TX Duo Review - Warped Futuro Corona Gorda 2025*

[Çnote]

Smoking with @Capn_Jackson is chaos.

I had one of these last week in his presence. My notes were thin, but very promising to enjoy again sooner than later. Today, not so much, but the flavors are the same. Situations were not ideal to enjoy this, unfortunately. Last week was immediately after the Viaje SS that left me comatose, today's was in the surprisingly warm for February Texas sun. Either way, oak sawdust and savory earth, slowly adding creme de cacao, getting some mushroom close to the band. Nub starts with Guinness foam, some strong yogurt/creme fraiche fermented dairy texture, and a rich savory cocoa.

Last week's smoked to the last 1/2 inch or so, but today's goes out with a solid inch to go and a bad relight confirms that this one had some construction issues, there was some minor tunneling at about 1/2 way. I could fight through it but I'm just not inclined to today, exhausted from Vday shifts.

Call this an 85, enjoyable but not exactly what I'm looking for. I'd still buy a box in the right situation, it’s better than most of what I see at B&Ms. I'm very reminded of Bolivar when I smoke this. Jackson, I know you'll like this more than me, what did you think?

~A little yellow cello update. Today's 2025* is pretty dark, but here's an FB update from a serious Fuente smoker with some  old pristine cello as I would expect from his storage. Although Cap'n got these Warped last year from a source that would expect to ship fresh, I know there's a mix of old stock out there on Futuro. It's been DCed for about a year but is still available in quantity from many outlets. There's even a vitola that doesn’t appear on Warped's site that a single vendor has, we'll probably do that one next.

[Capn_Jackson]

The light-up puff of this one has me immediately think HdM Epi1, only with much more pepper in the retro. Regardless, I look forward to the rest of this smoke.

Going on, there is far too much pepper to mistake this for an Epi1, so my initial statement feels foolish. Maybe some of the DNA is shared. Great biscuit and graham cracker notes, and dark fruits. The finish is wonderful. Crushed cashews and cream. Cream both in flavor and in texture. Some dark crushed nuts as I head toward the second third. More like a Punch 48 than an Epi 1 now, if I’m forced to compare. Pepper dies down after an inch or so, leaving a sugared layer over everything. Some relighting necessary, maybe a little construction issue. Maybe TX humidity.

2/3. Lots of baking spices, dark honey. Not as nutty as before, but with the addition of some earth and coffee bean. Dark espresso. Texture is not so creamy now, although there is some crème flavor in the finish. Saltiness around the edges. Showing some construction problems now, and a tougher draw than before. Strength seems to be about med-full. Might want some sugar later.

Last third, things seem to have figured themselves out. Nuttiness is back, and graham cracker as well. Some great fruity notes, either raisin or dark plum. Kinda of jammy, like a liqueur, but overall this is nowhere near as vibrant as the first act. Not overly complex, but still a damn enjoyable smoke! I will dry box the next one, and hopefully remedy some of those construction issues I had.

88-90

[Çnote]

Your auto-retro is on point.

Bolivar, Epi, Punch, we are just grasping at smoke. Hahahaha

[Çnote]

2 hours ago, Capn_Jackson said:

I will dry box the next one, and hopefully remedy some of those con

I don't think this woupd help given the construction issues I had, but smoking slower certainly would have been a start. Too bad they taste so good!