The Dude reviews: Ave Maria Claremont

Dude Here · 01-19-2014, 09:15 PM

A while back I posted a thread asking if anyone had any insight on the Ave Maria brand. Porch Dweller (James) graciously offered to send me a couple to try before I made any major purchases. Well, I smoked one last night and here's a little review for your reading pleasure.

Ave Maria Clermont
5.5 x 45 (corona)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan

To start, this is a nice looking cigar! The wrapper is a blemish free, medium brown color. Silky smooth to the touch and a semi-firm but even pack. Tight, nearly invisible seams and a really awesome looking band. I'm a bit of a band collector and these will make a nice addition to my collection. Of course, I give this nice description and completely forgot to snap a pre-light pic of the smoke...

Pre-light aroma is tobacco and hay. I used a straight cut and the pre-light draw is spot on giving a flavor of light dry wood.

First draw off the light produces a HUGE pepper rush that quickly transitions to a medium bodied nutty flavor on the rapidly fading finish. The following few draws produce a solid tobacco core with more of the pepper (not as potent though) as well as some nuts and leather. Finish is still rather short.

10 minutes: 1/2 inch down and the burn is just a little uneven. Other than that this cigar is smoking beautifully. Draw is perfect and it's producing a ton of smoke. Seriously, this rivals some of the Drew Estate sticks on smoke output. Flavors remain mostly the same, just the pepper has finally faded.

20 minutes: Start of the 2/3. The burn has evened out just fine and the ash is holding on strong. Flavors have shifted to a more creamy texture. The pepper has returned slightly and I'm picking up more leather on the finish. Smoooooth smoking cigar.

30 minutes: Removed the ginormous band to keep it from getting scorched. Ash dropped shortly after the start of the 2/3. About an inch and a quarter total. Flavors and construction remain largely the same.

40 minutes: Still working on 2/3. The burn has slowed down quite a bit at this point and I'm not smoking it and differently than I did to begin with. Beginning to pick up a caramel note on the draw but it fades quickly.

50 minutes: I heard a loud snap/crack sound and noticed a good sized split on the wrapper. Not entirely sure what caused it. Either removing the band or the drop in the outside temperature. Whatever the cause, it doesn't appear that it will affect the burn of the cigar, which is still perfect. The caramel note is gone and has been replaced by a deep, rich tobacco. Strength has ramped up quite a bit and I'm getting a little light headed. Began the final 1/3 shortly after the wrapper crack.

Crack:

Final 1/3:

70 minutes: Finished with about an inch left. It's still smoking cool, but by this point any and all flavor complexity is gone. Just straight tobacco that coats the palate now.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable smoke. While it doesn't have the most complex flavors out there, the perfect construction makes this a cigar that you can kick back and enjoy without having to give it much thought.

Big Perm · 01-19-2014, 09:25 PM

Cool review, the timeline photos really help you follow the smoke, thanks Dude

big_jaygee · 01-19-2014, 09:45 PM

Nice review Steve

Xolotal Mungin · 01-19-2014, 09:52 PM

Was wondering about these. Nice review and pics.

Porch Dweller · 01-19-2014, 10:15 PM

Nice review!

cjhalbrooks · 01-19-2014, 11:54 PM

Nice to see our thoughts on this cigar where almost on the money in comparison. I also had my wrapper crack (I dropped my cigar). Pics where a great addition.

01-20-2014, 07:05 AM

I see these blasted on my email spam account all the time from cigar.com, I guess they can't give them away? Might be worth a look....nice review!

equetefue · 01-20-2014, 07:41 AM

great review... I bought some of these, but have been letting them rest before lighting. Might break one out this week.

Porch Dweller · 01-20-2014, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecatch83

I see these blasted on my email spam account all the time from cigar.com, I guess they can't give them away? Might be worth a look....nice review!

They have boxes of them all the time on the Devil Site, too.

WhiteMamba · 04-20-2014, 08:55 PM

Great review pics help a lot

RevSmoke · 04-20-2014, 09:47 PM

Gotta love the band!!!

