Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Any more?

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Yes, 6 more. I imagine they are waiting on me.

I have some done, I just need to send it all to DBall.

I will get it done tonight, sorry everyone.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Must be hard to smoke cigars :r

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

yea...................because I have no job nor life away from CA.

Honestly, I have one day a week to enjoy a cigar and thats if I'm not traveling somewhere.

I think I am turning in my reviews in a respectable manner of time.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

I agree smitty, I was just wondering because it had been a while that's all. Just looking forward to them.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

It was a joke! ;s

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

I figured as much...........

Just frustrates me that I don't have more smoke time.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Turned #5 in tonight so maby tomorrow?

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

I think that's a frustration a lot of us share, so no worries :tu

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

I have this issue myself :)

Enjoying the reviews gents.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

ApexAZ Cigar #5
*************

4/29/2012

Tonight I am reviewing DBall's Blind Taste Test cigar #5. It's 88 degrees so I'll be drinking a cold Perrier along with it.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8019/6...6c51488467.jpg

Pre-light
This cigar is about 5 7/8" long and has a ring guage around 42. It has a smooth natural wrapper with small veins. It has a triple cap like the others before it. The construction appears good and the cigar is slightly spongy when gently squeezed. The smell of the tobacco is unremarkable to me. Just tobacco with a hint of manure. Maybe a little less sweet compared to the others.

The pre-light draw seems good and I get some floral and slightly minty flavors from the tobacco.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7185/6...a90362e913.jpg

1st Third
I lit the cigar and had about 2 draws before the sneezing started. Crap. Allergies are a major pain in the butt for me here. I ran in and took a dose of flonase in each nostril in hopes of stopping the sneezing. It did help the sneezing, but now I'm all stuffy. Crap crap crap. The draw is excellent, the burn is clean, and the first ash dropped after about 1/2 of an inch. Now if only I could get some cooperation out of my nose =(. The cigar so far is very smooth, but I'm not getting much flavor from it aside from some wood and some slight sweetness. The strength and body are both mild. As I get deeper into it, the flavor starts to develop into an enjoyable sweet cream.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8020/7...91d5f89462.jpg


2nd Third
After almost 40 minutes I'm working my way into the 2nd third. I had been smoking ultra slow in hopes that the flonase will do its job, which it has to a degree and I'm able to start retrohaling a bit. The smoke is still sweet, but I'm now detecting some slight leather and other flavors that I'm unsure how to describe. As I approach the final third, I also get a little bit of spice. The spice coupled with the sweetness reminds me of a combination of cinnamon and red pepper. The strength is picking up some and it's more medium bodied. The burn needed some touching up after some tunneling, but remained very good otherwise.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/6...a50e09061f.jpg

Final Third
After about 60 minutes I reached the final third. I started smoking faster to prevent the cigar from tunneling and I have also been able to breath through my nose somewhat. The flavors have developed into something I am having trouble pinpointing. It's like leather, but not the same as how leather would taste in a NC stick. It's also not quite as sweet as it was in the first 2/3 of the smoke and I taste more pepper than cinnamon. The strength is more medium now and the body somewhere between medium and full. The burn remained perfect, but I did find that I needed to smoke faster to keep it alive. With a little more than an inch to go, it got hot and tasted only of tobacco smoke, so I called it quits.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7125/7...456175c450.jpg

Conclusion
I felt that this was a pretty decent cigar given the circumstances. I am sure that if my allergies hadn't acted up my experience would have been different and may have influenced my score. Whether it would have been better or worse is hard to say. I can say that it's pretty hard to taste when you can't smell, but I did my best. I give it a 7/10. This marks the halfway point of the blind taste test and I'm looking forward to the other 5. Thanks, Dan!

Score: 7/10

Total smoke time: 85 minutes

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

smitty81 Cigar #5
**************

Ok, here we are at the half way point now.

Stick #5


Stick 5 appears to be 6" x 38 Ga. There seems to be a double cap on this cigar. A few small veins with no soft spots. Construction seems good as always.

I am going to drink a ginger ale with this cigar.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...95839426_n.jpg

Cut the cap on this baby and took a draw. I could taste some dried fruit.

Lit it up and got very little to no smoke but the smoke smelled good.

The first few draws reminded me of a swisher sweet minus the sweet tip.

Flavor has mellowed out to a more hay like flavor. This thing is burning uneven and the ash has dropped off after about an inch.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...66726520_n.jpg

2/3rd

I am finding the flavor of this cigar pretty boring, it brings nothing unique to the table IMOP. The cigar has changed from a hay to more of a grassy flavor.
I had to correct the burn and it appears to be burning a bit better now.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...23485727_n.jpg



Last Third

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...81267937_n.jpg

Even after touching this cigar up, I am getting little to no smoke. The flavor is getting a little sweeter. Its a sugar sweetness, hard to explain.

