Noob Review: DE My Uzi Weighs a Ton +11

Drew Estate My Uzi Weighs a Ton +11, 5.5x52, NIC
Smoked: December 24, 2012. Rested 6 weeks, bombed to me, true age unknown.
Smoke Time: 1:30+

Pre-Light:  Dark mottled chocolate brown, no veins, one seam visible. Slight peeling on the cap, VERY heavy, packed tight and firm. Earthy tobacco and sweet spice smell.
Cold Draw:  Earthy, Black pepper. Firm draw, not too tight.\


First 3rd:  Getting better at my lighting, no bitterness at all. Very faint pepper at the start, with some charred wood and leather. Thick smoke. Some tart fruit flavors come in, kind of a dried berry flavor. I read about the dried berry flavors in a couple reviews but this is the first time I've been able to definitely pick them out, I'm excited! The smoke has a sweet/fruit scent to it as well. Slow straight burn.        Cigar is not nearly as strong as I was expecting... Very light on the pepper, but definite pepper on the retrohale. Ash held over an inch.


Second 3rd:  Not much change yet, but really enjoying this smoke. Burn is slightly wavy, but ok for now. Little bit of bitterness when I'm double puffing, but that's likely my fault for multi-tasking and neglecting my cigar... The pepper is still light, and the dried fruit/berry flavors are still noticeable, along with some sweet wood or cedar flavor perhaps? About halfway down the cigar, the pepper picked up a bit. I also clipped again due to some tar/nicotine buildup. Started with a V-Cut.

 Final 3rd:  Little more charred wood flavors, but mostly the flavors aren't changing much. There's something else faintly in and out that reminds me of a bittersweet cocoa, but more to the bitter than the sweet. So flavors are still mainly some sweet wood, dried fruit, and slight pepper. Burn required one touchup, ash held almost two inches.

8/10 - I've already jumped to the devil site and threw a bid on a bundle of 10. This was the first smoke I've had I could definitely narrow down the fruit flavors to berry (thought no more specific than that. I read a few reviews that said black/dark cherry, and that's probably in there, but just tart berry overall). The pepper was much lighter than I expected, and I really, really enjoyed this smoke. I've got a 7x60 resting, but Churchills really aren't my thing, and this has me really looking forward to trying the Baitfish also!

Noob Review: DE Liga Undercrown Corona Viva

Drew Estate Liga Undercrown Corona Viva, 5 5/8x46, NIC
Smoked December 17, 2012. Rested 6 weeks.
Smoke Time: 1:15

 Pre-Light:  Even medium brown, no soft spots, veins, or seams. Sweet barnyard & tobacco smell.
Cold Draw:  Barnyard, sweet spice. Good draw.

1st Third:  No bitterness (working on my lighting technique), no blast of pepper (nice!). Dry mouth, wood flavors. burn pretty even, no touchups, lots of smoke. Pepper comes in pretty quickly, but not super strong, distinct, not overpowering. Cahrred wood flavors, some leather. Some nutty flavors, but not sweet. Ash held over an inch, pepper faded a bit.

 2nd Third:  Draw a little tighter, but not prohibitive yet. Pepper and roasted nut flavors are in and out back and forth, along with some sweet wood flavors... There's a little sweetness, but not as much as I expected. Burn is still straight, ash is over 1" again, light grey and feathery.

 Last Third:  Pepper on the lips, but more of a roasted pepper, not a black pepper. Clipped again because of tar buildup. Pepper and wood are still off and on, along with some bitter coffee flavor. Towards the end I caught a bit of fruit flavor on my tongue that totally caught me off guard. Just came in a couple times, not enough for me to nail down a specific fruit...

7.5/10 - My first Liga/Undercrown, and not my last by any means. One stick does not a Liga whore make, but if this is an indication, it could be a steep slope. Definitely kept me interested, and trying to narrow down different flavors. Got four more resting, along with a couple Robustos, so I'm curious to see how the Robusto in the "original" blend compares. Not sure if I'd grab by the box (yet), but a 5'er or two on hand is a definite. Another must-have for my humidor.

