Purchased: 2 X 16ct bundles (4 X 48)
Store: EveryDayIsCigarDay.com
Price: $29.99 ea
Buy Again: Yes and No
Box Worthy: Yes
Experience Rating: 96
The reason I said “Yes and No” to Buy Again is that I’m waiting for EDICD to come out with their Core Line 2.0 before I buy another bundle from them. Why wait? Simply because buying from them right now is a bit of a crap shoot. If you’re not familiar with what happened, you can read about it here. In a nutshell, the original manufacturer they used totally messed up in rolling their second batch of cigars, using the wrong tobacco in some cases accompanied by a huge reduction in quality. Unfortunately, they intermixed the first and second batches, so it was indeterminant as to what cigars you’d get when you ordered.
On one hand, most of the sticks I’ve gotten from them were from their first batch, but there were some that had some serious construction issues; most notably tunneling. On the other hand, the sticks that were good, which thankfully were the majority I’ve gotten were excellent.
So why did I buy a couple of bundles of these Pablitos? Simply because of my observation that they were always available when I visited the site, whereas the others often ran out. I figured the chances of getting a bad one were pretty slim. So, I took a chance and I’m glad I did! Let’s talk about the cigar.
Even for a small cigar, the construction is very good. It’s packed and solid with no soft spots or uneveness. It feels hefty, even for such a short format.
The gorgeous Mexican San Andrés wrapper is rustic with small veins and a slightly mottled appearance. And close inspection reveals little love nodules of tooth all over the wrapper.
It’s a lightly spicy and peppery experience at light-up. But that immediately gives way to a Swiss Miss-like cacao profile that’s very pleasing. Progressing into the first third, the smoke becomes super-creamy and thick. That’s right in my wheelhouse!
As the cigar progresses, I get notes of coffee, toffee, vanilla bean, cinnamon, toast, and cedar. These seem to form the foundation of the smoke throughout, though fleeting notes of wildflowers, hay, brown sugar, and crème brûlée sneak their way into the profile. This is by no means a complex cigar, with few transitions other than adding on to the overall flavor profile.
The second half though is where the magic happens. With the cigar loaded up, the flavors intensify as does the spice. I love that. The sweetness of the San Andrés wrapper exerts itself but is not at all overpowering. From there, the cigar stays there, only adding intense espresso near the nub as expected.
As far as strength is concerned, it’s a solid medium throughout most of the smoke, then kicks up to medium+ to full in the second half. Nicotine is moderate at best so you can trust that it won’t kick your ass.
All in all, this is great smoke! It takes me about 35-45 minutes to smoke one all the way through. It’s perfect for an after-lunch treat! I can’t wait until Core Line 2.0 comes out!
Unco B's Stogie Diary 