As I am smoking this cigar, I find that it seems awful hard towards the cap. It feels like there are some really thick veins inside.

I was curious as to how this might change the flavor but it didn't really unless these veins or twigs were putting off that sugar flavor?

When I got her down to about an inch, I dissected it to see what was inside. Long filler with pretty big veins.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...46063803_n.jpg

I had taken the leaf off of the vein so you can see its size.

I'd give this cigar a 5/10 mostly because it didn't have any unique flavors......

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

What they smoked:

http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...yx/BTT5-05.jpg

2000 Hoyo des Dieux

ApexAZ score: 7

smitty81 score: 5

Midway through, guys...

As for this cigar... these here are decent, in my opinion. Ones from 50 cabs from the 70's, however, are to die for. :dr

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

I enjoy the '00 des Dieux. Surprised this one got such a low score, although the box I got the draws have been perfect so that might be it.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

The Du series seems to be rather mild and the nuances are hard to pick up, especially of you have congestion and cant nose smoke. I love them but they are not straight forward and require some patience to truly appreciate.

Great reviews guys, I look forward to the rest :tu

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

I liked it. Allergies just messed with me.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Me too, I have loved the few '00 Hoyo des Dieux I've smoked.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Man, I am starting to think that CC's just aren't my thing. Seems you guys love some of these sticks.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

It could also be the way you smoke, I blow at least part of every puff out of my nose. I used to have to put thought in to it but now its second nature, I almost can't make myself blow only out of my mouth. CCs do not seem to have the strong "mouth" flavors NCs do and if you aren't nose smoking you may be missing what they offer. However if you don't like them, you don't like them and chalk it up to everyone is different and that is what makes the world great.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

There are plenty of people who don't like CCs, it just isn't the profile of flavors everybody enjoys. If it is a slope you are serious about, I reccomend taking a break from strong NCs. Smoke only CCs for a while and really pay attention to the flavors. I had one CC that really caught my attention while I was smoking NCs regularly, and everything else was just okay. After I took a break from NCs and let my palate rest, then I smoked CCs almost exclusively and I started to pull tons of incredible flavors out of almost every stick. But the flavors are subtle compared to most strong NCs. (Also what Albert said above)
Either way, you are doing a fine job reviewing CCs in this thread, keep up the good work. This is a great program, thanks Dan.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

You've had 2 out of 5 that you really liked though. Do you like every NC you smoke?

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Decided to smoke one myself, although I got caught up in designing stuff for my wife's new business (she's FINALLY opening her dance studio and going out on her own), a call and the making of plans from a great friend I haven't seen in a while who is coming to visit.

As for the cigar, I really liked it... mild, creamy and flavorful, but not over-powering. Here's some pics:

http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...509_203612.jpg

http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...509_211050.jpg

http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...509_212650.jpg

:tu

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

I have tried to retrohale with them, I guess I just don't get anything out of it...:confused:

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

I am not sure I understand what folks mean by retrohale. is that when you blow out then breathe some back in with the nose?

I just simply take a puff and in the middle of the exhale I close my mouth while still exhaling and the smoke is forced out of my nose.

But don't worry if you don't like Cubans, their are ALOT of other choices out there and no shame in liking what you like.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Well lets just say that I have "enjoyed" 90% of the NC's I have smoked so far.

I haven't exactly found any dog rockets but then again, I haven't gone out of my way to look for them either.

It just baffles me that A LOT OF MEMBERS ON CA seem to think that CC's are a lot better than NC's.

I feel like I am missing something, I just don't get whats better about them I guess.......

The NC's I have smoked generally have a LOT more smoke and a deeper more rich spicy flavor.


Don't get me wrong, this is fun and I appreciate Dan doing this but I guess the CC's just aren't what I thought they would be.

Not the Holy Grail that I was expecting.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Maby I don't understand what retrohale is either, I do what you do.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Still love these blind reviews. Very interesting to see the differences between two people.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Perhaps that is part of the problem. Based on prior threads, you probably came into this expecting these all to be Cuban and having the expectation of a "holy grail" type experience for all CCs, it would be very easy to be let down (and that is just a general statement, not even accounting for the simple fact that everyone's palette is different).

The only way to do this is to experience it one cigar at a time, regardless of origin (you never know... what if I mixed a couple NCs in there...), and document what YOU think about the cigar for what it is... just a cigar that you are smoking at that point in time.

