When I wrote about this cigar over a month ago, I don’t know if I was being completely honest. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the stick, but I didn’t necessarily love it, and in the back of my mind I was thinking it needed a lot more humidor time which is why I said that I wouldn’t be smoking these very often.
A month later and I’ve just lit one up. It’s a completely different cigar. Where my first couple didn’t really do much for me until the second half, the stick I’m smoking while I write this post hit its stride within the first half-inch; that is, once I burned through the Candela foot. I’ve come to realize that Candela really isn’t for me. It’s a little too grassy for my tastes.
The saving grace with this cigar’s candela foot is that there’s really not much to it and other flavors like fresh ground coffee beans and toasted nuts accompany the grassiness.
But once I got into the first third, it was another game entirely and significantly different from what I had experienced in the past. Where my first two sticks seemed to lack anything interesting, this stick was completely different. There was plenty of white pepper spice that appeared out of nowhere. More fresh-ground coffee, a meaty element and a bright, citrus-like quality to the finish. Quite pleasing.
Into the second third, there wasn’t much of a transition from the first third save a pleasing saltiness with a little bittermelon-like taste on the finish. Smoke has been medium body and medium strength throughout the smoke. That’s different from my previous experiences. The burn has been nice and slow and even, a little jagged at times, but straightens out.
At the halfway point, the smoke suddenly took on a creamy texture. Burnt cedar, a little toast, and a gorgeous white pepper spice finish. The draw has tightened slightly, but not plugged. It’s like the oils started pooling and providing a little resistance. It makes me slow down and take my time with the draw.
Into the final third and I just got a little hit of nicotine. Unlike the previous smokes where I got hit with a huge spike halfway through the smoke, the strength in this smoke has been moderate compared to the others, staying mostly in the low-medium range. It has now picked up just over medium. The body is a solid medium+ to full.
I’m going to just enjoy this smoke to the nub. I think it has given me everything I need – for now. My verdict? I’m going to give the rest of my sticks another three to four months before I smoke one again. I may even keep a couple to age for a year or two or three to see where that takes them.
Unco B's Stogie Diary 