Noob Review: Drew Estate Natural Ltd. Irish Hops

Drew Estate Natural Ltd. Irish Hops, 6x52, NIC. Rested 3½ months.
Smoked December 16, 2012
Smoke Time: 1:15

Pre-Light:   Sweet creme smell, slight fruit scent also? There's something, but I can't identify it. Dark even brown, one vein, and a visible diagonal seam, which worries with with the DE Java I smoked, so we'll see... Solidly packed, no soft spots.
Cold Draw:   Sweetened tip, sweet tobacco flavor, with a hint of something earthy...

First 3rd:   Nothing stands out right away, just a smooth even flavor, rather mild. The smoke smells very sweet. I start to pick up hints of an unsweetened creme flavor. No spice or pepper at all yet. Good amount of smoke, not huge, and a good draw. No major burn issues yet. Retrohale is very mild, and the flavors are so subtle this stick is almost bland...

Second 3rd:   A couple of very small wrapper splits starting, but the cigar also vibrated off the workbench when I was running a sander, so I can't blame the cigar for that yet. Not much flavor change to me, and a few more cracks are starting as you can see in the last image. Creme flavor is a little stronger, but still not sweet.

Last 3rd:   A very slight bitterness comes in, but the other flavors are steady, and I'm getting hints of very mild spice/pepper every now and then. More subtle sweet flavors are coming and going, but nothing I can pin a solid description to... Ash is holding over 1½". A few cracks in the wrapper still, but they don't seem to be affecting the burn. The last inch and a half or so is getting more bitter.

5.5/10
I just don't see this as a staple in my infusidor. The flavors in this one were so muted it was bland. Any flavor coming through was very weak. I put this as very mild on flavor, maybe medium bodied/nicotine content. Maybe a good smoke for a new puffer or someone who likes really mild sticks. Definitely lacks the punch and flavor of the adorable little Jucy Lucy...

Noob Review: Drew Estate Java Maduro Corona

Drew Estate Java Maduro Corona, 5x42, NIC. Rested 2 weeks.
Smoked December 15, 2012
Smoke Time:   1:00

Pre-Light:   Wow! Very strong chocolate and coffee smell. Dark brown, a couple of veins, very oily, a little lumpy. The box-press makes this a square stick.
Cold-Draw:   Sweetened tip. Sweet barnyard and faint cocoa, not as strong as I expected.

First 3rd:   Good draw. The flavors are sweet, but very subtle. The smoke is very sweet smelling, my girlfriend even commented on how good the smoke smelled. I was seriously expecting to be lighting up a Folger's Hershey bar, it smelled that strong and sweet.

No real changes in flavor during the smoke, so my comments are more with construction now... I had several burn problems around the edges of the seam spiraling up the stick... and in the last third, the wrapper unraveled and came off completely.

You can see the wrapper starting to come off here. The binder held, and I kept smoking until it got too hot for me, but the chocolate aroma in the smoke mostly left with the wrapper.
There was the slightest bit of spice off and on in the second half, but very minor.




7.5/10
I really enjoyed this. I can definitely see a stock of these in my infusidor full time. I'm also definitely going to try the latte and Java Mint...

Noob Review: CAO MX2 Box-Press

CAO MX2 Box-Press, 5.5x55, NIC. Rested about 7 weeks with me, unknown before that (sent in a PIF from Silverstreak)
Smoked December 13, 2012
Smoke Time: 1:30

Pre-Light:   Very dark mottled brown color, quite toothy and oily. A couple of veins, and one wrapper crack just below the upper band, on the back side. Very firm and solid pack, heavy cigar. Sweet earth and chocolate smell.
Cold Draw:   Sweet grass and raisin. Good medium draw.

First 3rd:   Not a huge blast of pepper, but my lips got tingly right away from it. Some slightly sweet raisin-like flavor too. The draw tightened up quick and I wasn't getting much smoke. Clipped the head a second time, thinking part of the problem may be buildup from having to double puff. The pepper and raisin both faded quickly. No real distinct flavors, and the ash fell as I was clipping it the second time.

