DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #4

jonumberone · 11-10-2010, 08:37 AM

Any updates yet?

Brutus2600 · 11-10-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRIMPS

Umm, I just reread my last post. There are obviously more reasons why I would find this more interesting. I dint mean to sound like a snob.

lol, I didn't read it that way

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonumberone

Any updates yet?

landhoney · 11-10-2010, 08:53 AM

More off-topic banter, but anyone remeber the Fredster/Moki Blind review back in the CS days? I had just joined, or right after, wow what a thread, very heated but interesting on many levels.

HK3- · 11-10-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landhoney

More off-topic banter, but anyone remeber the Fredster/Moki Blind review back in the CS days? I had just joined, or right after, wow what a thread, very heated but interesting on many levels.

Yeah, I remember that one. That was awesome!

wayner123 · 11-10-2010, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landhoney

More off-topic banter, but anyone remeber the Fredster/Moki Blind review back in the CS days? I had just joined, or right after, wow what a thread, very heated but interesting on many levels.

Yes, I remember that and I still am looking for some Cabaiguan WD 120's.

rizzle · 11-12-2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landhoney

More off-topic banter, but anyone remeber the Fredster/Moki Blind review back in the CS days? I had just joined, or right after, wow what a thread, very heated but interesting on many levels.

Man, Seth. That was a little before I joined over there as well so I went looking and found it. Agreed...wow.

DBall · 01-26-2011, 11:15 AM

jonumberone Cigar #7
******************

Time for #7

Initial Thoughts
This stick is the baby of the lot that Dan sent. It is about 4 inches long. It has a nice brown wrapper with almost no veins.
Pre-light draw is perfect and I get nice sweet tobacco taste. I considered breaking this into 2 halves instead of thirds since it’s so small, but I decide to stick to thirds.
These are Dan’s sticks and I don’t want to change the format

First Third
The initial taste is sweet. I go to my nose and get zero burn. It makes the cigar seem fuller in flavor.
About a half inch in I get a caramel note. This stick has a little bite to it and I can feel a pinch on the back of my tongue.
Very nice coffee flavors coming out. Digging this so far!

Second Third
It feels like I just fired this bad boy up. The ash is getting these white dots all over it. It seems a little weird. It reminds me of bad acne.
The flavor is full force coffee right now and the smoke is rich and creamy. The burn has gotten a little out of whack but nothing to serious.
I don’t understand what happened but the wrapper literally exploded when I touched it up. It was like someone put a load in it.
It was smooth sailing up to this point and now the stick is extremely bitter

Final Third
The whole experience is taking a turn here. The smoke is completely flat with only bitterness now.
The wrapper is not burning with the rest of the stick and is coming off in chunks.
I wonder if that’s the issue with the flavor. The stick keeps expanding and the wrapper keeps tearing with every pull.
The burn is completely awry now and I think this stick has run its course.

Final Thoughts
I think I will call this stick “Vanilla Ice” because much like his career, it was over before it started and crashed right into the ground.
I never had a cigar blow up like that in the middle. If that happens to me it’s always from the start. Up to that point I was really enjoying the stick.
The creamy coffee flavors and size made me think this would be awesome on the ride in to work.
I would love to try another that doesn’t blow up on me.

Final Score 5.5/10
Smoke time 49min

DBall · 01-26-2011, 11:16 AM

CRIMPS Cigar #7
*************

Cigar Review #7

I received The package in the mail on Friday night, but needed to wait until the following night before I reached for the lighter. I was sitting in a real estate conference for 10 hours today, trying to further my career. I couldn't help but think about the cigar I had all but drooled on the night before. Thanks to this thread, my dream of a real estate empire will probably never come to fruition.

Pre-light. Cigar # 7 looks to be a 4” x 42rg sized stick. The wrapper has some veins, but more noticeable are the light tan and brown splotches. Putting the stick up to my eye, I notice just a little crystallization. The smell is splendid: light, sweet tobacco with just a hint of... frosted flakes. I taste nuts and black pepper. The pepper and spice is not dominant, more mild than anything. Just a little

First third. Wow, creamy coffee flavor has made its grand entrance. Fantastic! Just a hint of spice still, at the back of the tongue. The draw is still a little tight, but manageable. About an inch in and the ash is still holding strong. I don't think there is as much as a flake in the ashtray.

Second third. I don't know if its because the wrapper slightly split at the cap when I cut it (a product of a crappy cutter methinks) or due to the tightness of the draw, but the smoke seems to have thinned and blued. The flavor profile hasn't really changed much. I am still really enjoying the coffee.

Last third. The spice has diminished to barely noticeable now. I notice just a little nicotine high, but just a little. Nothing overpowering. I wait for the ash to fall again to purge the cigar as I keep thinking smoke is thin. This seems to help. The wrapper is starting to split almost all the way to the cap, but holding together by a single vein.

