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Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
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Just for the record Dan, I knew this one wasnt a cc because of the retrohale...... Good smoke though. |
Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
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Drew lives in the same city as me and, while not as often as we should, we get together and smoke cigars on the balcony. I asked him for a couple cigars for this thing and he brought em over. I figured it would not only be a fun twist, but a way for Drew to get a 100% honest and unbiased review of his cigars. Success on both counts! :tu |
Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
Haha, awesome! I dig the Roxy's.
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Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
Bump...
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Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
Wow I didn't see these Roxy reviews until now.
Awesome twist Dan!!! It is nice to see the caramel and cream similarities between both reviews. I had the pleasure of smoking a fresh roll Roxy Brain Stick last weekend and it was the best so far. Doing awesome work Drew! Awesome pass Dan!!! |
Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
Still waiting to smoke 9 and 10. I will probably smoke 9 tomorrow or Friday. I'm not sure smitty has even smoked 7 yet.
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Just caught on to this thread. Awesome reviews and an ingenious idea! Can't wait to see what's next! :)
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Bump
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ApexAZ Cigar #7
************* 5/14/2012 Okay, moving onto #7 in DBall's Blind Taste Test. I'll be pairing it with a double of whisky and a Pellegrino. Even though it's 8:15 P.M., it's still like 100 degrees out, so I'll probably be smoking faster than usual. It's warm. Phoenix summer is here. Ugh. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7...c33529c182.jpg Pre-light This cigar is about 5 3/4" long and has a ring guage around 38. The wrapper is slightly darker than the others and has one large vein throughout it's length. It also has somewhat of a roughly placed single cap (at least it appears so). The construction seems good enough, but the cigar just looks a little rough around the edges and it's very light. The cigar looks and feels old to me. The scent off the foot has a very, very slight tobacco smell. I had to really concentrate to smell it, it was so faint. The pre-light draw seems fine, and I taste nothing but a slight grass/wood type flavor, which is also very faint. http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5345/7...e84d9b7515.jpg 1st Third Like the others, the cigar is very smooth right off the bat. I don't think any have ever had that in-your-face blast of pepper like so many Nicaraguans do. This is a good thing to me. While I don't mind a bit of pepper, the first few puffs can be pretty brutal before things start to settle. On the other hand, I don't taste a lot at first on these either. After about 3/4" I'm finally starting to get some sweet flavor, but unable to pintpoint exactly what it tastes like just yet. About 1.5" in the flavor is kind of a toasty sweet cream flavor. It's very smooth and mild, but somewhat muted. The draw and burn have been perfect, and the salt and pepper ash drops on it's own after about 3/4". http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5441/7...8b72272946.jpg 2nd Third I start getting into the 2nd third after about 25 minutes. The flavor is starting to really pick up now and it's really tasty. Notes of vanilla come in, as well as some charred wood. It's pretty dang good. It's still very mild and creamy with mild strength. The burn has continued to be perfect. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/7...4be9ed3041.jpg Final Third 45 minutes passed before getting into the final 3rd. The flavor continues to get sweeter. It's more of a toasty coffee, vanilla, caramel type mix. I'm digging it. What is it about these that make them so sweet? There must be something in the soil that promotes a lot of glucose or something? The burn continues to be perfect. Things are more medium now and the flavors just continue to fuller, sweeter and better with every puff. It's quite good and sadly it had to end with about 1/2" left. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7...500b83802a.jpg Conclusion This cigar was one of my favorites so far and I give it a 9/10. I really loved it! Thanks, Dan! Score: 9/10 Total smoke time: 75 minutes |
Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
smitty81 Cigar #7
************** Stick #7 is about 5-3/4 long and is about a 36 Ga. cigar. The construction of it is very soft and mushy with a single cap. There are some large veins in the wrapper and overall, this cigar looks pretty rough. My first impression of this cigar after inspecting the construction of the cigar is that this cigar must be a cheaper value cigar. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...87075652_n.jpg I found the draw to be pretty tight on this cigar. The flavor on the other hand was awesome. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...88144935_n.jpg I'm not gonna take the time to break this cigar down into thirds as it basically retained it's flavor through out the entire cigar. The burn was OK for the most part but I did have to touch it up a few times as the large veins in the wrapper seemed to keep it from burning real well. There was very little to no smoke. The flavor was AWESOME. The flavor was a very nice sweet cream-grassy flavor. I was really digging the flavor of this one. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...59942461_n.jpg I did retrohale with this cigar and based on the retrohale, I took an educated guess that this is a CC because my nose was not on fire afterwords. This was a really smooth cigar. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...37521043_n.jpg I truly enjoyed the flavor of this cigar down to about the last inch or so and then it started getting a bit harsh. I had been wondering if short filler was used in this cigar based on the construction. I did a little dissection with the nub and found short filler indeed. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...32163731_n.jpg After this cigar, I truly feel that I have learned something from this experience Dan has so kindly offered to me. I feel that the conception I have gathered from my time here is that short filler is for cheaply made cigars. That may well be but 2 of the 3 cigars that I have really enjoyed flavor wise have had short filler. To me short filler only means one thing which is the second thing I feel that I have learned. It means a tighter draw to me. Both of the short filler cigars I have enjoyed have both had a pretty tight draw which makes sense to me once I stop and think about why that would be so. I give this cigar an 8/10 based on the draw issues. If it would have been a bit easier on the draw, I would have rated it between a 9 & 10. Tasty! |
Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