Second 3rd:   Not much change, the burn is getting wavy, but the draw is much better. The raisin flavor is off and on again, along with a dark tobacco flavor, and some pepper. The ash is dark mottled grey, and a bitter chocolate is mixing in. None of the flavors I'm picking up are sweet, mostly "dark", bettersweet, or earthy flavors. Opened the draw up a little with my handy finishing nail.

Shortly after I opened the draw with my nail, I actually felt the draw become free-er in mid-puff. Must have been a plug of some sort.

Last 3rd:   Not much flavor change yet. Once I got past that little cracked wrapper, the burn improved quite a bit. Rich dark flavors, but nothing really dominating or even standing out... Pepper and dirt on the retrohale. Seriously like having dirt in my nose! Never had that flavor/smell in a cigar before... Ash holding about 2" at a time. Draw is getting tighter towards the head, and it's getting a little hot and bitter, as I'm having to draw harder to get good smoke.

7/10

Not a standout smoke to me yet, but solid. Interesting change in flavors, and the earthiness is different than what I've been smoking.

Noob Review: Rocky Patel The Edge Maduro

Rocky Patel The Edge Maduro, 5.5x52, HON. 3½ months rest.
Smoked December 12, 2012
Smoke time: 0:30

Note: I'm really not sure what vitola this is, the Robusto is 5", the Toro is 6", and my stick measures exactly 5.5", so I've got no clue...

Pre-Light:   Very dark even brown, couple of veins, nothing major. Very solid, toothy, and oily. Dark musty sweet smell.
Cold Draw:   Musty/earthy, slightly loose draw.

First 3rd:   Pepper at the start, not much smoke right off the bat, and bitter. There are hints of sweetness, but they're overpowered by the bitterness and pepper. Burn started getting wavy quickly, and had to correct it already. Mouth very dry. Pepper faded after about an inch, but the burn started going crooked again. Getting some wood and cedar notes, but having to double puff just to get good amounts of smoke. Draw getting a little tighter and better, but the burn is getting wavy again already...



Second 3rd:   Still fighting the burn line, but the ash held for 2". The pepper is mostly gone, but my lips are still tingly. The bitterness is fading, still getting the cedar wood notes. There are hints of sweetness, but few and far between, and not enough for my preference.
Gave up due to fighting burn issues...

6.5/10
I'd give this lower marks, but I've read good reviews of them, and maybe I just got a dud. It's the only one I had on hand, so I might try one again, but I won't go out of my way to find one.

Noob Review: AVO Heritage Short Torpedo

AVO Heritage Short Torpedo, 4.5x52, DR. 3½ months rest.
Smoked December 11, 2012
Smoke Time: 1:15

Pre-Light:   Smooth even cinnamon brown color. Oily, not much tooth, no veins to speak of. Sweet tobacco and faint chocolate smell.
Cold Draw: Sweet tobacco flavor, draw is borderline loose...

First 3rd:   Some pepper right away, making my lips a little tingly. Burn starts crooked, and there's some bitter flavors already. The ash chunked off early, and I corrected the burn when that happened. The smoke got VERY thick and creamy, the bitterness faded quickly, and unsweetened nut flavor came out quickly.
I'm drinking water.

Second 3rd:   Flavors are much smoother and creamier, the nut flavor is still there, but not real sweet, and the pepper has mostly faded. I clipped the head again, think I might have been getting some bitterness from tar/nicotine buildup.

Last 3rd:    It's still very smooth, the draw has improved, it's not so loose, and the nut flavor is almost buttery/slightly salty. This has settled down VERY nicely. Ash has been holding about 1½". Towards the end it started getting a little warm and bitter again, and I corrected the burn once more at the start of this third.


7.5/10
I'm giving this one solid marks, I'm definitely trying more in the AVO line, so far, this is a definite for me to keep on hand.

Noob Review: CAO Criollo Pato

CAO Criollo Pato, 4 7/8x50, NIC. Aged 1 month.
Smoked December 10, 2012
Smoke Time: 1:15

Pre-Light:   Medium brown, a little toothy, more lumpy. Nice pig-tailed cap, barnyard aroma.

Cold Draw:   Draw was tight, flavor was sweet grass and barnyard.