01-19-2014, 09:15 PM	#1
Dude Here I'm the Dude...Man! Join Date: Oct 2013 First Name: Steve Location: Texas Posts: 671 Trading: (3)	The Dude reviews: Ave Maria Claremont A while back I posted a thread asking if anyone had any insight on the Ave Maria brand. Porch Dweller (James) graciously offered to send me a couple to try before I made any major purchases. Well, I smoked one last night and here's a little review for your reading pleasure. Ave Maria Clermont 5.5 x 45 (corona) Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Filler: Nicaraguan To start, this is a nice looking cigar! The wrapper is a blemish free, medium brown color. Silky smooth to the touch and a semi-firm but even pack. Tight, nearly invisible seams and a really awesome looking band. I'm a bit of a band collector and these will make a nice addition to my collection. Of course, I give this nice description and completely forgot to snap a pre-light pic of the smoke... Pre-light aroma is tobacco and hay. I used a straight cut and the pre-light draw is spot on giving a flavor of light dry wood. First draw off the light produces a HUGE pepper rush that quickly transitions to a medium bodied nutty flavor on the rapidly fading finish. The following few draws produce a solid tobacco core with more of the pepper (not as potent though) as well as some nuts and leather. Finish is still rather short. 10 minutes: 1/2 inch down and the burn is just a little uneven. Other than that this cigar is smoking beautifully. Draw is perfect and it's producing a ton of smoke. Seriously, this rivals some of the Drew Estate sticks on smoke output. Flavors remain mostly the same, just the pepper has finally faded. 20 minutes: Start of the 2/3. The burn has evened out just fine and the ash is holding on strong. Flavors have shifted to a more creamy texture. The pepper has returned slightly and I'm picking up more leather on the finish. Smoooooth smoking cigar. 30 minutes: Removed the ginormous band to keep it from getting scorched. Ash dropped shortly after the start of the 2/3. About an inch and a quarter total. Flavors and construction remain largely the same. 40 minutes: Still working on 2/3. The burn has slowed down quite a bit at this point and I'm not smoking it and differently than I did to begin with. Beginning to pick up a caramel note on the draw but it fades quickly. 50 minutes: I heard a loud snap/crack sound and noticed a good sized split on the wrapper. Not entirely sure what caused it. Either removing the band or the drop in the outside temperature. Whatever the cause, it doesn't appear that it will affect the burn of the cigar, which is still perfect. The caramel note is gone and has been replaced by a deep, rich tobacco. Strength has ramped up quite a bit and I'm getting a little light headed. Began the final 1/3 shortly after the wrapper crack. Crack: Final 1/3: 70 minutes: Finished with about an inch left. It's still smoking cool, but by this point any and all flavor complexity is gone. Just straight tobacco that coats the palate now. Overall, this was a very enjoyable smoke. While it doesn't have the most complex flavors out there, the perfect construction makes this a cigar that you can kick back and enjoy without having to give it much thought. __________________ Last edited by Dude Here; 01-19-2014 at 09:17 PM. Reason: Oops, mis-spelled "Clermont"

01-19-2014, 09:25 PM	#2
Big Perm Just in from the Storm Join Date: Jan 2014 First Name: Jason Location: DFW Posts: 21 Trading: (0)	Re: The Dude reviews: Ave Maria Claremont Cool review, the timeline photos really help you follow the smoke, thanks Dude

01-19-2014, 09:45 PM	#3
big_jaygee I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Dec 2012 First Name: Jason Location: Houston Posts: 3,914 Trading: (59)	Re: The Dude reviews: Ave Maria Claremont Nice review Steve

01-19-2014, 09:52 PM	#4
Xolotal Mungin bon vivant Join Date: Dec 2013 First Name: Xolotal Location: Bay Area Posts: 99 Trading: (0)	Re: The Dude reviews: Ave Maria Claremont Was wondering about these. Nice review and pics. __________________ ~smoke is medicine and magic~

01-19-2014, 10:15 PM	#5
Porch Dweller Life is for living Join Date: Oct 2012 First Name: James Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast Posts: 8,462 Trading: (24)	Re: The Dude reviews: Ave Maria Claremont Nice review! __________________ A 1911 in the hand is faster than 911 on the phone

01-19-2014, 11:54 PM	#6
cjhalbrooks I am behind you. SHHHHH Join Date: Dec 2011 First Name: Cory Location: Under a Bridge, trying to find the troll who stole my soul. Posts: 1,370 Trading: (20)	Re: The Dude reviews: Ave Maria Claremont Nice to see our thoughts on this cigar where almost on the money in comparison. I also had my wrapper crack (I dropped my cigar). Pics where a great addition. __________________ GMCGTPWHAF Tennessee Chapter. Down with the bloody BIG HEAD

01-20-2014, 07:05 AM	#7
thecatch83 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: The Dude reviews: Ave Maria Claremont I see these blasted on my email spam account all the time from cigar.com, I guess they can't give them away? Might be worth a look....nice review!

01-20-2014, 07:41 AM	#8
equetefue Liga Privada Hoarder Join Date: Jun 2012 First Name: Edwin Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,348 Trading: (17)	Re: The Dude reviews: Ave Maria Claremont great review... I bought some of these, but have been letting them rest before lighting. Might break one out this week.

04-20-2014, 08:55 PM	#10
WhiteMamba I'm scared of Neil. Join Date: Mar 2014 First Name: Michael Location: Catawba, NC Posts: 2,135 Trading: (28)	Re: The Dude reviews: Ave Maria Claremont Great review pics help a lot __________________ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10

04-20-2014, 09:47 PM	#11
RevSmoke Ain't Never Gonna Leave Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Todd Location: Northcentral woods of Wisconsin Posts: 6,861 Trading: (51)	Re: The Dude reviews: Ave Maria Claremont Gotta love the band!!! __________________ Todd__ "Smoke what you like, and enjoy it!"