What they smoked:
http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...yx/BTT5-07.jpg 1999 La Flor de Cano Selectos ApexAZ score: 9 smitty81 score: 8 Nice! To call this a "cheap" cigar would be an understatement. A better adjective would be "free". There were vendors literally giving away 5 packs with orders years back (multiple 5 packs with some orders in fact). I took all the 5 packs I got and threw them in some empty 50 cab and buried them in my tower. I'll still take these out at the golf course and be quite happy with how they are smoking. Hell... after reading these reviews, I may go have one now! |
Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
I have a few five packs kicking around and when I feel like my palate is a little off I will sometimes pick one of these guys up and half the time I enjoy them- the other half I figure I was right about the palate being wonky.
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Pretty damn good for being free.
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Had one last night... Honestly, I was floored by how good it was in the first half... reminded me of really old RyJ/Punch with that sweet fruitiness and notes of chocolate. The second half was kinda 'meh', but the first half was crazy good.
http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...610_203735.jpg http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...610_205133.jpg http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...610_210247.jpg http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...610_211000.jpg |
Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
Great reviews once again! Awesome to see how they both come to similar conclusions, I love this thread!-(P
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Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
Nice ones gents. This is pretty fun.
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Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
The selectos I had from the freebie fivers all tasted like red vines licorice and musty cardboard to me. My wife claimed they gave me dragon breath from hell. Guess it goes to show that taste is subjective :r
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Even now, though? When was the last time ya tried one? :) |
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Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
Great stuff. While I thoroughly enjoy reading reviews that are almost bi-polar, I also enjoy seeing two blind reviews that are very similar, both picking up on similar tastes.
Keep them coming. :tu |
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Bump ;s
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The 1998 LFDC selectos are great for morning cigars:2
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Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
This has been a very cool thread to read
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bump
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Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
ApexAZ Cigar #8
************* 5/21/2012 I'll be pairing #8 with a Sunbru by the local Arizona brewer Four Peaks. The nights just keep getting warmer, so I'll probably continue to smoke at a slightly faster pace. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7...3c8cc399ec.jpg Pre-light This cigar is about 5" long and has a ring guage around 42. The wrapper is light and smooth with only small veins. Slightly spongy, the overall construction feels good with a triple cap. The cigar looks and feels old to me. The smell of the tobacco is not much different from the others: a mix of manure and tobacco. The pre-light draw is pretty good and I taste a mix of wood and cardboard. Nothing too exciting really. 1st Third Ugh, it's freaking hot outside. The first few puffs don't have a lot of flavor, which has been pretty typical of all of these so far. A little bit of sweetness, but not much else. Some very faint sweet cream and leather come through for an over all very mild smoke. The burn is perfect and the ash drops after about 3/4". http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8012/7...87069db59e.jpg 2nd Third 20 minutes in and I hit the 2nd third of the cigar. The strength and body continue to be mild, although the flavor is starting to build slightly. The sweetness isn't as prevalent. It's more of a toasted nut and earthy type flavor. It's hard to describe really. The burn, draw and ash all continue to be flawless. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7102/7...66d0892155.jpg Final Third I hit the final 3rd about 40 minutes in. The strength and body are both medium now and the cigar reminds me more of a Dominican in flavor, which I think is mainly due to the fact that it isn't as sweet as some of the others have been. So far it hasn't developed into what I would consider great, but not bad either. I taste an earthy leather more than anything. I don't really get any toasted nuts anymore. Burn was perfect all the way through! http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7...e998771932.jpg Conclusion BTT # 8 was decent. Not as exciting as some of the others before it, but still pretty good. I give it a 7/10. Thank you, Dan! http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7101/7...5b69fd48c1.jpg Score: 7/10 Total smoke time: 55 minutes |
Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
smitty81 Cigar #8
