TX Duo Review - Don Carlos Sangre de Toro Puro Cojones

[Çnote]

@Capn_Jackson

Chocolate, earth, and leather. I usually don't like these things this savory, even in Fuente, but this is very well done. Extremely young, lots of promise, kinda monolithic. Nice transition into smooth leather going into the 3rd3rd. Woodsmoke and coffee come thru in the nub. The bands had just enough glue, incredible construction, incredible burn given this is so fresh.

I'm hoping by the time the corona is released these are a thing you can just get a box of at msrp, but I can't justify 2ndary when there are other things lurking out there at disco. I'd probably be better off just waiting for a BR release in a corona-ish size than chasing these around. Opportunity cost is looking high on Fuente these days.

Easy 92, could be 96 down the road

Another great Fuente really

 

[Capn_Jackson]

Lovely darker wrapper on this smoke, and I’m looking forward to trying out this blend with a different wrap. Intrigued might be the better word, as I do enjoy the usual Don Carlos Cameroon wrap. Cold draw gives me dark notes, plum wine and cocoa, a little medium roast coffee bean. The light-up is very flavorful, some more cocoa and coffee, along with raisin and oak wood.

Going on, the oak wood is very prevalent here, along with some umami and more than a little leather. Flitting in and out, I get notes of candied bacon. Interesting and unexpected from a Don Carlos.

Second third ramps up in sweetness, with some caramel-dipped cashew, and a fair bit of citrus crème. The finish on this smoke is leaving something to be desired. A little ashy, not as velvety as I’d expect from DC. Past the midway point, citrus disappears and is replaced by something like huckleberry. Earthy, rich, strewy. More coffee in the mix here, and some chewy damp earth.

The last third goes very dark. Molasses, rum raisin, umami, but unfortunately some bitterness. It’s not constantl, and it’s not overpowering. Just like when you’re munching on freshly shelled pecans, and find a bit of gritty shell stuck in one of the dimples but you eat it anyway. The nub is more sweet, darkly sweet still, but almost dessert-like.

I would like to try this stick again in a few years, and I think it’s got the legs for it. Gets an 88 from me today. Not great, but it’s headed in that direction.

[Capn_Jackson]

@Çnote I don’t think this one grabbed me quite the same as it did you, although we do share some profile perceptions. A good stick, just not really one I care to repeat, at least without a couple years’ downtime maybe.

[Çnote]

44 minutes ago, Capn_Jackson said:

 I don’t think this one grabbed me quite the same as it did you

I really wanted to like this and my writing shows. I think Anejo is a better cigar and we'd probably both agree. I did think you'd think this is a little MC-esque, ie boring.

Pretty much the exact opposite of the EotB as I recall.

We are lucky to get to have damning opinions here, I'd say.