Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Late to the party Excel! ;)

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

neither would I.;s

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I see that McKenzie..... didn't hurt to try though!:r

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Definitely not! :r

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

1a) My favorite wrapper is usually... I like Camaroon or Colorado/corojo.
1b) but I also enjoy... Anything really can be enjoyed to some degree. If I had to pick I would say sumatra
1c) and I really hate... Hate is such a harsh word here. I do not hate any of them. I would say I like Oscuro the least.
2a) My preferred size vitola is... Toros have been working the best for me
2b) but I also enjoy... Robustos and torps
2c) and I really hate... Humm, hate again? Lancereo the least, seems at run hot ofter and lacks full flavor blast.
3a) My 5 favorite cigars (thought I don't normally spend the money on) at present are... anything [FONT=Arial]Arturo Fuente, [/FONT]Graycliff 1666,Cohiba, Padron, Rocky Patel , Hoyo de Monterrey
3b) My 5 favorite/go to cigar are...I currently smoke more low end sticks due to current budget. "Everyday" aticks are 5 Vegas, Puros Indios(even like the Rolys), a Vieja Habana, Cuba Libre, Calle Ocho
4) 5 cigars I try to avoid (don't name ones we all avoid, but things people wouldn't expect)... Te-Amo, Nubs(don't hate me, I feel like I am getting ripped off)
5) 5 cigars I'd like to try, but haven't are... There are hundreds out there. And it figures I am drawing a blank right now. Liga Privada, El Baton
6) I'm hoping the Rev puts one of these in the sampler... Something the Rev smokes himself. But, I am up for trying some of the newer stuff on the market. Liga Privada, Tatuaje, Padron, Graycliff.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I only smoke one at a time.:=:

I am on one per day but have lots of free time now and can sneak in another to help out. So I am good with whatever everyone wants to do. I vote for 1 per week as long as we can be done by December as I have to do something then.......Kidding, I'd go all year.:ss

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

If you smoke one a month till December, that'd be 7 sticks - I only have 5er bags, sorry to disappoint. I think reviewing one cigar a week will be good.

Thanks for the response.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Greetings to you all, especially you participants. I was waiting for Kirk, so that the cigars arrive after he gets back (6/10), so they are going out in today's mail.

Remember participants, the couple of rules.
1 - Have fun with this.
2 - Smoke the cigars in order, they are numbered on the 5-finger bag.
3 - Smoke these samples as your first cigar of the day (so your palate is fresh), at whatever time that may be, and always with the same beverage.
4 - PM your reviews to me, do not post them to this or any other thread, I will put them up together and also post what you have smoked.
5 - Use the review format below.

Again, have some fun with this. Hopefully you enjoy the cigars, they are all from my regular rotation or special treat stock. All have been previously frozen by yours truly, so no worries there.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Review Format
In each of the categories below rank the cigar with this system
0.0 - 2.0 = poor/inferior quality
2.1 - 2.9 = fair
3.0 - 3.5 = good
3.5 - 4.5 = excellent
4.6 - 5.0 = superior

1) Aesthetics: the look of the cigar - oily, coarse, smooth, dry, light, dark, pretty, ugly, etc...

Score for aesthetics:

2) Pre-light Construction: Roll cigar between fingers - soft spots? loose?tight? dense? lightweight? Well rolled? how does it smell?

Score for Pre-light construction:

3) Post-light Construction/How it smoked: Does it draw well, does smoke pull through on its own, do soft spots appear after lighting, burnes evenly? smokes hot or cool? What is ash like? color of ash? flaky or solid?

Score for post-light construction:

4) Flavor and strength: What does it taste like? Full-bodied, med. or mild? Does it taste earthy, spicy, fruity, vegetal, sweet, rich, harsh, direct, floral, robust, woody, green (haylike), acidic, salty? Is it pleasant or unpleasant? Does it build in flavor and/or complexity as you smoke it? Is it bland, flavorful, complex? Did it get bitter?

Score for flavor and strength:

5) Finish/Aftertaste: Finish or aftertaste is the sensation &/or flavor on you palate after each puff, not the taste left after you finish the cigar. Is it heavy - light? Spicy, cedary, fruity, bitter, hot, grassy? Mild - strong? Pleasant or not? Harsh?

Score for aftertaste:

6) Aroma: What does it smell like? Good - bad? light or heavy? pervasive - mild? floral, perfumed, grassy, harsh, woodsy, overpowering, unpleasant, magnificent?

