Nica Libre (Principe?)

[Starscream]

Since the Nica Libre has drawn a lot of discussion here, I'd figure I'd repost two blind reviews done last summer on them. The first take is mine. The second take is EEE's blind review of the same stick. Take it for what it's worth.


My take:


Construction: 5.5 x42 box-pressed (very square), dark brown wrapper

Pre-light: I honestly forgot to do a pre-light draw.

1st Third: The first bit tasted both bitter and like plain old tobacco. The bitterness remained, but a dark coffee flavor was detectable.

2nd Third: Still bitterness. Dark coffee is behind the bitterness. A nutty flavor is detectable near the end of the second third. Some sort of bitter nut.

Final Third: Still bitter. The nutty flavor is still there, and the coffee returns. Bitterness, nuttiness, and black coffee.

Final Thoughts: The cigar had a bitter taste in the forefront the entire time. The coffee and nutty flavors were nice, but they were behind the bitter flavor. This appearance of this cigar was very attractive, but the bitterness left a bad taste in my mouth.
Would I buy this cigar again? I'd be willing to give it a second shot, as the bitterness may have been exclusive to this single stick.
__________________





EEE's take:

I instantly think Mayorga when I pull out this small ring gauged box pressed stick. Though I personally don't know if they come in wrappers outside of jet black - which this one wasn't.

Pre-draw - rich tobacco & bitter on the back of my tongue

Initial light - nice. Interesting coffee and dark dark chocolate taste - that definitely coincides with my pre-draw taste.

First third - the ash is super weak on this, falls off at a butterfly's wing flap. Taste has subdued considerably but still get the dark chocolate undertone.

Second third - good burn, horrid ash, becoming less and less chocolate and more bitter.

Last third - purge, draw, ash fall, taste burnt chocolate, repeat ......... though I must have been hypnotized as I literally nubbed this thing down as far as I could go. Hmmm.

Maybe I have two sides of my smoking brain fighting each other on this. One side isn't impressed at all with the ash and just wants to trash it, doesn't like the burnt chocolate -- but the other side finds it interesting and wants to continue to see where it goes......

I'm not sure I'd buy this cigar but definitely would smoke it again if gifted.




Original reviews in the Blind thread (my review has a pic).
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showpo...9&postcount=82
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showpo...1&postcount=79

[OHRD]

Thanks for posting these, nice job!

[Skywalker]

Thanks for the review!!!

The size of the Principe is 4.5 x 46.

I really enjoy the Nica Libre and this size, and the torpedo, especially.

[timj219]

I picked up a flight sampler of the cuba libre line for $2 /stick. I tried the principe first. One dimensional but it had a good flavor. Good burn. Good construction - held up to being clenched in the teeth. Not harsh or acrid. Over all a good smoke and the best $2 cigar I've tried. I'll definitely keep some of these around for fishing and yard work.

[kelmac07]

I enjoy these...especially for the price!!

[dwoodward]

These are better in the larger rings.

[joeobx]

Been wanting to try these just keep finding something else to buy when I go looking.

[borndead1]

I got a 5 pack of torpedoes and found them very "meh". They weren't rolled very well either. Soft spots, loose draw, etc. Maybe I got a bad batch but they were bad enough for me not to try any more.

Glad somebody likes them. Maybe yooz guys will bid on these instead of outbidding me on other stuff!

[Wharf Rat]

These are decent cheap cigars. When they were introduced, they suffered because they were touted as being comparable to a Padron. Not likely!