Reminded me again of that first cigar in the DR. Which made sense when I looked it up and saw Dominican filler and binder. It started off very different from the other Connecticut wrappers I’ve smoked, and it didn’t initially taste of Dominican. But maybe the last half, last third, it really came in very pronounced. At the price point, I might just have to buy a bundle of these for the nostalgia
Cap held together through cut and lighting. Initial notes are cooking spices, hay, and sweet tobacco. Good, clean burn. Nice and even throughout. Foot smoke isn’t too offensive, but like most value cigars, its true nature of the tobacco used comes through in an odor that isn’t present on other premium long filler cigars. Creaminess shows up in the first third. It’s faint, but it’s there. A little white pepper on the retrohale also. Draw is slightly tight, but not too bad. Second third is nice. Some almonds and cedar come through, along with a hint of some dried mild herb, like oregano. Mellow flavor and mild strength. Final third and the foot smoke gets more cheap and pungent. Band came right off with some warmth. Tobacco flavor becomes more pronounced, with a hint of graham cracker. No bits of tobacco fell in my mouth, making me question the Cuban sandwich nature of this stick. Smooth with plenty of smoke through the entire experience. The wrapper could be better, but the binder and filler are great. I would pay two to three times as much for this cigar. While I wouldn’t buy a full bundle of these, I will definitely keep a few in my humidor to give away to novice smokers, or smoke myself on forgettable occasions and circumstances, or just as a change up from Factory Smokes Maduros.
