I have been holding on to one of these from cab with at least 5-6 years on it for a special occasion and, what do you know, I got another one from a 98 cab as a bonus in trade from a generous person. I swear cigar smokers are some of the most generous people on earth. So It's time to spark this. Anyway, time to review.
APPEARANCE AND CONSTRUCTION (12/15)
Reddish brown wrapper with some uneven spots and a few large veins. Rustic is the word for this cigar. It is slightly darker in color than the other ERDM choix supreme I recieved today but the size is virtually identical. The construction is good, not underfilled or overfilled. It clipped well. There is virtually no prelight aroma probably due to the fact that its almost 6 years old.
FLAVOR (21/25)
Mild but incredibly rich. It produced a nice amount of rich, mouth coating smoke. The flavor was straight forward from the start. No need to search for adjectives. It was creamy with hints of cedar and earth. The flavor remained constant for most of the cigar as did the richness. Toward the final inch the strength picked up a bit and the cigar developed hints of sweet spice and pepper. The smoke was slightly dry toward the end and left a tingle on the lips but nothing overwhelming. I let it die with less than an inch to go. It was incredibly smooth and rich the whole way through.
SMOKING CHARACTERISTICS (25/25)
Smoked like a dream. It doesn't get any better. The burn was perfect from the second I lit it to when I put it down. The ash was solid and compact. The draw was perfect with a nice smoke volume.
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS (32/35)
For what it is, this is a fantastic smoke. I wouldn't smoke it after a meal or for a special occasion but for a mild breakfast smoke with coffee it doesn't get much better. If you get a chance I highly recommend them. You will be satisfied but not overwhelmed.
OVERALL SCORE (90/100)
______________________________________
Refugee: a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger
Reject: one rejected as not wanted, unsatisfactory, or not fulfilling standard requirements
I guess I can see the confusion.