Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Well, in a previous post related to a Cremosa, I challenged anyone with a strong stomach and no sense to try a handful of terrible cigars I have sitting around. (http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showpo...6&postcount=39)

Dan (Hardz) and Mark (borndead1) were insane enough to take up my challenge!


Here's the way this works:

• Dan and Mark will each smoke the 16 cigars I sent them in order.
• For each smoke, they will take pictures and post a review in this thread (hopefully entertaining)
• After they have posted all 16 reviews, I will send them each a nice little care package of worthwhile smokes and some other goodies to help them recover from the trauma.

Good luck guys, this should be good for a few laughs!




I'm an evil bastard aren't I?

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

16, ouch, I was tempted to accept the challenge, but 16 dog rockets, I glad I didn't pic up the gloves.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

This sounds like suicide by Cremosa.:r:r:r

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

These 2 guys will smoke anything.:ss

Boy, talk about taki' one for the team :ze

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

I just looked over the list of cigars.



No Cremosas? :(




















:D



UGH, man. SIXTEEN dog rockets? I thought it was gonna be like 4 or 5! :r


But I accepted the offer, so be it. Hit me.



EDIT: I don't have a camera, but I know this guy named Hal who has one. :D

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Wow, a handful might be doable, but 16 takes perseverance. Take it one cigar at a time. Good luck guys.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Where's the list? Inquiring minds want to know. Can't wait to see the reviews on these!:D

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

No Cremosas, sorry. I honestly don't own any and never will.


The List

Cigar # Notes

1. Nicaraguan robusto. These will NOT humidify past the brittle hard stage, no matter how high the humidity they’re kept at. I keep them in my 55% long term box. No name to them, just a cheap bundle cigar.
2. Similar to Cigar #1, except these are some unbranded product by Rolando Reyes. Obviously, this should be warning enough for most people who read reviews, however this Dominican treat should be enough to kill you and put you out of your misery.
3. Some unbranded Honduran junk that I got as a bonus from a “hookup.” These things came as brutally damaged as they look now.
4. God only knows where these came from, I’ve had them so long I think they’re multiplying. I got a box of 100 at one time as give-away cigars. They came looking like hell. Marketed as Honduran, these may at best be what was scraped up from a dead Honduran dog.
5. Supposed Cuban knockoffs, these are about as Cuban as I am. Also, they smell like a leprous goat. Pity, because they honestly look decent. I haven’t a clue where these are from.
6. Where did I die and end up in hell for buying these Nicaraguan crap sticks? I hand these out to people who beg for a cigar.
7. They smell Honduran, but I don’t know what the frick they are, or where the frick I got them. I think that sums these up nicely.
8. Unknown in brand and origin, these were a “gift” from a well meaning friend who brought them back from Mexico. I refused to smoke any after his last gift, and I still do.
9. Bob’s Bundled Cigar Company cigars. Honest to God, that’s what they were called. They existed for a grand total of a month or less before going under, and this was their “flagship cigar. I don’t remember to this day why my boss ever bought a bundle to try from the rep, but I remember where he stashed the 23 remaining sticks. Hope you enjoy this one.
10. Ok, another “no-clue” bundle. Something from Cigar Connection in Florida that costs $11 a bundle….4 years ago. 4 years has done nothing but improve these cigars….improve how badly they taste.
11. Another “your guess is as good as mine” cigar.
12. Cuvee Blanc from the DR. Biggest disappointment ever to me, because I’ve had a decent Cuvee in the past. Worst branded cigar I’ve had in ages.
13. Bahia Seconds. Something I found at the B&M and bought foolishly thinking they would age to be something decent.
14. Occidental Reserve. These aren’t exactly dog rockets, but they’re far from my list of good smokes.
15. J. Fuego 777. While some call this a good cigar, I’m afraid I relegated it to the “give-away to get rid of them” pile. Nicaraguan puros, they’re something short of terrible.
16. Flor de Girard. One of the local B&M’s here has this made as their house brand. Aside from sucking pure ammonia, they’re not likely to kill you…I don’t think anyway.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Heh...maybe the seconds are better.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Got my big sack o' dog rockets today. Will commence to smoking and reviewing soon. :hn






EDIT: Silound, do I have to smoke the whole cigar? :r

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Oh my... I can't even imagine!!! My condolences brothers.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Nah, just be creative about the review :) Then again, you may find you like one or two of them *shrug*.

EDIT: Throw up a picture if you can to let people see the assortment :rr

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

I, too, was stunned by how bad these were. Really looking forward to seeing the reviews roll in.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Now reviewing: Dog Rocket #1 Sorry, no camera. I am meeting up with HK3 later this week and will ask him to bring his camera and snap a few pics.