First 3rd:   Immediately got kind of a weird burn going, burn sort of raced up the wrapper in spots, seen in the pic to the left... started with pepper and something else, maybe a slight citrus? Hard to pick out, but citrus seems the closest thing in my memory banks... Draw is a little tight but not horrible, good amount of smoke, and a slow burn. Smoke smells like sweet hay, I'm getting a little bitter anise flavor?

Burn corrected itself and evened out pretty quick as you can see, and the pepper is settling down. Mouth is watering a bit, not dry at all. About an inch in the pepper is almost gone, and a burnt sweet flavor is coming in off and on. Thick creamy smoke filling my little workshop...

Second 3rd:  Getting some more of that bitter anise/licorice flavor.Also a little bit of toasted caramel or toffee here and there a little bit? Really hard to pick out flavors as they're kind of here one puff, gone the next... Pepper taste in the back of my throat pretty constant. Ash held almost 1½", accidently bumped it or it probably would have held much longer...

Got that weird burn again, and a definite black licorice flavor on my lips...

 Last 3rd:   Not much change from the last third. Flavors are becoming smoother, but still just as random. A few hints of a new semi-sweet flavor, but not nuts, or caramel... can't really pick it out. I read one review that mentioned black cherry, I haven't gotten any of that, but this new semi-sweet flavor does have fruit tones to it, maybe that little bit of citrus I picked up in the first third...

Ash dropped off around 1½" again, there's a little wrapper peel under the band, not major. About 2" from the end it started getting hot and very bitter. Done at this point.






7.5/10
I'm giving this one high marks for definitely keeping me interested in picking out the various flavors coming in and out. I'll have to get some more and let them rest longer and see what happens. I got this in the CAO Commemorative Sampler with the DVD, so it's the only one I have right now, but I'm looking forward to more.

Noob Review: CAO Black VR Full Fathom Five

CAO Black VR Full Fathom Five, 5.5x55, HON. Aged 3 months.
Smoked December 9, 2012
Smoke time 1:40

Pre-Light:   Box press, dark chocolate brown, no soft spots, very heavy and firm. Very toothy, the splattered foot band is kind of cool looking. VERY strong earthy/dirt aroma.

Cold Draw:   Sweet tobacco, not much else I could pick out.

 First 3rd:   Draw was good. Slight pepper and wood flavors, ash held over an inch. Some bitter chocolate flavors in and out, no sweetness to anything yet. Definite pepper on the retrohale, and maybe another spice, just couldn't put my finger on it... Very slow burn so far.

Drinking water.

 Second 3rd:   Pepper smoothes out, there was a little initial bitterness, but it's faded, there's not as much "bite" to the flavor. It seems a little sweeter, but not a nutty sweetness (nutty flavors seem to be the easiest for me to pick out right now). The draw is getting a little tighter.

Last 3rd:   Now we've got a little of that nutty flavor I seem to like and identify quickest. Still a little pepper, and the nutty flavor is more of a bitter nut flavor, not sweet. I read reviews finding caramel, toffee, cocoa flavors... I'm not noticing any of these, mostly pepper, wood, and nuts.




Smoke was quite thick, with a very thick finish/coat on my tongue.
6.5/10
Not sure this will stay in my lineup, maybe try one again in a few months and see if they develop any as I do... Not impressed at the moment...

Reviews to come...

Well I missed smoking my cigar yesterday... Had to be in to work early, then got sidetracked after work, and never got to it... Ah well, life goes on...

Just thought I'd post a list of my pending cigar reviews that I've gotten done, just not typed up yet... Hopefully I'll get caught up later this weekend.

CAO Black VR Full Fathom Five
CAO Criollo Pato
AVO Heritage Short Torpedo
Rocky Patel The Edge Maduro
CAO Mx2 Box-Press

Not sure what I'll move on to next since I'm pretty much through my CAO lineup (I've got some others, but they're a little fresh yet). Maybe Rocky Patel, possibly Oliva, DE, or Torano... Undecided yet. I think it'll be a DE later tonight, but haven't though much further ahead than that.

Smoke 'em if ya got 'em!

