Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Shizz.. they are typically cheaper than NCs. That one was $4.52... :tu

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

True Statement...

but by all means, continue to hate the habanos.. :)

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

More for us:D

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Numero cinco is up!

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

It fascinates me how the both of you have completely different experiences and tastes. Keep up the good work and the interesting posts.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

I just need to upload the pics and I'll be done also. Hopefully this afternoon...

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

:hm

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Yup... they are both in my inbox. Gotta run to the doctors office and I'll put em up after that.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

:tt :D

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Works for me. Good luck at the Dr.'s Office!

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Montano Cigar #5
**************

This was a light colored cigar with a somewhat veiny wrapper. Per-light draw was a touch on the tight side. I got notes of meaty tobacco.

http://nickmontano.net/pics/cig51.jpg

The first draw fills my mouth with a very nice caramel flavor. I'm instantly reminded of the See's Caramel Chews that I love so much. I think this one is gonna be good !

http://nickmontano.net/pics/cig52.jpg

The draw remains a bit tight, so I used my poker to try and get things going. As I moved to the 2nd third of this cigar, the very nice chewy caramel flavor remains. I'm not getting a ton of smoke, but what I do get is very flavorful.

http://nickmontano.net/pics/cig53.jpg

The burn was nice and even, and quite slow. I was taking my time with this one and really enjoying each draw. As I moved towards the final 3rd, the caramel flavor started to give way to a nice vanilla note.

http://nickmontano.net/pics/cig54.jpg

This was a very enjoyable smoke. The flavor profile was one that I could go for time after time. I consider it a mild smoke with lots of flavor.

http://nickmontano.net/pics/cig55.jpg

I give this baby an 8.5

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Riff Raff Cigar #5
*************

Okay, the halfway point. Here we go:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2711Small.jpg

Not exactly a gorgeous stick, but not horrible either. A bit rustic with a natural wrapper that is a bit toothy nearer the foot. My calibrated eyeball estimates it to be about a 6" X 42. There are some nicks in the wrapper and there is a small wrinkle from when it was wrapped.

Pre-light: Nice firm draw that tastes of hay.

First light: Some hay flavors and a slight hint of toast. There is a nice dark gray ash and lots of smoke.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2712Small.jpg



1/3rd: A bit of an uneven burn but no big deal. Not much flavor to this puppy. Maybe a hint of pepper. On the retro-hale there is a bit of cedar present also in the background there is a very light fragrance of chlorine. Yeah, like a pool in the spring. Just a hint though. Strange.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2713Small.jpg

2/3rd: Some sweet tobacco flavors and a bit of pepper. Still not much flavor. On the retro-hale still cedar with a bit of an oily flavor. Pretty uneventful so far.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2714Small.jpg

3/3rd: Still some sweet tobacco and little else. Maybe some grassy notes coming through with some oil on the finish. The burn started to freak out a bit at the end.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2715Small.jpg

Overall impression: Meh! Yeah, just meh. There really is nothing much to this mild cigar. It wasn't a bad smoke. Just boring. I give it an 8.2

There you have it!

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

What they smoked:

http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...yx/BTT2-05.jpg

2001 Juan Lopez Corona

Montano score: 8.5
Riff Raff score: 8.2

I'm glad there's nearly consensus on at least one cigar finally. The first one of these I was gifted blew my mind, grabbed a handful of boxes and got the same 'meh' impression Riff Raff did with some of them.

Sometimes, though, they shine.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Well I am just glad it wasn't my taste buds on the fritz!:ss

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

I'm just jealous of Nick's green grass!

Nice reviews guys, keep 'em comin'! ;)

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

ERDM
LGC
Fonseca
RyJ
JL

......

You saving the Gorilla finger for #10 Dan? :tf

:r

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

X2 was thinking the same, looking at the pictures. Keep on doing the good work folks.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

I love the pictures of these reviews. It makes reading the review so so much better. Dball you are very generous with the cigs. All the cigs seem all seem to be aged and rare (at least from this noob's perspective).

