Blind ten spot review Part Two

08-29-2009, 08:48 AM

#4

couldn't smoke the other night, so I was out this morning smoking

Churchill - dark wrapper (I'd say maduro but there was zero sweetness in this stick)

I was initially worried about this cigar. I cut it and the wrapper split on me. Construction was good overall though - with the perfect amount of give on the thumb squeeze.

Pre-Light - little to no noticeable flavor.

Initial light - two very distinct flavors jump out instantly. wood and roasted apple. I am admittedly not one to find more than 10-12 flavors while smoking cigars, and that includes "smokey, nicotine, et al". I don't get the sea salt covered with sprinkles of nutmeg and rosemary, but every once in a while, like in this instance, I will get something like roasted apple. I'm always pleasantly surprised by my taste buds (and the cigar) when this happens.

The ash on this cigar is weak - didn't ever stay on longer than a 1/4 inch, at most. Mixed between dark grey and pure white. Odd.

second 3rd - cigar goes blank. No flavor at all - just smoke. Weird. But, even more weird is that the aftertaste in my mouth is unquestionably burnt coffee.

Last 3rd - the aroma is nice, very comfortable to the senses - like sitting in a smoking lounge with one or two people there, who are friends, and just relaxing. I enjoyed the aroma more than the bland, non-existant taste.

To note, I'm a notoriously slow smoker. A churchill can easily last 2.5 hours for me. This cigar was finished within 1.25 hours. It never got hot, and the burn stayed even, but it smoked really fast.

Overall I don't envision smoking this cigar more than out fishing or camping and am more interested in enjoying the conversation of friends than paying attention to what I'm smoking.

rating = slightly below average to average

Starscream · 08-29-2009, 06:42 PM

Cigar #4

Construction: 7x56-58, dark brown, very thin wrapper. When I received this stick, the wrapper was already starting to flake off at band and the foot.

Pre-light: smooth draw, very bland

1st third: Typical maduro flavors along with a bit of a minty flavor as well. Later on I detected some old black coffee flavors.

2nd third: Old coffee and nuttiness are strong. Some earthiness is detectable as well.

Final third: Similar to the second third. I put it out with about an inch and a quarter to go.

Final Thoughts: This cigar wasn't bad, but I wouldn't put it on my go to list by any means. Wasn't my thing. I know that there are two Gurkhas in this bunch, and I would guess that this is one of them. I may have been a bit biased against this cigar before I lit it up, as I'm not a fan of churchill length cigars, not to mention I didn't like the looks of the wrapper when I picked it up. So I may have been going into this review with a bad attitude toward it.

08-29-2009, 10:18 PM

I blind reviewed this cigar earlier in the year from someone on another board, and scored it highly. His had several years on them; these had about 2 years. I hadn't had one from my own stash in around a year, so this lets me down that they may have gone bland.

Cigar #4 is:

Gurkha X fuerte
(good call Andy)

08-29-2009, 08:48 AM	#1
EEE Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Blind ten spot review Part Two #4 couldn't smoke the other night, so I was out this morning smoking Churchill - dark wrapper (I'd say maduro but there was zero sweetness in this stick) I was initially worried about this cigar. I cut it and the wrapper split on me. Construction was good overall though - with the perfect amount of give on the thumb squeeze. Pre-Light - little to no noticeable flavor. Initial light - two very distinct flavors jump out instantly. wood and roasted apple. I am admittedly not one to find more than 10-12 flavors while smoking cigars, and that includes "smokey, nicotine, et al". I don't get the sea salt covered with sprinkles of nutmeg and rosemary, but every once in a while, like in this instance, I will get something like roasted apple. I'm always pleasantly surprised by my taste buds (and the cigar) when this happens. The ash on this cigar is weak - didn't ever stay on longer than a 1/4 inch, at most. Mixed between dark grey and pure white. Odd. second 3rd - cigar goes blank. No flavor at all - just smoke. Weird. But, even more weird is that the aftertaste in my mouth is unquestionably burnt coffee. Last 3rd - the aroma is nice, very comfortable to the senses - like sitting in a smoking lounge with one or two people there, who are friends, and just relaxing. I enjoyed the aroma more than the bland, non-existant taste. To note, I'm a notoriously slow smoker. A churchill can easily last 2.5 hours for me. This cigar was finished within 1.25 hours. It never got hot, and the burn stayed even, but it smoked really fast. Overall I don't envision smoking this cigar more than out fishing or camping and am more interested in enjoying the conversation of friends than paying attention to what I'm smoking. rating = slightly below average to average

08-29-2009, 06:42 PM	#2
Starscream Knowhutimean, Vern? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Andy Location: In a little town somewhere in the USA Posts: 10,237 Trading: (4)	Re: Blind ten spot review Part Two Cigar #4 Construction: 7x56-58, dark brown, very thin wrapper. When I received this stick, the wrapper was already starting to flake off at band and the foot. Pre-light: smooth draw, very bland 1st third: Typical maduro flavors along with a bit of a minty flavor as well. Later on I detected some old black coffee flavors. 2nd third: Old coffee and nuttiness are strong. Some earthiness is detectable as well. Final third: Similar to the second third. I put it out with about an inch and a quarter to go. Final Thoughts: This cigar wasn't bad, but I wouldn't put it on my go to list by any means. Wasn't my thing. I know that there are two Gurkhas in this bunch, and I would guess that this is one of them. I may have been a bit biased against this cigar before I lit it up, as I'm not a fan of churchill length cigars, not to mention I didn't like the looks of the wrapper when I picked it up. So I may have been going into this review with a bad attitude toward it. __________________ Insert quote here.

08-29-2009, 10:18 PM	#3
lou2row Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Blind ten spot review Part Two I blind reviewed this cigar earlier in the year from someone on another board, and scored it highly. His had several years on them; these had about 2 years. I hadn't had one from my own stash in around a year, so this lets me down that they may have gone bland. Cigar #4 is: Gurkha X fuerte (good call Andy)