************** Cigar # 8 will be enjoyed with a ginger ale on this fine summer night. Temp is in the low to mid 80's with a slight breeze. Thunderstorms to the south of us so some nice clouds to watch and the sunset is making everything look pinkish/orange. Beautiful night that has made me appreciate this fine cigar all that much more. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...75102331_n.jpg This cigar has a nice construction. Nice and firm but not hard. This cigar has no big veins in the wrapper and it looks like a good quality cigar that someone would be proud to put their cigar band on. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...73338589_n.jpg The first draw is always my favorite, it's like opening a present on Christmas morning. The first draw was a strong green flavor. I actually enjoy the green flavor many of these cc's have. (see, I'm already guessing it's a cc) This green flavor last up to about the beginning of the 2/3rd of the cigar. https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos...68303487_n.jpg The 2/3rd of this cigar has went from tasting green to tasting slightly creamy with a little bit of sweetness in the background. Nothing real strong here, just nice and relaxing like the night I had outside. I did retro hale and for the first time ever, I finally got something out of it. I was able to pick up a different flavor. The flavor I picked up during the retro hale was VERY brief and it took me a few times to decide what I was smelling/tasting. I finally decided on grandma smell. I'm not talking about moth ball grandma smell but rather the take a bath in your perfume kind of grandma. That smell when you go to church and walk past a group of old ladies. It was even a perfume I would expect a grandma to wear, very floral. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...80027601_n.jpg OK, the last third of this cigar has also taken a change in flavor. I am now getting that floral taste like I got with the retro hale earlier. This is the first cigar I have ever had that has had a floral taste to it and honestly, while it wasn't a bad flavor, it really isn't something that I would like to taste in a cigar. Maybe if it was a different kind of floral it wouldn't be as bad. Its almost as if someone took a very fragrant flower, stem and all and wrapped it up into a cigar. This cigar was so interesting to me. While I may not have liked it, it was an awesome new experience for me. There were distinct flavor changes that I noticed, Some flavors that I enjoyed and a new flavor that I have never experienced with a cigar. This was a "fun" and interesting cigar to smoke. https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos...70962319_n.jpg A picture to cap off my very enjoyable night. I wasn't going to have a smoke tonight but I am so glad I did. I am having a tough time grading this one. Based on flavors, I wouldn't rate it real high but it always kept changing in flavor and that was very interesting and enjoyable to me. Not to mention this cigar practically had a perfect burn. I will say a 7.5/10 |
Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
What they smoked:
http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...yx/BTT5-08.jpg 2008 Pro Larranaga Petit Corona ApexAZ score: 7 smitty81 score: 7.5 Glad you liked these... for the most part. While I haven't visited these in some time, I remember vividly thinking that they were no where near ready last time I did. I may have to try another one soon... :tu |
Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
I am about to pull the trigger on a cab of these. Based on the reviews I am a little gun shy. Someone tell me the 2011 is a good year to smoke them fresh!!
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Good reviews guys, once again pretty similar reviews. I love the complexity of CCs, they are unlike any NC I have ever experienced. |
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Great reviews. I guess I am not familiar with flavors "grandma" and "green". I will have to keep an eye out for these :) |
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I was associating smells with taste. Better words to describe it would be a Strong floral smell and Grassy. |
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Bump.
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Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
Finished mine up over the 4th. What a great experience this was! I'm really looking forward to seeing the results from the last 2.
Dan, you are the man. Thanks so much. I don't know how to repay you! |
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I will be finished up this weekend.
Thanks Dan. |
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Re-bump
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Let's go, Smitty! Do it up!
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Bump Diggity!
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I sent #9 in this morning. Sorry I'm so slow guys, Work has been getting in the way a LOT lately. I will try my darndest to have #10 done before the weekend.
Sorry guys. |
Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
Man I love these threads :tu
Good job to all involved! |
Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5
If I may ask how exactly dose this work? If I say I'm in the next person responding gets 5 sticks from me? And do I need to guess which cigars they are? Or just review them?
Thanks. |
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Oh, thanks for clearing that up.
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Read the first post of the thread as that outlines how this works. This may or may not be the last one... I'm 100 cigars deep into these experiments thus far... :) I always say it is the last and then do another one anyway... hahaha |
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But there is no reason why someone else couldn't conduct the same type of taste test. One of the many ways to give back to the community (PIF). :2 |
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As for why I keep doing it, I really like to see these things and experience the cigars through the eyes of the newer members. It's also a good way for me, personally, to pay it forward/back/wherever... it was the kindness of others (most of whom are on this board or were on CS) that made cigars so much more than a hobby and so much more about the people than the cigars themselves... :tu |
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