This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Torpedo

Length: 6″

Ring Gauge: 50

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Factory: Tabacos Aroma de Jalapa

Blender: Scott de la Pena and Noel Rojas

Number of reviewers: 5 —– Craig (WyldKnyght) Sandeep (Djangos) Jason H. (Jokey Smurf) Brian (B-daddy) Emmett (rhetorik)

Price: $9.00

Age: 2 Months

Release Date: May 2013

Contributed by: Hermosa Cigars

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 93

“This cigar was a beautiful chocolate brown color and had a velvety smooth appearance. The wrapper leaf was vein free and the seams were utterly invisible…to the point that I couldn’t determine if there was a double or triple cap. The wrapper was toothy to the touch, and the faintest hint of oil was visible in the light. The shape appears to be more of a belicoso than a torpedo.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

Aroma: 90

“The pre-light aroma was sweet with the faintest hint of baking spices…nutmeg I think. Cedar was present as well, and it enhanced the sweetness.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

First Third

Flavor: 92

Strength: Medium

Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Medium tobacco and leather are the primary flavors in the first third. There’s a little wood (oak?) that appears intermittently. The core flavors are good. There is a little bit of spice and leather on the finish too.” –Brian (B-daddy)

“The first puffs bring a nice spice of pepper and cinnamon. As we dive deeper, I start to pick up notes of espresso and leather. This is working together pretty well right now. Towards the middle of this third I also pick up a nice citrus taste, an unexpected bonus. The finish is long and tastes of espresso. The burn and draw are both excellent.” –Emmett (rhetorik)

Second Third

Flavor: 90

Strength: Medium-Strong

Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Wow the peaks and valleys of the pepper surprised me, the flavor was almost like a wave, one minute it was mellow and smooth, the next it had a pepper kick. There was a slight burn issue, but nothing to worry about.” –Craig (WyldKnyght)

“The pepper is still present and fading in and out as the middle third progresses. This gives this cigar a wonderful complexity. The nuttiness is more prominent as is the cedar and other woodsy notes. The peppery tingle is gravitating to the back of the throat. The hay and grassy flavors are also still present, giving this another level of complexity. The ash held strong till about the 2/3 mark before falling off. The burn and draw continue to be excellent. The smoke is creamy and delicious as ever.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

Final Third

Flavor: 93

Strength: Medium-Strong

Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Throughout the smoke, the retrohale has been quite a bit spicier than the draw and finish, but it’s particularly so in the final third. I’m getting more complex flavors in the retrohale now. Still has a rich tobacco and leather core but getting a spicy leather in the retrohale. Very enjoyable.” –Brian (B-daddy)

“This third starts out by a noticeable shift to a cedar tone and a continuation of the uptick in strength. Along with the cedar flavors I’m picking up the cinnamon spice from the first third and some leather. The cigar finishes up much the same, leaving me satisfied and wanting another.” –Emmett (rhetorik)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 96

“No issues with the draw, pretty consistent from start to finish.” –Craig (WyldKnyght)

Burn: 93

“Just shy of razor sharp the whole time. Never needed any attention.” –Brian (B-daddy)

Construction: 96

“This cigar was beautiful to look at, and produced a strong white ash which held on for up to two inches at a time. The person who applied the wrapper and cap was obviously skilled as their application was basically flawless. The pack was firm and even, and the draw superb. Well done!” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong

Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

Overall Experience: 93

“I would definitely like to try this cigar again, I have never smoked anything like it. The waves of flavors and the way it seemed to have peaks and valleys alternating between pepper and sweet mellow was simply amazing.” –Craig (WyldKnyght)

“This was a cigar with an incredible yo-yo of flavors and complexity. The ups were great and the lows were also quite pleasant. I wish the last third was just as complex as the rest of the cigar. A definite yes for me!” –Sandeep (Djangos)

“This started off as what I would categorize an excellent morning cigar. Sweet, nutmeg and cedar go great with my coffee! The ending, however, left me thinking that this stick needs some more rest time. If the bitterness had never showed up, this would be a higher rated mild smoke. Another sample, six months from now, would be welcome for me.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

“Flavors were very enjoyable throughout. Couldn’t really identify distinct flavors but really enjoyed the cigar. I would definitely smoke this again. Great performance (burn, draw, construction). Tough to find fault with this stick, even though I wouldn’t call it the most complex cigar I’ve ever had. I’ll certainly take another.”-Brian (B-daddy)

“With its mild strength and bold flavors, I would not be surprised if this is a La Aurora cigar. This is one of those cigars that can be enjoyed by anyone as it’s not too strong for the beginner, but complex enough to satisfy the aficionado. The technical performance was outstanding with no burn or draw issues, in fact the ash held on almost two inches. I would describe the flavor profile as classic. This one was a winner.” –Emmett (rhetorik)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 66

Total Score: 93 (Excellent)

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