Score for aroma:

7) General Comments: Are samples consistent? Did you particlarily enjoy of with a certain food or beverage? Did they appeal more at certain time of day? Did it remind you of something? Would you buy them? Sum it up as you would to a friends ("That cigar was awesome!") and give it an overall score (this is not a total, or an average of the others - it is you overall rating of the cigar)

Overall score for the cigar:

8) Recommendation: Would you recommend the cigar? Pick one of the following and explain:

Not Recommended
Possibly Recommended
Recommended
Highly Recommended

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Sticks are on the way to our reviews.

Steve #0309 0330 000 7090 3962
Kirk #0309 0330 0000 7090 3993
David #0309 0330 0000 7090 3979

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Thanks Todd:tu Looking forward to smoking some sticks that you enjoy:banger

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Cool idea, Todd. I just posted so I could follow the thread.
I'm excited to see how it plays out. I know you'd trick me, but I like to think I'm pretty good at picking out "what's what." I wouldn't want to go blind and spoil my overestimation of my talents. :D

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I am curious to see what others think of things I like.

This isn't to trick anybody.

Actually, if there is any goal in this, it is to get people to smoke cigars without any presuppositions. Too often, knowing the cigar, we smoke them with preconceived notions of what we'll be getting out of it - what flavors will be present, it will smoke, strong or mild, big or small nic hit, etc...

This is an opportunity for some people to sit down with some smokes and rally taste them.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Looks like these should all be arriving either today or tomorrow.

Let me know when you receive them.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

This seems to be a very true statement, with myself included. A friend recently brought me back a stick that I figured would be a dud based on band (they were trying to rip off cohiba) and price. Turns out it was a great little stick, and one I would never have picked up due to preconceived notions.

Looking forward to keeping tabs on this thread. Good luck reviewers.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I am excited about this. Hopefully someone will have a cigar tonight!

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

If one of you wants to post a pick of your cigars when they arrive - that's cool. Of course, you could all post a pick of your "5" cigars to review.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Got mine today. Of course with inmate math 2+3 does not equal 5, it equals 6:D

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...e7/photo11.jpg

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can't wait to read the reviews

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Just remember to smoke them in order.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

So, did everybody get their smokes yet?

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Mine are here. Quite toasty warm when I got them, AZ sun ya know. I hope to rest them at least a few days before I start in. #5 looks to have some wrapper damage so I will leave it in the bag until ready to enjoy it.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Wrapper damage? That isn't good. There wasn't any when I put it in the baggie. Let me know if it is unsmokable, I'll replace it if necessary.

Peace of the Lord be wih you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Well, it appears a part of the wrapper just flaked off, most likely due to jostling in shipping. I think it will be O.K. Do you think I should make it my first one? That way if I can not truly give it a fair review you can send another.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

If you think it will be OK, then we're good. Hey part of the review could be how the wrapper is rather fragile. Let it wait till it's time. It is probably smokable.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Will do. Good point on the wrapper as part of the review.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Got them :tu I will smoke #1 on Monday

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I am excited. I have one review for the first cigar - from Fissure. So, as soon as I get the others, I can post them and tell everybody what they were smoking first.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Is the first cigar ready to be revealed?? :D

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Nope, still waiting on one reviewer.

Peace of the Lord be wih you.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

I did mine on Sunday but life happens and did not get to type it up. Doing it now.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Review of cigar #1 by Fissure:

Cigar #1 has a ring gauge of 38 while being 4.25 inches long.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...7/DSCN0882.jpg

1. The cigar has a maduro wrapper that is nice and dark with a nice toothiness to it. Also has a few veins along with a few lumps. Kind of rustic looking.

Aesthetics score 3

2. Construction was pretty good, being densely packed with no soft spots, or any noticeable hard spots. Has a sweet earthy tobacco smell to it.

Construction Score 4

3. The cigar has no draw issues and does pull smoke through on its own. Burns easily with a nice straight burn that produces a nice solid white ash that holds on for about 2 inches. As it burns it does soften up, but not to the point of sponginess. Burns cool all the way down to the last 1/4 where it heats up a bit.

Post Light Construction Score 4.5

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...7/DSCN0884.jpg

4. Cigar is not a very complex cigar and sticks to its original sweet, earthy, and woody flavors throughout. I would rate this cigar as a mild cigar. The nose exhale is a little harsh once and a while, but when it is not harsh, the sweetness really comes out.

Flavor and Strength Score 3.2

5. The aftertaste is mild with a pleasant sweet woody flavor. Does not really linger long after. Towards the end as it was heating up there was a slight bitterness, but I expect that with the heat up.

Aftertaste score 3

6. The aroma is really close to what it tastes like. It has the sweet woody aroma that is pretty light.

Aroma score 4

7. I enjoyed this cigar (and the rest of them) with iced tea. I would think that this cigar would be a descent morning cigar with coffee. Took me an hour, but I smoke on the slower side. No touch-ups were needed. While I enjoyed the cigar the lack of complexity caused me to score it lower overall.