Final Thoughts. A full flavored, medium bodied stick. The flavors were rather consistent and enjoyable throughout. I had a few problems with the wrapper cracking, but never did it unravel. I really enjoyed this stick and would definitely smoke this again if given the opportunity. Total smoke time was around an hour.

Rating: 8/10

DBall · 11-10-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akumushi

It would work best if you had CCs and NCs, and put in at least one of both in there that might easily be confused for the other, that way you'd keep the vet guessing

Quote:

Originally Posted by landhoney

More off-topic banter, but anyone remeber the Fredster/Moki Blind review back in the CS days? I had just joined, or right after, wow what a thread, very heated but interesting on many levels.

Saw that before... it was a bad thing. The Fredster-Moki thing from CS days was a disaster

I mean, it was fun to read and all, but so many panties got bunched up.

No, if I do the vet/newb thing, it'll likely be all CCs (just basic/common vitolas) and not even for them to guess the cigar, just to share their thoughts on flavors in comparison to a newer member.

landhoney · 11-10-2010, 10:47 AM

BTW, love these threads Dan, thanks for all the fun.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBall

Saw that before... it was a bad thing. The Fredster-Moki thing from CS days was a disaster
I mean, it was fun to read and all, but so many panties got bunched up.
No, if I do the vet/newb thing, it'll likely be all CCs (just basic/common vitolas) and not even for them to guess the cigar, just to share their thoughts on flavors in comparison to a newer member.

Reading the thread again over on pvff right now (I hate to login in there, and don't post, but old threads like this I have to much nostalgia for to not look back at occasionally).

I think there's little chance a similar blind review here would devolve like it did there.

Lastly, I am smoking a Taboada tonight

Got a hankerin' reading the thread again.

DBall · 11-19-2010, 12:21 PM

jonumberone Cigar #5
******************

Awesome day for a smoke! #5 is first on today’s death by fire list

Initial Thoughts
The stick appears under 5 inches and is a much smaller ring gauge than I’m accustomed to smoking.
The wrapper is a rich brown and I think the darkest yet. I squeeze and find a hard spot about an inch before the cap.
I cut the cap without issue and find the draw to be perfect. I didn’t dry box this one.
Pre-light flavors are creamy and full of cocoa.

First Third
The first few puffs are far fuller and stronger than I have come to expect from the sticks Dan sent. I get a blast of chocolaty goodness and a lot of thick rich smoke.
Not even an inch in and this stick has me at half mast. I’m also wondering if this is a NC.
I get a lot of burn when I go to my nose, something I thought I was past.
At about the inch mark I get some bite, not peppery but a twang is the best I can do to describe it. As I smoke more the twang resembles licorice.

Second Third
The chocolate has continued and the twang has increased with every puff. This stick is a powerhouse and I can feel the tip of my tongue going numb.
A purge does little to derail this freight train and an attempt at my nose has me in tears.
A little sweetness creeps in and this stick is starting to remind me of a 601 Blue.
It is starting to get a bit bitter on me, and the roof of my mouth has gone numb as well.

Final Third
I purge again and the last part starts off a bit nutty with coffee undertones. The bitterness has subsided a bit but it is still there.
Going to my nose is not an option any longer, it’s quite unbearable.
The flavor switches from chocolate to coffee and, the flavor keeps getting stronger and stronger.

Final Thoughts
Smoking this stick was like being set up on a blind date with a dominatrix.
The night starts out, and you think you got a chance of getting lucky, but in the end you wind up abused, whipped, and wearing a diaper.
Going to my nose literally had tears running down my cheeks, and the tip of my tongue is still numb.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say this has to be a NC. No CC I have smoked has ever been this strong.
If it is a CC, it has totally changed my conception of them. Of the CC’s I have smoked, I always equated them to elevator music, this smoke was heavy metal.
I found it aggressive, and was very punchy in how the flavor was delivered; every puff was like a haymaker.

Final Score 8 / 10
Smoke time 1hr 13min

DBall · 11-19-2010, 12:22 PM

Samsquanch Cigar #5
******************

What a day and what a cigar! #5 was a great little smoke that I'll surely pick up some more of.

5" x 35rg this guy was small but packed a punch. A few veins and an overall nice looking cigar.

On the prelight I got some spice but also a nice honey flavor.

Smoked great right off the bat, the draw was a little tight but nothing that impeded pulling lots of nice white smoke. Grabbing some hints of cinnamon and cloves now.

The burn got off a little and I had to touch up a couple times, nothing that bothered me though. The ash held on nicely as well. The dense smoke is very creamy with vanilla notes as I worked my down to the final third.

