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

Woo hoo!!! I hope so!

Way to go guys, I love reading the reviews!

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

Really enjoy this thread. Great stuff!

I always wonder to myself if my palate could pick out the 'good stuff' or not...

I read a thread somewhere about someone who was a bit of a 'CC snob' and refused to smoke NCs, who was given 3 blind sticks to test his knowlege. All were cut so the cap was not visible (to ensure a truely blind test), and he successfully picked out the one CC, but did enjoy one of the NCs (a My Father I believe?) which surprised him. Pretty cool :)

aj

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

This has been a blast ! I'm just thrilled that I was able to be a part of it. I really hate to smoke the last one, because that means it's all over. Your generosity is just amazing !!

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

Where's that last review at, guys? :D

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

This is awesome! Sign me up!

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

Would definitely be in for this! :tu

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

I'm holding out as long as I can !!

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

HAHAHAHAHA! I know what you mean. I don't want it to end. I will smoke my last one today (boo hoo).

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

Who would have thought smoking a series of free Cuban cigars would be so awesome...........:r

BTW, nice reviews guys, enjoyed reading along. :tu

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

It is with sorrowful elation that I pronounce that #10 is in the stinky. It is like a good book that you never want to end!

Nick, how ya doing out there in California, my brother?

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

I guess I'll burn it this afternoon :(

Should have the last review in by this evening.

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

I'll be in Aruba (in JFK now waiting for the connecting flight). You'll have to pardon me if I can't tell you what it is right away. Anyway, a little suspense will do you guys good...

:D

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

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

:r:r

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

Hey Dan, while you are down there will you pick me up some.........:D

Have fun down there! Say hi to the painkillers for me! Yum!

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

No rush then :)

Maybe I'll wait another day or 2 !!

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

Prolonging the inevitable? :)

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

As long as I can ;)

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

Hey Nick... you still alive, there? We gotta wrap this one up! :D

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

Welcome back Dan! How was Aruba? Or do I need to ask! :)

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

It was pretty good... The wife taught Zumba pretty much every day. Also we stayed with friends there, so we weren't really on our own time. It was more like a work vacation for Shelley and I just tagged along and took photos.

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

:(

All done.

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

Pics or Negative Reputation and Subsequent Ban.... lol

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

Hahaha. I second that!

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

Well... that ends it... all the cigars have been smoked.

I'll probably put the last reviews up tomorrow during the day when I have some time.

It's been fun, guys!

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

It HAS been fun! It has been a blast! I can't thank you enough Dan for not only the opportunity, but the overwhelming generosity as well! A true BOTL!

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

I could not have said it better !! Thanks Dan, one helluva BOTL !!

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

:tpd:

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

Montano Cigar #10
***************

Let me start off by thanking Dan for allowing me to be a part of this great thread. This was incredibly fun !

Obviously Dan saved the best for last. This cigar had nice construction. Pre-light draw was typical of a CC.

http://www.nickmontano.net/pics/101.jpg

I'm getting some nice caramel flavors right from the start. The smoke is very creamy and thick. The burn is nice and even.

http://www.nickmontano.net/pics/102.jpg

The second third continues with the same caramel flavor. My lips are also getting a sweet flavor on them. This one is burning nice and slow.

http://www.nickmontano.net/pics/103.jpg

The final third gets a bit stronger with a mix of caramel and tobacco. The flavor is great on this one. These CC's just keep getting better and better.

http://www.nickmontano.net/pics/104.jpg

I'm giving this one a 10. Not because it was the last one, but it really was the best of the bunch !

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

Riff Raff Cigar # 10
***************

Last one! Bummer, huh? Well let's see what happened!

A nice looking chocolate brown wrapped cigar! The calibrated eyeball says it is a 6.5 X 44. There are no soft spots, no blemishes. A very nice looking cigar!

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2770Small.jpg

Prelight - Nice draw, a little tug on it which is nice. Some grassy flavors. So on we go:

First light - Grassy with a hint of chocolate. Oh and what is this? SPICE! Oh hell yeah! Very nice! The ash is dark gray and firm. Lots of smoke too!

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2771Small.jpg

1/3rd: Lots of spice. I mean lots of it! There is some wonderful cinnamon there as well. The retrohale is toasty! This is starting off as one hell of a smoke!

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2772Small.jpg

2/3rd: Still spicey! There are some toasty flavors creeping in. Damn, this certainly bodes well!

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2773Small.jpg

3/3rd: Still spicey! There is still some toast flavors in there as well. Now comes the cedar. There is some pepper in there as well.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n..._2774Small.jpg

Overall: What a spice bomb! Great flavors, wonderful construction! No problems on the burn, it was razor sharp! A great flavor of cedar on the finish! Dan has certainly left the best for last. I can't find one thing I didn't like about this smoke. It lasted for about an hour and 20 minutes. I give this smoke a roaring 9.6!!!!! MORE! I wan't more of these!!!

What a way to end it! Dan, I thank you for the great opportunity and the wonderful smokes! You truly embody what being a BOTL entails!

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

What they smoked:

http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/w...yx/BTT2-10.jpg

2007 Trinidad Ingenios

Montano score: 10
Riff Raff score: 9.6

:D

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

What a way to wrap it up!

Great reviews guys; this thread has been a blast to read. :tu

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

Nearly 4 months and 20 cigars later, this thing is done.

It started out with Nick hating habanos and how he's giving them 9's and 10's... :r:r

Not only that, this is the first one that actually fully completed... if you check the first thread, Slavac disappeared before completing #10.

So... I take it you all enjoyed yourselves?

;)

Now to contemplate beginning round 3...

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

Great job guys. I have really enjoyed this one too. What a nice stick to end it with!!

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

Nice finish! Warms my heart that they appreciated the Trini. :)

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

Awesome. This has been great, guys! Thanks for the great read!

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

This was a great tread to follow along with. I learned a lot from it. It is very interesting how the CC really grows on you. I have found the same thing, from one occasionally to now almost being my go to cigar.

Dan I hope you do another it was great!!

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

Well... if anyone does want to be considered for the next one, read the first post in this thread and get working on some of the prerequisites (1 decent picture review... maybe even practice by using the format these guys do with 5 photos and have a trade or 2 under your belt).

It may be a couple weeks before I do another one, so you have time. :tu

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

Excellent job, gents!
Great job Dan for supplying and running this whole thing.

If anyone is looking to do something like this there is the Blind taste Test/ PIF Thread available! (shameless bump)

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

Great job guys. This was always the first thread I would check when signing on. Now, what am I going to do for the next two week!

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

This was a very fun read! It was interesting to see the review style differences between the two of them.

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

Dan, this was an absolute blast. The #10 was a true pleasure to smoke. I think I will have to adjust my purchasing from now on! This cigar was definitely the best of the lot. How long had you had it in your humidor? I loved the flavor. Very complex.

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

a few months... I really forget when I bought them. 6 months, maybe... maybe less.

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

Where's Nick with his final weigh-in? I wanna hear the "I'm now a habanos whore" confession... hahaha


:r

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

I can't afford to be a habanos whore, but I am definitely a habanos whore wannabe ;)

I had only smoked 1 CC before this thread began, and I have now smoked 10 times as many :D

I will smoke them as often as I can, thanks for the push down THAT slope Dan......

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

(psst... habanos typically cost less than NCs) :D