From Silound's description: #1. Nicaraguan robusto. These will NOT humidify past the brittle hard stage, no matter how high the humidity they’re kept at. I keep them in my 55% long term box. No name to them, just a cheap bundle cigar.

My take: Not an attractive cigar. Several blemishes including some black spots on the wrapper. Cap is very crooked but cuts ok. Can see several stems in the clipped head. This cigar looks to be short filler.

Pre-light draw: :pu OMG, Silound, are you sure this thing is made from tobacco? Aw man...what the hell did I get myself into? Pre-light draw tastes like mildewy hay.

Lit it up and smelled the smoke coming from the foot. Smells like....mildewy hay that has just been set on fire.

First few draws are very harsh. Flavor is bad but not unbearably so. Tastes like...mildewy hay that is burning. At this point if I had to guess I would say this was a Thompson cigar.

It's not the worst cigar I've ever smoked. The flavor on the draw is not *too* nasty, but the nose exhale is making my nose run and it leaves an aftertaste of....
















can you guess?.....





















Mildewy hay!



This..."cigar" is supposedly Nicaraguan, but I swear I can taste some low quality Honduran tobacco as well. Oh, almost forgot. Burn and draw are absolutely perfect! :)



LMAO!!!!!! I just did a flame purge and it made my smoke detector go off!!!! :r:r:r


Around 1/3 through, and amazingly the mildewy flavor is almost gone. Maybe thanks to the flame purge? Still making my nose run to nose exhale.

OK, I'm gonna take a REALLY big draw so I can get a good spectrum (rectum?) of flavors. Will do a French inhale, a nose exhale, and concentrate on the finish.


OK, after doing that I gotta tap out. :( Made it about halfway through.


Final thoughts:

Like I said, this was not the worst cigar I've ever smoked, but it was pretty nasty.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Way to take one for the team. And this is just the first one????:r

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

This is going to be good! :r

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

LOL... thanks for the review. One down and only 15 more to go!!!

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Occidental Reserves is far from a dog rocket, and The Flor de Girards, while aren't that good, I find smokeable.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

16 lousy smokes is a tall order. Good luck fellas. :r

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Subscribed to thread. This should be a lot of fun!

Thanks for taking one for the Asylum!

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

16 dog rocket each?

Man - talk about 'above and beyond'.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Yall give up already? :)


Nice first one Mark! That was fairly entertaining. And, yes, it was a long filler Nic cigar, I just checked the stamp.



The next few oughta be pretty good too :r:r:r

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

:r Geez what a task to be committed to! :r

16 rockets.... I think I'd rather eat poo! :pu

It will be interesting to see what you get when you finish...... 16 more rockets! ;)

Looking forward to seeing these all play out.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Why are you talkin' smack? I thought you were gonna help me smoke them. :confused:

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Hey Mark, it looks as if Hal bailed out on you. :pn

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

This is great,,,I look forward to this entertaining thread. This might be one of the funniest threads I have seen in along time. Keep em coming, boys!

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Great review -- LMAO! Sounds like a complex flavor profile: you detected both mildew and hay.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Nah, been a little busy this weekend. I will get back to the rocket launch ASAP. :ss

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas. Silound, I'm afraid you've been a bad boy this year. Sending out sticks like that and making people smoke them. You should be ashamed of yourself. You can look for a bag of coal in your stocking this year. Or maybe I'll just send you some more Cremosas and White Owls.

Santa

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

You had to post this didn't you? My brother read this thread and promptly made sure I had a handful of Cremosas and Grape White Owls in my stocking today. :r:r

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

This thread looks REALLY promising. I can't wait to see if either of these guys can make it through all 16 dog rockets. :ss

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

You're about to find out. :D



Dog Rocket #2:

From Silound's description: #2 Similar to Cigar #1, except these are some unbranded product by Rolando Reyes. Obviously, this should be warning enough for most people who read reviews, however this Dominican treat should be enough to kill you and put you out of your misery.

My Take: Aww man...Rolando Reyes? :( I can't believe that dude has been working with tobacco for so long and still can't make a decent cigar.

This cigar is a toro size. Not a bad looking stick, it has weight and was rolled pretty well. The wrapper smells nice, pre-light draw is grassy but not nasty.

First few draws...not terrible but definitely not tasty. Grassy and a little harsh. The aroma coming from the foot is not unpleasant but not good either. Honestly at this point this cigar does not taste Dominican. To me it tastes Honduran or maybe even Mexican...?

About 1" in the cigar is getting a musty, mildewy flavor that I have come to associate with low quality or improperly fermented tobacco. It is a flavor I have tasted in many El Cheapo cigars, specifically Dominican and Honduran. I would bet that if I ripped this cigar apart I would find green tobacco in it.