As I mentioned earlier, this will be on my purchase list in the near future. Great little guy when in the mood for a quick smoke.

Overall 8/10 smoke rings.

(If anyone was wondering, the pictures were taken with the Hipstamatic camera app for the iPhone. I highly recommend you pick up this app, it's awesome!)

DBall · 11-19-2010, 12:27 PM

What they smoked:

2008 Partagas Princess

jonumberone score: 8

Samsquanch score: 8

Solid reviews for this little guy. That's the thing with guys that start this journey out as predominantly NC smokers... they typically like the stronger, fresher habanos than the aged ones (at first).

These are, alas, discontinued...

That said, if you like these, you'll probably dig party shorts. Those are, for the time, still for sale (until HSA gets rid of every cigar that is 58rg and below, those bastards...)

11-10-2010, 08:37 AM	#1
jonumberone Raw Dog Join Date: Jun 2010 First Name: Dom Location: Exit 8A Posts: 6,494 Trading: (62)	Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #4 Any updates yet? __________________ Sex junkie looking for a dealer

11-10-2010, 08:53 AM	#3
landhoney Mr. Charisma Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Seth Location: In the forest Posts: 2,639 Trading: (32)	Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #4 More off-topic banter, but anyone remeber the Fredster/Moki Blind review back in the CS days? I had just joined, or right after, wow what a thread, very heated but interesting on many levels. __________________ Fields (to a heckling youngster): You're about to fall heir to a kitten stocking. Kid: What's a kitten stocking? Fields: A sock on the puss!

01-26-2011, 11:16 AM	#8
DBall Cigar Jesus Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,783 Trading: (46)	Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #4 CRIMPS Cigar #7 ************* Cigar Review #7 I received The package in the mail on Friday night, but needed to wait until the following night before I reached for the lighter. I was sitting in a real estate conference for 10 hours today, trying to further my career. I couldn't help but think about the cigar I had all but drooled on the night before. Thanks to this thread, my dream of a real estate empire will probably never come to fruition. Pre-light. Cigar # 7 looks to be a 4” x 42rg sized stick. The wrapper has some veins, but more noticeable are the light tan and brown splotches. Putting the stick up to my eye, I notice just a little crystallization. The smell is splendid: light, sweet tobacco with just a hint of... frosted flakes. I taste nuts and black pepper. The pepper and spice is not dominant, more mild than anything. Just a little First third. Wow, creamy coffee flavor has made its grand entrance. Fantastic! Just a hint of spice still, at the back of the tongue. The draw is still a little tight, but manageable. About an inch in and the ash is still holding strong. I don't think there is as much as a flake in the ashtray. Second third. I don't know if its because the wrapper slightly split at the cap when I cut it (a product of a crappy cutter methinks) or due to the tightness of the draw, but the smoke seems to have thinned and blued. The flavor profile hasn't really changed much. I am still really enjoying the coffee. Last third. The spice has diminished to barely noticeable now. I notice just a little nicotine high, but just a little. Nothing overpowering. I wait for the ash to fall again to purge the cigar as I keep thinking smoke is thin. This seems to help. The wrapper is starting to split almost all the way to the cap, but holding together by a single vein. Final Thoughts. A full flavored, medium bodied stick. The flavors were rather consistent and enjoyable throughout. I had a few problems with the wrapper cracking, but never did it unravel. I really enjoyed this stick and would definitely smoke this again if given the opportunity. Total smoke time was around an hour. Rating: 8/10 __________________ --------Dan--------- My Music \| My Videos

11-19-2010, 12:21 PM	#11
DBall Cigar Jesus Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,783 Trading: (46)	Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #4 jonumberone Cigar #5 ****************** Awesome day for a smoke! #5 is first on today’s death by fire list Initial Thoughts The stick appears under 5 inches and is a much smaller ring gauge than I’m accustomed to smoking. The wrapper is a rich brown and I think the darkest yet. I squeeze and find a hard spot about an inch before the cap. I cut the cap without issue and find the draw to be perfect. I didn’t dry box this one. Pre-light flavors are creamy and full of cocoa. First Third The first few puffs are far fuller and stronger than I have come to expect from the sticks Dan sent. I get a blast of chocolaty goodness and a lot of thick rich smoke. Not even an inch in and this stick has me at half mast. I’m also wondering if this is a NC. I get a lot of burn when I go to my nose, something I thought I was past. At about the inch mark I get some bite, not peppery but a twang is the best I can do to describe it. As I smoke more the twang resembles licorice. Second Third The chocolate has continued and the twang has increased with every puff. This stick is a powerhouse and I can feel the tip of my tongue going numb. A purge does little to derail this freight train and an attempt at my nose has me in tears. A little sweetness creeps in and this stick is starting to remind me of a 601 Blue. It is starting to get a bit bitter on me, and the roof of my mouth has gone numb as well. Final Third I purge again and the last part starts off a bit nutty with coffee undertones. The bitterness has subsided a bit but it is still there. Going to my nose is not an option any longer, it’s quite unbearable. The flavor switches from chocolate to coffee and, the flavor keeps getting stronger and stronger. Final Thoughts Smoking this stick was like being set up on a blind date with a dominatrix. The night starts out, and you think you got a chance of getting lucky, but in the end you wind up abused, whipped, and wearing a diaper. Going to my nose literally had tears running down my cheeks, and the tip of my tongue is still numb. I’m going to go out on a limb and say this has to be a NC. No CC I have smoked has ever been this strong. If it is a CC, it has totally changed my conception of them. Of the CC’s I have smoked, I always equated them to elevator music, this smoke was heavy metal. I found it aggressive, and was very punchy in how the flavor was delivered; every puff was like a haymaker. Final Score 8 / 10 Smoke time 1hr 13min __________________ --------Dan--------- My Music \| My Videos

