I had had my suspicions this cigar was going to be good. A light layer of plume was colouring fine, oily dark colorado wrapper, and construction was perfect.
1st/3rd - It started subtlety, a mild-med smoke at this stage. It was providing all that good seco leaves should: light cedar and floral aromas through the nose, some sweet nuttiness, lots of smoke but the flavours not coating the palate at all. A pleasant enough start for a cigar, but if it goes on for another hour and a half I’m going to get pretty bored.
2nd/3rd – Pretty well on the 1/3 mark this cigar exploded into life. The turnaround was pretty instant as smoky toasted tobacco came onto the palate backed up by heavy white pepper through the nose. I genuinely believe that there was quite a lot more ligero in this part of the cigar than the first third. Now almost a full bodied smoke, and a much longer flavour than in the 1st third. From hereon in the flavour was quite unbelievable complex with marked changes to taste and aroma every couple of puffs. A distinct earthiness came forward to accompany the strong tobacco flavour and then died away. An underlying sweetness at the back of the palate became more pronounced and a sweeter nuttiness replaced the earthiness approaching the final third.
3rd/3rd – The flavour is still ‘traditional’ in the extreme strong but very well balanced, but subtleties change with every draw, the original strong pepper has completely dissipated. A little spice is evident toward the finish, along some citrus flavours neither of which had been evident before.
This cigar was the epitome of how traditional Cuban tobacco flavours can deliver a very satisfying and complex smoke. With 7 years of age I suspect this cigar was nearing its best (not quite there yet). The 2nd/3rd of this cigar was very close to perfect. The massive turnaround after the first third was a neat trick. One of the best I have smoked in a long time. 85 ex 100.
"You want WHAT on the fu<king ceiling?" -
Michelangelo, 1566