There's no wrong answers in this kinda thing... you may leave this experience thinking all these cigars you tried suck, and that is totally fine :)

As far as the spice and depth, I seem to find that on the newer CCs... the older ones are more refined and are my preference (as I am admittedly a mild cigar smoker). A fresh Partagas or Bolivar may put some hairs on your chest and will seem a lot stronger than a 12 year old Hoyo for sure.

I do prefer CC's (and older ones at that), personally, but that is not a result of anything other than trying everything I have over the years I have been in the hobby and the changing of tastes I enjoy. When I first started, I was looking for the strongest damned cigars I could find and then my tastes changed. Hell... my tastes still change all the time. LGC MdO #4's used to be one of my favorite smokes, but every time I light one lately, I'm underwhelmed. A year from now, I may smoke one and be pissed that I wasted all the ones I had when I didn't enjoy them... hahaha.

You're doing just fine... just don't place any expectations on them and take 'em one cigar at a time. :tu

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

That's what retrohaling is.

If I retrohale I usually only retrohale about 20% through my nose and the other 80% through my mouth like normal. Even with mild cigars it's still something I'm not completely used to.

I don't think that a lot of members on CA think that CC's are superior to NC's. I do however think that a lot of members might prefer to smoke CC's over NC's. The general consensus here is smoke what you like and like what you smoke :) CC's might not be your bag, but as Dan said, if you're used to and enjoy that strong peppery kick that a lot of NC's have, aged CC's might not be your thing.

That's what's great about this whole exercise though. You can come into it being completely new to everything about a CC and derive your own thoughts and opinions about them without "smoking the band" or even unconsciously having somebody else's opinion affect what you think about a cigar :tu

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Frankly a lot of times some CC's just aren't for you. I've wrote off many of marcas, just because they don't fit my flavor profile no matter how many I smoke. That or I haven't been able to give any cigar from that marca a solid "90" points.

I would definitely try a few from each marca and decide based on that. There are A LOT of hidden gems out there. I find new ones all the time, cigars people have slept on that I find are just plain wonderful. To me that is the fun of it.

Some examples of lesser smoked cigars
Anything Cuaba (Very unique tasting)
Diplomaticos No. 2 (last cigar of this marca, tasty as hell)
Bolivar Petit Belicosos EL '09 (Bolivar Chocolate bar, yes please :dr)
Montecristo Tubos (Probably one of the least reviewed Monte's)
Partagas Culebra (goofy looking but with a few years, good stuff)
Quai D’Orsay Coronas (This marca gets no attention but these smokes more than tasty)

Just a few ideas of things that fly under the radar but are gems that I have found thus far.

Keep smoking them, I'm sure you'll find at least a few good ones. If you like Punchy full bodied cigars the fresh Bolivar Royal Coronas or Partagas 898V's will probably be your cup of tea.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

So Dan, is this the infamous patio?

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Yup... you should be seeing it soon enough... :)

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Looks like an amazing place to relax with a cigar :tu

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed some of the CC's.........

I guess I was just waiting for that cigar that was deeper in spice.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

The best thing about how shitty my memory is is that I have no recollection of what I sent. I do, however, have the pictures (and no, I don't add them to photobucket until I'm ready to reveal). I have to check the folder to remember what I shipped out.

There may be some stronger, fresher cigars... I honestly have no idea... :r

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Don't let your expectations get in the way.
I've ruined many a good cigar looking for something that wasn't there, instead of enjoying the flavors that were.
If your mind is open you will always be surprised at what pops up.

I did this review in the last installment.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showpo...&postcount=107

5 CC's is a small sample size.
You never know what lurks in the other 5. :)

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

What was it Dom?

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

It was an 08 Partagas Princess

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

My only comment is that those are a lot of cigars for a noob to smoke in a timely manner

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Ehh... only going for roughly 1 a week. :tu

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

anxious to see the next couple, keep up the great work guys.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

ApexAZ Cigar #6
*************

5/5/2012

Tonight it's cigar #6 from Dan's blind taste test. I'll be pairing it with a double of Shieldaig 18 and a Perrier water. My pallet has been acting funky lately, but so far it seems limited to the Nicaraguan cigars I smoke regularly. The CC's have not been a problem so far and my allergies are not giving me trouble today, so we'll see how it goes!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/7...45d3ed9ed9.jpg

Pre-light
This cigar is about 5 1/4" long and has a ring guage around 38 - 40. It has a smooth natural wrapper with small veins. Unlike the other CC's before it, this one seems to only have a double cap. The construction is good, but the cigar feels slightly hard. The smell is very similar to the last one. Just a manure and tobacco smell.