11-19-2010, 12:22 PM	#12
DBall Cigar Jesus Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,783 Trading: (46)	Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #4 Samsquanch Cigar #5 ****************** What a day and what a cigar! #5 was a great little smoke that I'll surely pick up some more of. 5" x 35rg this guy was small but packed a punch. A few veins and an overall nice looking cigar. On the prelight I got some spice but also a nice honey flavor. Smoked great right off the bat, the draw was a little tight but nothing that impeded pulling lots of nice white smoke. Grabbing some hints of cinnamon and cloves now. The burn got off a little and I had to touch up a couple times, nothing that bothered me though. The ash held on nicely as well. The dense smoke is very creamy with vanilla notes as I worked my down to the final third. As I mentioned earlier, this will be on my purchase list in the near future. Great little guy when in the mood for a quick smoke. Overall 8/10 smoke rings. (If anyone was wondering, the pictures were taken with the Hipstamatic camera app for the iPhone. I highly recommend you pick up this app, it's awesome!) __________________ --------Dan--------- My Music \| My Videos

01-26-2011, 11:15 AM	#7
DBall Cigar Jesus Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,783 Trading: (46)	Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #4 jonumberone Cigar #7 ****************** Time for #7 Initial Thoughts This stick is the baby of the lot that Dan sent. It is about 4 inches long. It has a nice brown wrapper with almost no veins. Pre-light draw is perfect and I get nice sweet tobacco taste. I considered breaking this into 2 halves instead of thirds since it’s so small, but I decide to stick to thirds. These are Dan’s sticks and I don’t want to change the format First Third The initial taste is sweet. I go to my nose and get zero burn. It makes the cigar seem fuller in flavor. About a half inch in I get a caramel note. This stick has a little bite to it and I can feel a pinch on the back of my tongue. Very nice coffee flavors coming out. Digging this so far! Second Third It feels like I just fired this bad boy up. The ash is getting these white dots all over it. It seems a little weird. It reminds me of bad acne. The flavor is full force coffee right now and the smoke is rich and creamy. The burn has gotten a little out of whack but nothing to serious. I don’t understand what happened but the wrapper literally exploded when I touched it up. It was like someone put a load in it. It was smooth sailing up to this point and now the stick is extremely bitter Final Third The whole experience is taking a turn here. The smoke is completely flat with only bitterness now. The wrapper is not burning with the rest of the stick and is coming off in chunks. I wonder if that’s the issue with the flavor. The stick keeps expanding and the wrapper keeps tearing with every pull. The burn is completely awry now and I think this stick has run its course. Final Thoughts I think I will call this stick “Vanilla Ice” because much like his career, it was over before it started and crashed right into the ground. I never had a cigar blow up like that in the middle. If that happens to me it’s always from the start. Up to that point I was really enjoying the stick. The creamy coffee flavors and size made me think this would be awesome on the ride in to work. I would love to try another that doesn’t blow up on me. Final Score 5.5/10 Smoke time 49min __________________ --------Dan--------- My Music \| My Videos

11-19-2010, 12:27 PM	#13
DBall Cigar Jesus Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,783 Trading: (46)	Re: DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #4 What they smoked: 2008 Partagas Princess jonumberone score: 8 Samsquanch score: 8 Solid reviews for this little guy. That's the thing with guys that start this journey out as predominantly NC smokers... they typically like the stronger, fresher habanos than the aged ones (at first). These are, alas, discontinued... That said, if you like these, you'll probably dig party shorts. Those are, for the time, still for sale (until HSA gets rid of every cigar that is 58rg and below, those bastards...) __________________ --------Dan--------- My Music \| My Videos