Appearance and construction 14/15
This is a monster salamon with a big bulge near the foot tapering down to a nipple. It comes wrapped in a sparkly foil wrapper. After removal I see that it has done its job of protecting the fragile corojo wrapper. The wrapper is thin and graceful with delicate veins running here and there along the length and width of this 8 1/2 x 60 billy club. The color is mostly uniform. The cigar is a work of art IMO. Its very nicely done.

Flavor 24/25
Top notch flavor here. The flavor was sweet and earthy. There was no slow start at all. From the start it was rich and satisfying and it remained steady all the way down. It was less peppery with no tannic black tea flavor like the monarca or the cetros. It was almost like the diploma but less spicy. The flavor was really good.

Smoking characteristics 12/25
This is one of those cigars that can take a bit of practice to light, like a short story or a hemminway sig. I got pretty lucky and it lit up perfectly and started to burn great. The ash was creeping uniformly along the bulge for 1/2 an inch or so and that is where things went nuts. It started to run and then tunneled like a mofo. At one point I felt something hot near my johnson and I realized that a bit of ash had fallen off and burned through my pants. Luckily the jewels were unharmed. I finally clipped off the end and relit it. After that it was a little better. Oh yeah and it was pretty strong too, much moreso than the smaller sizes. I finished it in about an hour and a half with a nice buzz.

Overall 27/35
I'm torn. The two best camachos I have ever had were the two worst burns. The flavor here was awesome the appearance was superb. I love the size too. But the burn was criminal. It ruined my pants and almost singed my dingaling. I will try another one someday but I don't know if this will ever be a favorite unless this was a major fluke. Compared to the dipolma, the 11/18, and the 07/05 the flavor of the diadema can still compete. It is different than those but still great. To be honest I think I like the profile of this slightly better than the diploma. I like the shape a lot better. The diploma is too short these days. But the burn thing is a shame. I'll post again after the next one to update.

Overall 77

That is a pretty brutal rating for a cigar that good but with a cigar this big, the burn really makes a difference. If it was just a matter of a relight here and there I would let it slide but this burn was pretty f'd ip.

OH SNAP ! First of all brutal score, which I respect cause like bgoodz says it is what it is.... Second I just laughed so hard that my white shirt has a cherry pepsi tie dye, good thing they come ina 3 pack (the white shirts). Lastly, maybe I'm crazy but a score like that really makes me wanna try one. With flavors like that I can wear a cup and man up. Great review.

Oh sh*t, good thing you saved the johnson, that would be fun one to explain to the wifey....

quote:

Originally posted by Smokiethebear:
With flavors like that I can wear a cup and man up. Great review.

LOL, nice. Thats the draw. See if you can finish it with all your lower appendages. No but seriously I don't think I realized how this thing kicked me. I just woke up with a dull throbbing head and a throat that feels like someone took a belt sander to it. Where can I get more is my question.

quote:

Originally posted by Idesign:
Oh sh*t, good thing you saved the johnson, that would be fun one to explain to the wifey....

She would torment me for doing something that JSPrenkelish.

You should get a pat on the back by just smoking that big ol stogie. Good thing you didnt burn a whole in you teaBag! LOL!

great review, and congrats on saving your johnson...

Damn, man...now I've got coffee all over my keyboard and my wife wonders what the hell I'm sitting in here laughing about! Nice recovery...great review though. I gotta have one now...maybe smoke it in a kevlar suit.

you finished an 8 1/2 inch cigar in about an hour and a half?! Holy crap, it usually takes me AT LEAST two hours to polish those off.

I have been very curious about these. I really love the shape, but I am afraid that the flavor, though it may be good, might get boring. Did you notice any flavor changes as the cigar burned, or did it remain the same most of the way?

Eddie

Hey Eddie, where have you been hiding out?

Eddie, the flavor is great. Its the construction that may or may not be in question. I got a couple more and I'll update eventually. Try it though, if you like the diploma you shouldn't be disappointed.

Thanks PMP, I'll give these a shot sometime.

Hey there Tim! I just got my computer back not too long ago from girlfriend. She's been using it to help study for her CPA exam. She unfortunately owns a Mac, and the software is only Windows compatible. Therefore, I have had VERY little chance to go online. But now I'm back!

Eddie

BTW, I sent you an e-mail this morning.

quote:

Originally posted by Smokiethebear:
OH SNAP ! First of all brutal score, which I respect cause like bgoodz says it is what it is.... Second I just laughed so hard that my white shirt has a cherry pepsi tie dye, good thing they come ina 3 pack (the white shirts). Lastly, maybe I'm crazy but a score like that really makes me wanna try one. With flavors like that I can wear a cup and man up. Great review.

I involuntarily cringed as I read about the burning pants -- you said yourself that "the ash burned uniformly along the bulge."

I almost picked one of these up last time i was at my local shop, but went with one of their smaller vitolas. I might have to try this one though, the size seems like it woudl be fun to smoke, unless i catch my crotch on fire like previously noted above...

quote:

Originally posted by saulphx:
I involuntarily cringed as I read about the burning pants -- you said yourself that "the ash burned uniformly along the bulge."

LOL, not that bulge saul. Thankfully, everything is intact. I have another one waiting though, so who knows?

OK, I lit up another last night as a test to see if they burn was any better. IT was HORRIBLE. I'm putting this one in my "don't bother" category. It tunneled so bad I was sucking wind. The smoke volume was poor. It was a real heartbreaker. Once again the flavor was fantastic. The shape of these is awesome. Its just too bad they don't burn well at all.

It's HUGE...I mean that in a totally ungay way... NTTAWWT
I think I'll smoke the one you sent me next summer and report back. Hopefully the year will smooth out the burn problems.

quote:

Originally posted by Idesign:
It's HUGE...I mean that in a totally ungay way... NTTAWWT
I think I'll smoke the one you sent me next summer and report back. Hopefully the year will smooth out the burn problems.

You just want to stick something big in your mouth.

stop hitting on me...