Arganese Maduro Presidente Figurado...

[shemp]

Ok so I'm at my local B&M and find out they are having Gene Arganese, maker of Arganese cigars, there and he is having a tasting. So after i talk with him about his different lines of smokes i pick out an Arganese Maduro Presidente Figurado. A very preety looking cigar, it is a 6 1/2 x 54 Figurado. it is a full bodied dominican with a very dark and oily looking Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper. This stick was about $12.00 at the B&M. I paired this stick with a Stone IPA.

I Snip the end and take a whiff, very nice deep musty spice from the snipped end. Being a figurado i dont get a good pre-light draw to taste but the wrapper is oily and tastes sweet. very nice.

First third- a little tight due to the figurado shape, but once it opens up there are sweet creamy flavours, and some tang. not as strong as i had hoped for being more of a medium than full bodied as advertised by mr Arganese, but pleasant nonetheless.

second third-No changes or development just nice sweet earthy medium flavored tobacco, with maybe a little spice.

Final Third- the wrapper starts to unravel and the flavor drops off a bit. was hoping for a build up of flavor and increase in spice, but it never happened. Coupled with the unravelling wrapper i gotta say that my last third was making this a dissapointment.

i would rate this cigar a 7.5 out of 10. it would have easily been an 8.5 except for the last third. I will also color my judgment with the fact that i am a CHEAP BASTAGE, and it was killing me to pay $12.00 for a stick. I know Money doesn't change the flavor of a smoke, but it sure changes my expectations...and pocket book...

would i smoke it if given one, yes. would i seek them out or pick them above others if others were the same price...no. I would definately prefer a Cusano 18 or a Don Kiki Brown label over one of these.

Shemp