The flavor of this cigar is not unbearable but not enjoyable at all. It actually tastes better than dog rocket #1. :r Burn and draw are perfect and the ash is really nice; almost white with nice rings.

Actually, the flavor on the draw is not too bad, but the finish and aftertaste is where I taste the mildew. Like the cigars were aged in a mildewy basement. The aroma coming from the foot is not bad. The cigar smells better than it tastes.

I read that Rolando Reyes personally inspects every cigar made at his factory. This is an amazing feat, especially for a man who is blind and has no sense of taste or smell. :D

About 1/3 in...the harshness that I tasted at the beginning is coming back. The smoke burns my nose, and I am gettin mucous in the back of my throat. The smoke is "burning" my tongue, the same sensation I get from a machine made paper binder cigar like AyC or Garcia y Vega.

My nose is running, my tongue is burning, and I have a throat full of mucous. Are you happy, Silound?

I made it to around the halfway point, at which time I tossed this cigar in the toilet where it belongs.

Final thoughts: Some nasty tobacco was put into this cigar. It's a shame, because the wrapper is not bad and the cigar was obviously constructed well. Senior Reyes needs to let somebody else blend his cigars, and needs some better Quality Control when it comes to leaf selection.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Bwahahaha! :r:r:r:r:r

You do have a thing for that mildewy flavor though, I must admit.

After checking back on my notes and packaging, all the origins I gave you are accurate up to seals and boxes/bundle labels. If they aren't what origin they're supposed to be, then I was as misled as you now are.


On a side note, RR is about the biggest joke in the cigar industry :)

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

is that a challenge Hal? :r

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Keep 'em coming!!!

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

This is now my favorite thread,,,,I can hardly wait for the next round!!

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

UGH....what a way to start the new year.


Dog Rocket #3


From Silound's description: 3. Some unbranded Honduran junk that I got as a bonus from a “hookup.” These things came as brutally damaged as they look now.



My take: Churchill size, ugly wrapper with a couple of big vericose veins near the foot. The wrapper smells really nice though. Pre light draw is a light tobacco flavor. Alright, lighting it up now. :hn


First few draws are suprisingly quite nice. Tobacco with a floral aftertaste.

Silound, are you trying to trick me? Is this really a dog rocket? Is this turning into "Silound's Blind-Taste-Test-See-If-I-Can-Fool-These-Suckas" Review Challenge? ;)

This cigar tastes pretty good so far (about 1" in). If I didn't know any better, I would swear...nah...I better smoke more of it before I say what I was gonna say.


About 1/3 in...Silound, if you think this cigar is a dog rocket, I will gladly take the rest of them off your hands.



Alright, that's it. I'm gonna say it. I think Silound slipped this cigar into the mix to try to trick me. I think this cigar is a Cuban. Honestly. If it's not, then you can all have your laughs, but that's my story. Triple cap, green splotches on the wrapper, and the flavor and aroma...I call :bs

OK, I can't write a funny/gross review on this cigar because it's a great smoke. I'm gonna smoke it, kick back, and check to see if Silound comes clean. :D


EDIT: I swear this thing is a CC. It's not rolled very well, so maybe it's a fake from the island, but man...if this is not a Cuban, then I'm a fool and you may all point and laugh.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

To start off, I'm a little behind due to a 2.5 week shipping time from our buddy here to me, so I let them rest in the humi for a week or so. Below is what I wrote on Dec 31st....

So after reviewing the Cremosa Silound offered up his worst sticks for people to review. Since I'm up for a challenge and life experiences, good and bad, I accepted his generous offer. There are something like 18-20 cigars, I'm going by memory as they're at home and I'm in a bar.... Yea it's cold in Michigan right now. So I'm waiting on Guinness Stew and drinking an ice water.

I'm starting with number 1, looks to be maybe 48-50 rg and about 5-5.5 inches long. No real armoa from the stick itself.
http://hardcz.net/cpm/albums/uploads/silound/1.jpg


Pre light draw... I'm kicking myself for saying this, but it tastes just like hay! I've never had anything that tasted like hay before, though this reminds me of my youth, when I'd take a piece of hay / straw from a bail and suck on it for an hour or two.

Upon lighting up there is about medium pepper coming with a dry sort of taste in my mouth. I'm able to nose exhale with slight burning... so far I don't see why this is a "worst" stick of all time.

A little over an inch in and the spice has mellowed down to a light pepper with hints of blah. My mouth tastes like I licked the wrapper of a dirty cigar.

http://hardcz.net/cpm/albums/uploads/silound/2.jpg

So I'm about 1/4 in now...and the pepper is still mild, hitting the front sides and back of my tongue. The smoke tastes like I've lit up an old recipt from CVS. The nose exhale is getting more harsh.

