DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5

[BlkDrew]

anxious to see the next couple, keep up the great work guys.

[DBall]

ApexAZ Cigar #6
*************

5/5/2012

Tonight it's cigar #6 from Dan's blind taste test. I'll be pairing it with a double of Shieldaig 18 and a Perrier water. My pallet has been acting funky lately, but so far it seems limited to the Nicaraguan cigars I smoke regularly. The CC's have not been a problem so far and my allergies are not giving me trouble today, so we'll see how it goes!



Pre-light
This cigar is about 5 1/4" long and has a ring guage around 38 - 40. It has a smooth natural wrapper with small veins. Unlike the other CC's before it, this one seems to only have a double cap. The construction is good, but the cigar feels slightly hard. The smell is very similar to the last one. Just a manure and tobacco smell.

The pre-light draw is a little bit tight, which makes sense given how hard the cigar feels, but seems to be good enough for smoking. Flavors before toasting remind me of tobacco and loose tea.



1st Third
On the first 2 draws the draw is good and the smoke is smooth. Things were somewhat flavorless to start, but I'm starting to get some muted sweet cream. The burn is perfect and the ash dropped on it's own after about 2/3 of an inch. Strength and body are both mild.



2nd Third
After about 35 minutes I'm into the 2nd third of the cigar. Overall, it hasn't had a lot of flavor. It is smooth and sweet, but the flavor is somewhat muted. Muted flavors of sweet cream, coffee and leather come and go. The burn and draw both continue to be excellent. The strength and body are both more mild-medium now.



Final Third
65 minutes in and I'm progressing into the final third. The flavors are less sweet now and more like caramel. I still get a slight amount of leather, but not as much coffee. There's some other flavors I am unable to classify. The cigar is much tastier in the last third and I'd say the strength and body are more medium-full now. The burn continues to be perfect. With about an inch left, it's too hot and bitter so I called it quits.



Conclusion
I enjoyed this cigar more on the 2nd half. The first half was somewhat bland to me. I give it a 7/10. I think a recurring theme is starting to emerge here: I'm very used to the full flavored nicaraguans. These milder smokes take a while to develop for me. The one thing that I absolutely love about some of them is how sweet they are. Once they come into their own, they really are delicious. Some are just a bit on the mild side. Once again, Dan, thank you for the opportunity to experience it!

Score: 7/10

Total smoke time: 105 minutes

[DBall]

smitty81 Cigar #6
**************

Ok, first of all..........I want to apologize for this review being so late.

I work at an irrigation business and we are short on help this season so they have been making me fill in where needed to keep up. I have been working almost double the hours I normally work. I'm so tired after work, all I feel like doing is sleeping.

Here is the review guys!








This is stick #6

This cigar is about 5-1/4" long and I'd say about a 36 gauge. I have been anticipating this cigar for a while because of the way the wrapper looks. The wrapper is kind of blotchy in color. It mostly has a lighter color wrapper but then it has some darker patches all over it that make it appear to have water damage or something weird like that going on with the wrapper.

Good construction with small veins.

It's Cinco De Mayo so I'm enjoying a strawberry margarita with this cigar. (they didn't pair to bad either)

First 1/3rd

This wrapper has some spice to it, really making my mouth water and my throat burn. I'd say it's a mellow cigar with caramel flavor. Not a real strong flavor but it's there.

2/3rd

Not a whole lot to touch upon here during the 2nd third. The flavor remains the same and the burn is also pretty good. Just enjoying this cigar, I'd say it's one of the more enjoyable cigars I have tried in this BTT.

Last Third

This cigar is still holding on to it's caramel flavor. If it has changed any at all, I'd say that maby it has maby picked up a sweet cream flavor?

This cigar sort of reminds me of the romeo E julita (sp) that we had earlier in the BTT.



I'm gonna go ahead and give this cigar a 7/10. Not real bold in flavor but the flavor that was there was enjoyable and it had very little burn issues.




Beings it's a holiday weekend and I plan on sitting on my butt, I will try to hammer out a few more reviews to play catch up!

Sorry again guys.

[DBall]

What they smoked:



2011 Roxy N Corona (Nicaragua)

ApexAZ score: 7

smitty81 score: 7

Ha!!! It's not a Cuban!

[DBall]

Originally Posted by DBall

I think a recurring theme is starting to emerge here: I'm very used to the full flavored nicaraguans. These milder smokes take a while to develop for me.

I love this quote (and it's not to pick on you)...

Perceptions definitely color experience. While not a full flavored cigar (I've smoked one and enjoyed it), it was a Nic cigar.



I really like these taste tests.

[Brutus2600]

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan!

Seriously though, fun twist I really wasn't sure what cigars these were, but I had a sneaking suspicion they weren't CC's. Despite the reviewers thinking they were, I'd say these reviews were still spot on. When I reviewed a ROXY I definitely pulled tons of sweet, creamy caramel notes from it - something both reviewers noted.

Great job guys

Andrew, did you know these were being included in the lineup?

[jonumberone]

Well done, Dan!

[NeuRon]

the plot thickens!

[BlkDrew]

Originally Posted by Brutus2600

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan!

Seriously though, fun twist I really wasn't sure what cigars these were, but I had a sneaking suspicion they weren't CC's. Despite the reviewers thinking they were, I'd say these reviews were still spot on. When I reviewed a ROXY I definitely pulled tons of sweet, creamy caramel notes from it - something both reviewers noted.

Great job guys

Andrew, did you know these were being included in the lineup?

how do you think dan got them? haha i have been waiting patiently, thanks for the great review guys.

[Brutus2600]

Originally Posted by BlkDrew

how do you think dan got them? haha i have been waiting patiently, thanks for the great review guys.

Well you were selling a lot lol, I just wondered if you knew he was using them in the BTT

[smitty81]

Originally Posted by BlkDrew

how do you think dan got them? haha i have been waiting patiently, thanks for the great review guys.

Pretty good man! I was wanting to try one of your cigars.

Just for the record Dan, I knew this one wasnt a cc because of the retrohale......

Good smoke though.

[DBall]

Originally Posted by Brutus2600

Well you were selling a lot lol, I just wondered if you knew he was using them in the BTT

Drew lives in the same city as me and, while not as often as we should, we get together and smoke cigars on the balcony. I asked him for a couple cigars for this thing and he brought em over.

I figured it would not only be a fun twist, but a way for Drew to get a 100% honest and unbiased review of his cigars.

Success on both counts!

[ApexAZ]

Haha, awesome! I dig the Roxy's.

[DBall]

Bump...

[Blak Smyth]

Wow I didn't see these Roxy reviews until now.
Awesome twist Dan!!!
It is nice to see the caramel and cream similarities between both reviews.
I had the pleasure of smoking a fresh roll Roxy Brain Stick last weekend and it was the best so far. Doing awesome work Drew!
Awesome pass Dan!!!

[ApexAZ]

Still waiting to smoke 9 and 10. I will probably smoke 9 tomorrow or Friday. I'm not sure smitty has even smoked 7 yet.

[DBall]

Originally Posted by ApexAZ

Still waiting to smoke 9 and 10. I will probably smoke 9 tomorrow or Friday. I'm not sure smitty has even smoked 7 yet.

I do not believe he has.

[Hem]

Just caught on to this thread. Awesome reviews and an ingenious idea! Can't wait to see what's next!

[smitty81]

Originally Posted by DBall

I do not believe he has.

I will see if I cant get it sent over to you tonight.

[GTCanuk]

Bump