DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test Thread #2

[DBall]

Montano Cigar #4
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This cigar has some nice color to it. The wrapper has some rough edges on the cuts, seems to be from the veins. Pre-light draw was tight, and gave a basic tobacco flavor. The foot was also missing a small portion of the wrapper.



Initial flavor was not much of anything. Light amounts of smoke coming from the tight draw. I stabbed it with my poker, and that helped a bit. The first 3rd burned very uneven, but started to fix itself as the cigar progressed.



Not much changed as it moved to the second 3rd. Just a basic tobacco flavor, with minimal amounts of smoke. The burn was now even, and slow.



The cigar finished up much the same way it started, not a whole lot of flavor. If I had to guess, which of course I am, I would say this is the first NC cigar of the bunch. It wasn't a bad smoke, but I would not seek out more of them.



This was a mild smoke, and I would give it a 5.

[DBall]

Riff Raff Cigar #4
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Okay. Almost halfway through this and here we have a real beauty of a cigar. Check this gem out:



A gorgeous corojo wrapper that is nice and velvety! It has that nice redish brown and the pre-light draw is perfect with tastes of sweet tobacco and hay.

First light: Oh My! Nice tastes of coffee and chocolate with some sweet spice thrown in. I think I am in for a treat!



1/3rd: Spice with some pepper. The burn is a bit uneven but nothing to complain about. There is a nice lingering finish. The retro-hale gives some nice woody and toasted coconut flavors. TONS of smoke from this perfect draw. The ash held for about 1.5 inches.



2/3rd: The flavor has changed to a nice woody flavor. If I had to pin it down, I would (no pun intended) say deciduous, not evergreen. Oak. There is still some pepper and spice there as well. Retro-hale still has a toasty flavor. Very nice. The aroma this stogie gives off smells of chocolate a bit.



3/3rd: Still a dominate oak flavor with some earthy overtones. The retro-hale gave off more of those toasted coconut flavors.



I nubbed this little beauty and got plenty of cedar mixed in with the earthiness.

Overall: This was a damn fine cigar. Definitely medium-full bodied and LOTS of flavorful smoke. The draw was consistently perfect throughout. Would I buy this cigar? You're damn right I will. I loved this stick! Best one of the lot so far. I give it a 9.4!

That is all!

[weak_link]

I don't think I need to worry about Nick buying up all the cc's.

lol. that is such a contrasting review. still excellent read.

[Riff Raff]

This stick definitely had that WOW factor for me! The RH in my humi is right about 62%. So the habanos really seem to like it I guess! I am starting to get what smoking CC's is all about! Me Like!!!!

[Riff Raff]

Numero cinco is up!

[Montano]

Originally Posted by Riff Raff

Numero cinco is up!

I just need to upload the pics and I'll be done also. Hopefully this afternoon...

[Ferrari5180]

It fascinates me how the both of you have completely different experiences and tastes. Keep up the good work and the interesting posts.

[Riff Raff]

[DBall]

Yup... they are both in my inbox. Gotta run to the doctors office and I'll put em up after that.

[ir13]

Originally Posted by DBall

Yup... they are both in my inbox. Gotta run to the doctors office and I'll put em up after that.

[Riff Raff]

Works for me. Good luck at the Dr.'s Office!

I love the pictures of these reviews. It makes reading the review so so much better. Dball you are very generous with the cigs. All the cigs seem all seem to be aged and rare (at least from this noob's perspective).

[DBall]

Originally Posted by MTBAlex

I love the pictures of these reviews. It makes reading the review so so much better. Dball you are very generous with the cigs. All the cigs seem all seem to be aged and rare (at least from this noob's perspective).

Well... there's probably gonna be another one after this as these seem to be fun and engaging threads. Why don't you practice some reviews and perhaps you'll be the next guy having to suffer through dog rockets like these...

Originally Posted by DBall

Well... there's probably gonna be another one after this as these seem to be fun and engaging threads. Why don't you practice some reviews and perhaps you'll be the next guy having to suffer through dog rockets like these...

lol. Thanks Dan. But I can't taste a difference between a cigar and a tube sock. But I'll let you know once my palette improves!! So I'll just be a avid reader of your blind taste test for now. Keep up the good work.

[DBall]

Montano Cigar #6
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This cigar is a bit veiny, with a few soft spots throughout. The wrapper is a bit rough. Pre-light draw was of a basic tobacco flavor. The cap was not in the best of shape.



Initial impression was a light creamy flavor, and general tobacco taste. The burn was a bit wild, going in lots of different directions.



The first 3rd was about all I got to smoke, as with every draw, the soft spots would cave in a bit, and after while the wrapper started to crack from the constant shifting.



I tried to continue on with the smoke, but it soon became impossible to get a decent draw. The wrapper was just crumbling every time I took a draw.



Between the soft cap, and soft spots throughout the cigar, I really didn't get to do a lot of tasting. The few puffs I did manage were OK. I'm thinking I just got a bad one and perhaps this is a decent cigar.



I'll have to give it a 6.

[DBall]

Riff Raff Cigar #6
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You are number 6!

I am not a NUMBER!!!

Okay, working on the back 5 now! Number 6 is a rustic number. No cap to speak of. Just an overlay of the wrapper. Never seen a stick like that before. But then again-----> NEWB!

My calibrated eyeball says it is 6.5" X 42. It is a bit veiny and rough looking. A big green spot by the head and a little rough around the foot.



Pre-light: Draw is medium to firm. Tastes a bit like hay.

First light: Grassy taste. A little bit of spice. A bit underwhelming. Nice dark gray ash though.

1/3rd: There is an underlying hint of toffee but only briefly. Just a bit toasty. Not much flavor to speak of really. Retro-hale tasted of grass. The ash held for about two inches.



2/3rd: Some spice is creeping in here! There is some cinnamon and nutmeg too. This is turning out quite nice! Lots of smoke.



3/3rd: Spice! Nice and toasty with some sweet tobacco flavors coming through. As it smoked down it got a bit soft and squishy. Some nice cedar flavors at the nub.



Overall: A diamond in the rough. This was quite a surprising smoke. It started out weak but finished up nicely. The burn was pretty much even throughout, not razor sharp but okay. I would say this mild to medium smoke was about an 8.7. I would buy this again. It was a quick smoke too. It lasted only about 40 minutes or so.

[DBall]

What they smoked:



2008 Quay d'Orsay Panetela

Montano score: 9
Riff Raff score: 8.8

Wow... Nick found a habano he likes... glory upon glory!

I absolutely LOVE these cigars... LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE them. Glad you both dug it.

3 left.

I wouldn't mind throwing my hat in to Join the next one Dan! Let me know bro!

Originally Posted by DBall

Well... there's probably gonna be another one after this as these seem to be fun and engaging threads. Why don't you practice some reviews and perhaps you'll be the next guy having to suffer through dog rockets like these...

[Riff Raff]

# 6 is in the books!