned into one of my favorite morning coffee smokes.

Bury the Cocodrilos and forget about them for several years. Based on your review, I've made a note in my spreadsheet to do the same and not buy anymore. Hopefully we will eventually be rewarded with a "good cigar" that maybe gets to 90 points but took several years to mature. Maybe by then I'll again wish I bought more of these - only time will tell. Again, thanks for the review.

[Çnote]

8 hours ago, GVan said:

Kyle has been following an increasing trend in cigars by coming out with many more limited editions at much higher prices

He's a smart Boi. Everyone else is doing it so why don't we?

I agree in general on potential, but I'd rather a box of Tat Unicos for at least $50 less. Or LaC44 for a couple $ more each. This is just at a weird price today considering the rest of his portfolio and the competition. Drift will happen tho and I'll look dumb later.

I did put down a full box of sky moon, and cloud hopper would be a savvy buy at the right price, I might even smoke one today.

[GVan]

Broke into a new box and took another 10 Cloud Hopper 53's out of cold storage yesterday in order to move them to the office humidor. Decided to smoke one yesterday afternoon. I usually wait 90 days after cold storage to let them acclimate in the humidor but after posting about them, I thought go ahead and...very good cigar easily 89 to 90 points without the wait. Beautiful wrappers on these.

[Capn_Jackson]

And finally, here’s my side of the story.

Got to smoke this one over at @Çnote’s, although he’d already done his days before. Thanks to good conversation, my notes may not be the most detailed.

Graham cracker cold draw Wood and graham cracker on light-up

Going on, some mud, damp earth, more than a little lemongrass in the first third.

After a few puffs, I don’t get much of anything but wood and damp earth. Those are great flavors to have in a mix, but needs something more sweet. Missing the lemongrass from the intro.

Balsa wood comes in on the second third. Some earthy aromatics, a little anise spice, but still nothing rich to speak of. Little bit of white pepper in the mix.

The entire middle of this cigar gives me hardly anything but wood. Very muted. Little earth, maybe. Not much to write about.

Last third, graham cracker trying to make a comeback. Some baking spices, mildly. Muddy, muddy coffee. Nutmeg. At the end I note just a tiny bit of prune juice on the finish, just under the tip of the tongue.

Not impressed with this one, especially at the price point. Warped has so many better cigars, at better price even.

[Ruggerpgh99]

My experience with this was very different. I really enjoyed it, and was glad I bought a box on a blind buy. 

[Çnote]

Cloud Hopper 53

Probably this rolled in last 6 months, just got it a couple weeks ago from a fast moving humidor.

@GVan you're right, great faux-CC stuff here. Lightly creamy, toasted tobacco. Could be a PLPC if you squint.