Seriously...what is in this cigar that's leaving a fimly nasty aftertaste? it's not pleasant, though not the worst I've had.

http://hardcz.net/cpm/albums/uploads/silound/3.jpg

My lips are starting to tingle.... I seriously think they found some dried leaves, found a way to suction all flavor out of them and packed them into a wrapper that had a similar treatment. I taste pepper, and just a burnt taste like that of burning paper, but slightly smoother than that.... heh... yea I know from experience... was stupid when I was 14....

Roughly half way through and I'm getting a bitter finish with a burning in my throat, I haven't gone camping in a while or inhaled campfire smoke...why does it burn so bad? What did you do to me? Pepper is coming on more strongly now, and my mouth is contorting because it doesn't want to finish, something of a cross between a disgust, sour, and fear. Wrapper is starting to peel a little.


http://hardcz.net/cpm/albums/uploads/silound/4.jpg


This aftertaste is killer.... I'm letting it rest 1-3 minutes between puffs but now I just discovered I must have a cut on the roof of my mouth because it's burning... my lips are feeling like I smoked 5-6 cigars in a row and it's getting more bitter with the pepper taking a seat to mild.

So a little over 2/3 burned and I really can't take any more. I have a little headache coming on...probably will settle as I drink some water, my mouth burns, tastes how I'd imagine tar would taste for cig smokers. There's a nasty film it seems that's left in my mouth.

http://hardcz.net/cpm/albums/uploads/silound/4.5.jpg


So I'm dieing to know what this was so I can strike it from my list of cigars to buy. Overall, it had a good draw, great burn, though nasty tastes. Slight pepper, with lots of nastiness.

http://hardcz.net/cpm/albums/uploads/silound/5.jpg

I'm working on washing this away.... hmm maybe I'll light up something I've had before....

http://hardcz.net/cpm/albums/uploads/silound/6.jpg

Thanks for the experience. I'll get to reviewing the others soon.


OH YEA!!!

The food was tasty also.

http://hardcz.net/cpm/albums/uploads/silound/food.jpg

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Negatory, there are NO good sticks in there, and certainly no CC's. If it smoked well, I'll be damned.

I wish I had pictures to remember what cigar was what, because if they really have turned out to be decent smokes, I'm going to have to revisit them.


EDIT: WOOHOOO FOR PICTURES! :r:r

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

BTW I won't read borndead's reviews or your notes on what was included until the cigar is finished, didn't realize you posted them on the first page, good thing I went looking before I posted the review.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Man, I think you got your sticks mixed up because "dog rocket" #3 is an awesome smoke! :r:r:r

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

I am so happy I didn't sign up for this :r

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Are you doubting me, sucka?


Dog Rocket #4


From Silound's description: God only knows where these came from, I’ve had them so long I think they’re multiplying. I got a box of 100 at one time as give-away cigars. They came looking like hell. Marketed as Honduran, these may at best be what was scraped up from a dead Honduran dog.


My take: A perfecto shape cigar, similar to a Hemingway...that has been dropped, run over, and kicked across the road. Man, this thing is beat up. The head is split, the foot is split, there is a big gaping tear in the wrapper...but surprisingly it draws perfectly and burns well too.




Honestly, this cigar was not bad at all. Mild, nice amount of smoke, flavor was one-dimensional but not bad at all. If I had to guess, I would say it was a JR Alternative to a Hemingway.

So far, the first 2 have been dog rockets, #3 was a fantastic smoke and I truly believe Silound made a mistake :D...and dog rocket #4 was not a premium smoke but in my opinion not what I would consider a dog rocket.



I met KenS, Lee, and HK3 for a smoke today. Ken was nice enough to snap a pic:

EDIT: Man, I gotta figure out how to post full sized pics. I tried it a few times and apparently I am a moron. Sorry for the tiny pic!

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Was laughing at the start and thought this cigar was going to circle the drain for you,,,but guess it turned out pretty decent. I like surprises like that. As far as being to post full sized pics,,,,,download the pic to your User file where you have pictures and albums and then click on your pic and get the www. link and copy and paste into the thread,,,PM me if you need more help. When I first tried to do this I got all worked up and had to have someone babystep me thru the process.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

Yay!!!! I've always wondered why my dad calls me sun--it's cuz I'm so bright! :D




http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...dogrocket4.jpg



Pic is still small, but it was a cellphone pic and looks terrible when blown up.

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

"Dude, cool shirt. I can relate to that.... That's my name. "

I bet that guy talked your head off until you left the place today! :r:r:r:r:r

Re: Silound's Dog-Rocket Review Challenge!
 

going up for number 2 today!