The pre-light draw is a little bit tight, which makes sense given how hard the cigar feels, but seems to be good enough for smoking. Flavors before toasting remind me of tobacco and loose tea.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8013/7...290f9d6cfd.jpg

1st Third
On the first 2 draws the draw is good and the smoke is smooth. Things were somewhat flavorless to start, but I'm starting to get some muted sweet cream. The burn is perfect and the ash dropped on it's own after about 2/3 of an inch. Strength and body are both mild.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8145/7...856980bac3.jpg

2nd Third
After about 35 minutes I'm into the 2nd third of the cigar. Overall, it hasn't had a lot of flavor. It is smooth and sweet, but the flavor is somewhat muted. Muted flavors of sweet cream, coffee and leather come and go. The burn and draw both continue to be excellent. The strength and body are both more mild-medium now.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5463/7...43756bdf9c.jpg

Final Third
65 minutes in and I'm progressing into the final third. The flavors are less sweet now and more like caramel. I still get a slight amount of leather, but not as much coffee. There's some other flavors I am unable to classify. The cigar is much tastier in the last third and I'd say the strength and body are more medium-full now. The burn continues to be perfect. With about an inch left, it's too hot and bitter so I called it quits.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7127/7...48508c505a.jpg

Conclusion
I enjoyed this cigar more on the 2nd half. The first half was somewhat bland to me. I give it a 7/10. I think a recurring theme is starting to emerge here: I'm very used to the full flavored nicaraguans. These milder smokes take a while to develop for me. The one thing that I absolutely love about some of them is how sweet they are. Once they come into their own, they really are delicious. Some are just a bit on the mild side. Once again, Dan, thank you for the opportunity to experience it!

Score: 7/10

Total smoke time: 105 minutes

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

smitty81 Cigar #6
**************

Ok, first of all..........I want to apologize for this review being so late.

I work at an irrigation business and we are short on help this season so they have been making me fill in where needed to keep up. I have been working almost double the hours I normally work. I'm so tired after work, all I feel like doing is sleeping.

Here is the review guys!








This is stick #6

This cigar is about 5-1/4" long and I'd say about a 36 gauge. I have been anticipating this cigar for a while because of the way the wrapper looks. The wrapper is kind of blotchy in color. It mostly has a lighter color wrapper but then it has some darker patches all over it that make it appear to have water damage or something weird like that going on with the wrapper.

Good construction with small veins.

It's Cinco De Mayo so I'm enjoying a strawberry margarita with this cigar. (they didn't pair to bad either)

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...kersuh93/1.jpg


http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...kersuh93/2.jpg

This wrapper has some spice to it, really making my mouth water and my throat burn. I'd say it's a mellow cigar with caramel flavor. Not a real strong flavor but it's there.



http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...kersuh93/3.jpg

Not a whole lot to touch upon here during the 2nd third. The flavor remains the same and the burn is also pretty good. Just enjoying this cigar, I'd say it's one of the more enjoyable cigars I have tried in this BTT.


http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...kersuh93/4.jpg

This cigar is still holding on to it's caramel flavor. If it has changed any at all, I'd say that maby it has maby picked up a sweet cream flavor?

This cigar sort of reminds me of the romeo E julita (sp) that we had earlier in the BTT.

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...kersuh93/5.jpg

I'm gonna go ahead and give this cigar a 7/10. Not real bold in flavor but the flavor that was there was enjoyable and it had very little burn issues.




Beings it's a holiday weekend and I plan on sitting on my butt, I will try to hammer out a few more reviews to play catch up!

Sorry again guys.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

What they smoked:

http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...yx/BTT5-06.jpg

2011 Roxy N Corona (Nicaragua)

ApexAZ score: 7

smitty81 score: 7

Ha!!! It's not a Cuban!

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

I love this quote (and it's not to pick on you)...

Perceptions definitely color experience. While not a full flavored cigar (I've smoked one and enjoyed it), it was a Nic cigar.

:tu

I really like these taste tests.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan!

Seriously though, fun twist :tu I really wasn't sure what cigars these were, but I had a sneaking suspicion they weren't CC's. Despite the reviewers thinking they were, I'd say these reviews were still spot on. When I reviewed a ROXY I definitely pulled tons of sweet, creamy caramel notes from it - something both reviewers noted.

Great job guys :D

Andrew, did you know these were being included in the lineup? ;)

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Well done, Dan! :tu

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

the plot thickens!

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

how do you think dan got them? haha i have been waiting patiently, thanks for the great review guys.

Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
 

Well you were selling a lot ;) lol, I just wondered if you knew he was using them in the BTT :)