Overall score 3.5

I would possibly recommend this cigar to someone else. Especially if they were looking for a nice morning to cigar to have with coffee. If the price was right this would be a good cigar for when time is short.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...7/DSCN0887.jpg

Thanks Todd:tu I'm guessing this might be the rocky patel maduro junior due to its size and having a slight flavor of RP's other maduros that I have smoked.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Review #1 by Kgoings:

1) Aesthetics: Very nice looking cigar, Colorado Maduro in color. 106mm (4 1/8th) 36 gauge. The cigar has a light oily sheen, pretty smooth with one or two smaller veins. 4.5

2) Pre-light Construction: Light tobacco smell, firmly rolled with no soft spots. Seems a little dense for such a small cigar, a bit heavy. Very well rolled, prefect pre-light draw. 4.0

3) Post-light Construction: During the first third the burn was razor sharp, the ash was white and it was almost perfect ash, no cracks in the ash at all...the ash looked like a white version of the cigar. In the second and last third the burn wasn't so straight but didn't become a problem. The cigar did not ever need a touch up. The cigar smoked perfectly, neither hot nor cold. 4.5

4) Flavor and Strength: This cigar started with a very rich tobacco flavor and spice on the first puff. But after that the first thirds flavor was a dry rich tobacco. In the second third a spice that may have been there in the first third but not predominant became more noticeable. The flavors remained pretty much the same throughout the rest of the cigar. Dry rich tobacco with some spice. 3.0

5) Finish/Aftertaste: In the beginning the finish was very short and mainly tobacco. Towards the end of the first third the finish became longer and was a light spice on the back of the throat. 3.0

6) Aroma: The aroma was nice, the spice was most noticeable in the aroma. Although at a point I thought a caught a whiff or two of citrus which was a bit unexpected. I never tasted anything citrus or fruity. I expected the cigar to have more spice in the flavor based on how it smelled but it never reached that level. 3.5

7) General Comments: This cigar was well made and have a very nice flavor. Its probably not something that would make it onto my list of 'buys' but just because its not the profile I look for in a cigar. It was a nice change of pace cigar. I expected the cigar to be much spicier but it wasn't, which is a good thing. Overall score for the cigar 3.2

8) Recommendation: Possibly Recommended. This cigar had a nice flavor, and was very well made but it just didn't grab me.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Review #1 by dyieldin:


1) Aesthetics: the look of the cigar - oily, dark, pretty nice looking build, Nice brown wrapper with no major veins.

Score for aesthetics:4.6

2) Pre-light Construction: Roll cigar between fingers - soft spots?N loose?N tight?Y dense? Y lightweight? N Well rolled? Y, very. how does it smell? Has a sweet musty aged smell. I thought the draw would be a little tight but it loosened right up on lighting.

Score for Pre-light construction:4.6

3) Post-light Construction/How it smoked: Does it draw well - Yes, does smoke pull through on its own -Yes, do soft spots appear after lighting- No, burnes evenly? Yes, very well. smokes hot or cool? somewhere in the middle What is ash like? Nice even burn, razor sharp, made nice rings in the ash for each puff. color of ash? Was a real light grey almost white. flaky or solid? Very solid, rock hard and had to force off.

Score for post-light construction:4.8

4) Flavor and strength: What does it taste like? Full-bodied, Does it taste earthy, fruity, some what sweet, nicely rich, robust, somewhat woody. pleasant. Does it build in flavor and/or complexity as you smoke it - mildly? it is flavorful, complex? Did it get bitter?- last 1/3 did but purge helped.

Score for flavor4.4
and strength:4.7

5) Finish/Aftertaste: Finish or aftertaste is the sensation &/or flavor on you palate after each puff, not the taste left after you finish the cigar. it is heavy a little fruity, strong and Pleasant. Harsh-Sometime had a bite, a lot to do with the size and strength.

Score for aftertaste:4.2

6) Aroma: What does it smell like? is smells Good more on the light side. caught a couple of light floral hints, a note of perfume, a little woodsy in the middle.

Score for aroma:4.2

7) General Comments: Are samples consistent? - not sure what this means here.... Did it remind you of something? A.fuente. Would you buy them? Sure. Sum it up as you would to a friends ("That cigar was awesome!") This is a tasty little powerhouse, very satisfying

Overall score for the cigar:4.5

8) Recommendation: Would you recommend the cigar? Pick one of the following and explain:

Recommended - Nice rich taste but not unique enough to rate highly recommended.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

What you smoked was a J. Fuego Delirium Minuto - 4.25X40.

Great little taste bomb for a very reasonable price, can be had for about $2.25 a stick.

Great job guys.

Re: Volunteers needed for blind reviews
 

Nice reviews fellas!