Noob Review: CAO Gold Robusto

Smoked December 6, 2012
Rested over 3 months
Smoke time: 25 minutes (see review)

Pre-Light: Nice golden brown, very little tooth. Firm full pack. Slight flaking/tear on the wrapper towards the foot... Wrapper was borderline dry feeling... Sweet hay/grass/barnyard smell.
Cold Draw: Definite barnyard and grass tastes.

1st Third:   Very loose draw. Not much flavor to start. About ½" in I get a definite cedar on the retrohale. Wrapper starting to crack/split towards the foot. Very thick coating on my tongue and roof of my mouth. Mild flavors.

2nd Third:   Going downhill fast. The more i smoke, the more the wrapper is splitting and cracking, binder is bulging out, not much smoke production as half of it is going out the splits in the wrapper.
Gave up quickly.








3.5/10
The flavors weren't bad, when I could get any, but seemed too mild for me. The wrapper was the huge problem. After checking things out when I got back inside, it seems when I was putting some cigar bombs together, the upper tray got set in crooked and may have been propping the humidor lid up, humidity was at 59%, probably had been for a day or so. I've got a Gold Vintage Cremant I'll get to later, so with proper humidity, it might give me a better idea of the quality. Still too mild for me on strength though.

Noob Review: CAO L'Anniversaire Maduro Deluxe

Well, so now that I've got a pretty good idea of the Man O' War lines that I have, moving on to some of the CAO lines I have...

Smoked December 5, 2012
Rested roughly 2 months
Smoke Time: 1 hr.

Pre-Light: Dark chocolate brown, toothy, box-press with a perfecto-type shape... Chocolaty earth smell.

Cold Draw: Sweet woody taste.

1st Third:   Tight draw, clipped twice with my CC Perfect Cutter, opened the draw a bit with my little finishing nail I use for a draw tool. Slight bitter taste to start with, settled pretty quick. Woody and sweet flavor, with a little pepper, very thick, leathery finish on my tongue... Draw tightening back up by the end of this third. Ash hung on about an inch.

2nd Third:   Bitterness completely gone, some roasted/non-sweet nut flavors, some slightly sweet flavors I can't quite pick out, maybe a sweet spice? Still a very thick leathery coating/finish on my tongue. Draw still tight, getting tighter. ash held on another inch or so.

Last Third:   Clipped once more, helped the draw quite a bit, good amount of smoke now, for about 15 minutes. Draw got very tight again, less smoke, and needing to puff too hard. Started to get hot and bitter, and I gave up. Burn was a little ragged towards the end, I might have touched it up if they draw was better, but I was over it by then.






6/10
I liked the flavors, but the draw caused no end of problems. I've got another L'Anniversaire Maduro in a Robusto I think, gonna let it settle a while and try it, and hopefully without the draw issues... Will try this line again.

Noob Review: Man O' War Original Robusto

Smoked December 4, 2012
Rested 9 weeks or so
Smoke Time :1 hr. 20 mins.

Pre-Light: Dark even brown, toothy, slightly oily. Sweet cocoa smell.
Cold Draw: Bitter cocoa/chocolate.

1st Third:   Open draw, very loose. Strong pepper to start, as expected. Faded quickly. Left my mouth pretty dry, retrohale singed a bit, lol. Thick creamy smoke.

2nd Third:   Mainly pepper to me, some hints of sweetness now and then, wood notes coming in. Burn got crooked, corrected it once. Ash held on about 2". More wood and some leather. Feels very thick on the tongue.

Last Third:   Slight nutty notes, but not the sweet cashew flavor I was hoping for based on some of the other MoW lines... Mainly leather, pepper, and wood. I never really picked out any chocolate. Draw started to get a little tighter, but still loose. Burned fast and hot. Pepper started to come back with some bitterness. Burn was crooked again. Tossed it right after this picture.

5/10
Burn was too fast and hot, plenty of bitterness. Not really my cup of tea. This is the last of the MoW lines I've got, and I think that may be all of their lines, just not all their vitolas. I think I'll stick with the Puro Authentico, Ruination, and SP: Little Devil.