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Well... there's probably gonna be another one after this as these seem to be fun and engaging threads. Why don't you practice some reviews and perhaps you'll be the next guy having to suffer through dog rockets like these... :tu

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

lol. Thanks Dan. But I can't taste a difference between a cigar and a tube sock. But I'll let you know once my palette improves!! So I'll just be a avid reader of your blind taste test for now. Keep up the good work.:tu

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

# 6 is in the books! :)

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Moving rather quickly ;)

I'll wait a day or two before I light up #6.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

I wouldn't mind throwing my hat in to Join the next one Dan! Let me know bro!

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Bumpage! Any idea when they will be posted?

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Sent mine in a couple days ago.......

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

In mere moments... ;)

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Montano Cigar #6
**************

This cigar is a bit veiny, with a few soft spots throughout. The wrapper is a bit rough. Pre-light draw was of a basic tobacco flavor. The cap was not in the best of shape.

http://nickmontano.net/pics/cig61.jpg

Initial impression was a light creamy flavor, and general tobacco taste. The burn was a bit wild, going in lots of different directions.

http://nickmontano.net/pics/cig62.jpg

The first 3rd was about all I got to smoke, as with every draw, the soft spots would cave in a bit, and after while the wrapper started to crack from the constant shifting.

http://nickmontano.net/pics/cig63.jpg

I tried to continue on with the smoke, but it soon became impossible to get a decent draw. The wrapper was just crumbling every time I took a draw.

http://nickmontano.net/pics/cig64.jpg

Between the soft cap, and soft spots throughout the cigar, I really didn't get to do a lot of tasting. The few puffs I did manage were OK. I'm thinking I just got a bad one and perhaps this is a decent cigar.

http://nickmontano.net/pics/cig65.jpg

I'll have to give it a 6.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Riff Raff Cigar #6
*************

You are number 6!

I am not a NUMBER!!!

Okay, working on the back 5 now! Number 6 is a rustic number. No cap to speak of. Just an overlay of the wrapper. Never seen a stick like that before. But then again-----> NEWB!

My calibrated eyeball says it is 6.5" X 42. It is a bit veiny and rough looking. A big green spot by the head and a little rough around the foot.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2716Small.jpg

Pre-light: Draw is medium to firm. Tastes a bit like hay.

First light: Grassy taste. A little bit of spice. A bit underwhelming. Nice dark gray ash though.

1/3rd: There is an underlying hint of toffee but only briefly. Just a bit toasty. Not much flavor to speak of really. Retro-hale tasted of grass. The ash held for about two inches.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2718Small.jpg

2/3rd: Some spice is creeping in here! There is some cinnamon and nutmeg too. This is turning out quite nice! Lots of smoke.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2719Small.jpg

3/3rd: Spice! Nice and toasty with some sweet tobacco flavors coming through. As it smoked down it got a bit soft and squishy. Some nice cedar flavors at the nub.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2720Small.jpg

Overall: A diamond in the rough. This was quite a surprising smoke. It started out weak but finished up nicely. The burn was pretty much even throughout, not razor sharp but okay. I would say this mild to medium smoke was about an 8.7. I would buy this again. It was a quick smoke too. It lasted only about 40 minutes or so.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

What they smoked:

http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...yx/BTT2-06.jpg

1999 La Flor De Cano Selectos

Montano score: 6
Riff Raff score: 8.7

Cheap and fantastic golf cigar... these things can be hit and miss, but I really seem to be pleased with them for the most part.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Another nice job guys. Wow, I have never seen a cigar unravel like the one you smoked Nick.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

These guys were told to dry box to help draw issues. Were they ever told when to take them out of the dry box and put back into a humidfied environment. Montano's review and pics look like a cigar that has been sitting out and over-dried.

Just my $0.02.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Wetting the cigar if the wrapper feels brittle can't hurt anything... I do it all the time. :tu

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Funny, as I was reading his review I was thinking to myself that he should read this thread.:2

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

The LFDC's are great to pair with coffee in the morning. Cheap too.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Wow, you guys always have experiences that are on the opposite sides of the dimensions. Neat. Sometimes I get issues with cigars where I just want to throw it away, but I just can't. Maybe as I start to smoke more I will end up tossing more often.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

I know what you mean! There have been cigars that had major splits in them and I just refused to let the cigar get the better of me. I haven't tossed one out yet before its time. I haven't nubbed quite a few though.

