Jfire
BoM 9/9' 9/11' 8/12'
This cigar was gifted to me by Aaron (GibbleGuts) in Feb 09. I've been patiently storing it for the right time to review it. Well there is no better time then right now.
Time:255 pm
Finish time: 455pm
Drink: Coke
Temp 70 degrees inside the BL.
Music: The Black Crowes radio (Pandora)
Initial impressions:
Size 7.5 ish by 56.(foot end)
To say I'm pumped to smoke this cigar is a understatement. I've been staring at it for a couple of years. Coming from Aaron is a treat in itself. No questions of provenance. I know exactly what this cigar is and where it came from.
Prelight review:
This cigar has some big veins showing. Slightly mushy(farm roll) on the foot end but fairly tight towards the head. These cigars usually are not pressed (or placed in one for that matter). The wrapper is flawless with no sunspots or any other imperfections. I cut the head of this torpedo with a double guillotine cutter to show a firm (almost to firm of a draw). I probably should of dry boxed it for a few days and now I'm paying for it. :stickbeat ( humi was at 65% and I've had not one prob on a cc in the last 6 months)
1st inch:
Lit with box matches and taking my time I light the shaggy foot. It smells great but taking my first draw I get a blast of bitterness. (Hoping this will soon fade as I hit the wrapper). Not much more just bitter and aged tobacco.
1st 3rd:
Coming into the first third this Hamlet shaggy is still drawing tight.(tighter then the prelight draw it seems :sadstare: ) Not what I expected, but one thing I've come to realize is never expect anything from a 100% handmade product. Still bitter with general Cuban toasty tobacco flavor. One thing I find interesting is I've had some older Sancho Panza cigars from the 01 time period that had slightly tight to moderate draws and this cigar tastes the same as far as lineage of tobacco. Sorry I can not give you more then that but it is really all I've tasted so far even through a couple retrohales. ( aged Cuban tobacco and bitter)
2nd 3rd:
I've now used a draw tool to try and loosen up this cigar. Still tight and unfortunately still bitter. The cigar is pretty much all over the place. (flavor wise) Notes of toasted tobacco are present and leather as well. Also med to full bodied. (reaching full) I can feel it in my stomach even after just eating.
Burn is fairly even but it doesn't want to stay lit. The ash has been fairly dark (almost black) to dark grey. So far the burn is straight but it goes out every so often.
Final 3rd:
At this point I've tried to cut another half a inch more off the head. It's still bitter and other then that bitterness only a leather taste is left on my palate. After the cut nothing has changed or improved. I'm going to end this cigar now. I guess it just wasn't meant to be.
I would like to thank Aaron for such a great opportunity to try such a rare cigar. Unfortunately I expected more and probably hyped it up too much in my head. I guess it just wasn't this cigars day. If anything, this goes to remind us fellow smokers in the world wide cigar community that no cigar is ever worth holding onto for ever. Smoke em if u got em boys, especially the htfs. They may not always be what we hyped them up to be.
Jfire.
Time:255 pm
Finish time: 455pm
Drink: Coke
Temp 70 degrees inside the BL.
Music: The Black Crowes radio (Pandora)
Initial impressions:
Size 7.5 ish by 56.(foot end)
To say I'm pumped to smoke this cigar is a understatement. I've been staring at it for a couple of years. Coming from Aaron is a treat in itself. No questions of provenance. I know exactly what this cigar is and where it came from.
Prelight review:
This cigar has some big veins showing. Slightly mushy(farm roll) on the foot end but fairly tight towards the head. These cigars usually are not pressed (or placed in one for that matter). The wrapper is flawless with no sunspots or any other imperfections. I cut the head of this torpedo with a double guillotine cutter to show a firm (almost to firm of a draw). I probably should of dry boxed it for a few days and now I'm paying for it. :stickbeat ( humi was at 65% and I've had not one prob on a cc in the last 6 months)
1st inch:
Lit with box matches and taking my time I light the shaggy foot. It smells great but taking my first draw I get a blast of bitterness. (Hoping this will soon fade as I hit the wrapper). Not much more just bitter and aged tobacco.
1st 3rd:
Coming into the first third this Hamlet shaggy is still drawing tight.(tighter then the prelight draw it seems :sadstare: ) Not what I expected, but one thing I've come to realize is never expect anything from a 100% handmade product. Still bitter with general Cuban toasty tobacco flavor. One thing I find interesting is I've had some older Sancho Panza cigars from the 01 time period that had slightly tight to moderate draws and this cigar tastes the same as far as lineage of tobacco. Sorry I can not give you more then that but it is really all I've tasted so far even through a couple retrohales. ( aged Cuban tobacco and bitter)
2nd 3rd:
I've now used a draw tool to try and loosen up this cigar. Still tight and unfortunately still bitter. The cigar is pretty much all over the place. (flavor wise) Notes of toasted tobacco are present and leather as well. Also med to full bodied. (reaching full) I can feel it in my stomach even after just eating.
Burn is fairly even but it doesn't want to stay lit. The ash has been fairly dark (almost black) to dark grey. So far the burn is straight but it goes out every so often.
Final 3rd:
At this point I've tried to cut another half a inch more off the head. It's still bitter and other then that bitterness only a leather taste is left on my palate. After the cut nothing has changed or improved. I'm going to end this cigar now. I guess it just wasn't meant to be.
I would like to thank Aaron for such a great opportunity to try such a rare cigar. Unfortunately I expected more and probably hyped it up too much in my head. I guess it just wasn't this cigars day. If anything, this goes to remind us fellow smokers in the world wide cigar community that no cigar is ever worth holding onto for ever. Smoke em if u got em boys, especially the htfs. They may not always be what we hyped them up to be.
Jfire.
