So I bought two of these from Cigars Daily… I had a little more money budgeted than what I came to buy, so I thought I should try these since I hear so much about them. I smoked the first one about 10 days after getting them… and let me tell you that it wasn’t good. The flavors were totally disjointed and it made for a bad smoking experience… so second cigar just ended up sitting in my wineador for months…. about six months I’d say. The other day I was lighting the grill during the day, and didn’t feel like a maduro, so I grabbed the second cigar thinking that I just wanted something to smoke. Let me tell you, it was awesome. One of the best cigars I’ve had in the last month… I don’t know whether the specific cigar doesn’t travel well, or whether I had a one-off bad one… but I strongly suggest that if you buy these, you build in enough time to really ensure they can properly rest in your humidor. The cigar started off with latte-like flavors… with small hints of a cashew nut and cinnamon. Cayenne on the retro but it was balanced and didn’t feel like it was attacking my sinuses. After the first third, the cinnamon went to a clove, and there was a nice candied sweetness (like a candied ginger). Little floral notes came out too. The strength ramps up towards the end. Transitioned in the final third to cedar and milk chocolate. Touches of pepper. Ends with cappuccino like flavors and a smokey cedar. Construction and quality are top notch. I walked away from the cigar for a few minutes two or three times while smoking it… and when I came back it was still perfectly lit… like I never walked away. This size and shape are also really comfortable… and the wrapper has a soft and silky quality to it. It really was a pleasure and a huge surprise considering how much I didn’t like my first experience with the cigar. If you’re only buying a couple of sticks like I did, then I’d consider forgetting them in your humidor for a few months at minimum before smoking.