I did dry box mine. It was at about 58% RH when I smoked it.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

63ish is where I'd prefer mine to be... give or take a few.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

I just might have to give that a try :)

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Okay. Seven is a done deal.

How ya doing, Nick?

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Sent it in yesterday I believe :)

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Dan?

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Oh hell... I do have both of them. I'll put it up in a few...

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Montano Cigar #7
**************

This is a very nice looking cigar. The construction is quite good, with no soft spots to speak of. Pre-light draw was nice and easy.

http://www.nickmontano.net/pics/cig71.jpg

My first draw brings a nice flavor that I'm not quite sure of. After a few more draws, it comes to me. It's a very nice dried apricot flavor. I happen to like dried apricots. The draw continues to be nice and easy, with ample amounts of smoke.

http://www.nickmontano.net/pics/cig72.jpg

As I move to the second 3rd of this one, the apricot intensifies just a bit. The smoke is very creamy and coats the inside of my mouth with the nice flavor of this cigar. I'm really enjoying this one.

http://www.nickmontano.net/pics/cig73.jpg

As you can tell, I kinda got lost in the joy of smoking this thing, and forgot about taking pictures ! As I moved into the final 3rd, the apricot tapered off just a bit, and some meaty tobacco flavor started to come through. It was really nice to sit out back on a sunny day and enjoy this cigar. I really did not want it to end.

http://www.nickmontano.net/pics/cig74.jpg

This one gets a 9 !

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Riff Raff Cigar #7
*************

None of that lovely Lynchburg juice, but I will just have to soldier on without it. <sigh>

Sorry about the opening pic. It sucks I know but the cigar is pretty! The trusty ole (or is it the crusty ole) calibrated eyeball says it is a 7" X 32 lancero. A nice looking cigar. A couple of small little holes in the wrapper but they shouldn't pose a problem. I did dry box it for about a day.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2721Small.jpg

So I clipped the cap and gave it a pull. A firm draw. Pretty firm. Almost too firm but definitely smokeable. The prelight draw tasted of fresh hay.

First light: A bit grassy but very toasty. I love a toasty cigar.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2722Small.jpg

1/3rd: Toasty. Very toasty and I am liking it! There are small hints of pepper in there too. The ash is dark gray and held for about an inch and a half.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2723Small.jpg

2/3rd: Still lots of toast. Some sweet tobacco flavors are creeping in too. This smoke is rounding out nicely. A decent amount of smoke.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2724Small.jpg

3/3rd: Still toasty. The retro-hale was a bit floral which kind of gives me a suspicion to this puppy's origin. More sweet tobacco flavors and the amount of smoke picked up in volume as well. There is a nice woody finish.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2725Small.jpg

Overall: A decent smoke. It started out toasty and ended toasty. I can't find fault in that! Not a complex smoke but there were some really good flavors represented. I would buy this smoke if the price were right. It was mild bodied and tasty. I give it an 8.8. Oh, and I would say that it is a CC. Just a hunch. That and everyone so far has been a CC. I think I see a pattern emerging!

Oh yeah, he is a quick one isn't he?

It is starting to get down to the wire now!!

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

What they smoked:

http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...yx/BTT2-07.jpg

2008 Quay d'Orsay Panetela

Montano score: 9
Riff Raff score: 8.8

Wow... Nick found a habano he likes... glory upon glory!

I absolutely LOVE these cigars... LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE them. Glad you both dug it.

3 left. ;)

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Love the parity in the rating here

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

Sweet. I'm expecting a box of these any day now and this review makes me think I made another wise blind-purchase.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

You made a HELL of a purchase. I think I own more boxes of this than anything else at this point and will still probably get more.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2
 

It was a great smoke. I think I'll have to find some more of them !