J.C. Newman Introduces Yagua, A Cigar Recreated from the 1940s Cuba

TAMPA, FL – J.C. Newman Cigar Co. introduces Yagua, a classic cigar from the tobacco fields of Cuba that the Newman family has recreated in Nicaragua. The Yagua story is one of Cuba from the 1940s. The cigar was inspired by J.C. Newman PENSA's General Manager, Lazaro Lopez, who shared the following with Drew Newman (Fourth Generation Owner, J.C. Newman Cigar Company) over dinner in Esteli, Nicaragua last year:

"At our family farm, my grandfather would take fresh tobacco leaves from the curing barns and roll cigars without any molds or presses. In an attempt to give his cigars a traditional shape, he would tie a handful of them together using pieces of the Cuban royal palm tree, known as the yagua. When he was ready to enjoy his personal cigars, he untied the bundle. He loved how every cigar had its own unique shape. I still remember the rich aroma and taste of my grandfather’s cigars. Today, I’ve recreated Yagua, rolling them exactly how my grandfather did a century ago.”

“After hearing Lazaro describe the beautiful Yagua cigars he remembers from his youth in Cuba, I asked Lazaro if he could make this special cigar at our factory in Nicaragua,” said Drew Newman. “We are calling it Yagua, after the palm leaves that give the cigars their distinct shape.”

J.C. Newman is releasing 1,000 boxes of Yagua from its aging rooms this year. Each box features 20 cigars, which measure approximately 6x54.

“Because the cigars are pressed together and bound while they are still wet, each one has a slightly different shape. Each cigar is truly unique," said Newman

Yagua will ship from El Reloj, the J.C. Newman Cigar Company factory in Tampa, FL beginning next week, and should arrive on select retailers' shelves in early August.

Viaje Red WMD 2020 (3 3/4 x 54)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Halfwheel.com website)

This is the fourth release for Skull and Bones Red WMD, a 3 3/4 x 54 petit robusto. The line was previously described as a Nicaraguan puro with a criollo wrapper.

It was originally released in 2012 with subsequent releases in 2014 and 2017.

The cigar looks like a stick of short dynamite. 

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The cold draw tasted like sweet tobacco. The initial flavors at light up were predominately cedar with a little citrus twang, a lot of brown sugar, cinnamon, caramel, a lot of dry nutmeg, light leather, and black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2. Nice start.

At the first third (25 minutes) the ash you see in the picture below is a result of an accidental hitting. I was moving around and hit the cigar causing the ash to fall. The flavor notes are like initially described but the leather has decreased. There are a lot of sweet flavors; brown sugar, caramel, cedar, and cinnamon. The nutmeg is manageable. The black coffee makes a very good base. The black pepper seems to be increasing. The finish is caramel and nutmeg with a nice amount of lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The cigar is very tasty. I rated the first third 94.

At the second third (46 minutes) the burn had just about evened out. At this point the leather started moving up. The nutmeg is also elevated. The black pepper is definitely up. Now it's at an 8+. The finish is unchanged. The cigar is fairly full bodied. The cigar is very enjoyable. I held the score of 94 for the second third.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 6 minutes. The black pepper is excellent in this cigar. In the final third it was still 8+. The finish is unchanged. The front end flavors are about the same. This is a rather short cigar so I did not expect many big changes. The cigar is very full bodied. This cigar and the Daisy Cutter are 2 very good cigars. I held the score of 94 for the final third. Very good cigar.

Overall Score: 94

Rapid Reviews; 5 cigars from Cigar Bundles of Miami

Video review HERE.

The post is a multiple review of some of Cigar Bundles of Miami cigars. These cigars are available through the highlighted links provided. Plus, when you use the discount code TIMROLLINS you will save 15%.

Prime Select Pigtails Grand Toro 6x58

6th priming oily Habano wrapper

Nicaraguan binder and filler

Starts with cedar, brown sugar, cinnamon, light caramel, nutmeg, earthy black coffee. 

Black pepper at 7 1/2. As the cigar burns into the first third the nutmeg and black pepper combine nicely.

First third: 92

Second third: the cigar got smoother. Consistent flavors.

Score: 92

Final third: dry nutmeg and earthy black coffee was elevated. 

Score: 90

Overall Score: 91.33

Tampa Handrolls, Maduro, 6x52 Box pressed

Available in these sizes:

Lancero 7x38 

Figurado 4x49 

Robusto 5x50 

Toro 6x52 Box Press 

6 x52 Torpedo 

Gordo 6x60 

Extra Gordo 7x70

Available wrappers:

Connecticut 

Habano 

Maduro

(you can get to all sizes and wrappers through highlighted link)

From the hands of the finest Cuban rollers in Tampa.

All long Nicaraguan filler.

Hand rolled in Ybor City in bundles of 25.

Light up: citrus/cedar, brown sugar, graphite, nutmeg, sweet dark chocolate, black coffee. Nice mix of flavors.

First third: 92

Second third: sweetness slightly increased, nutmeg and coffee are elevated.

Second third: 93

Final third: chocolate and coffee notes increased. Nice cigar.

Score: 92

Overall Score: 92.33

Alex's Private Blend Cuban Seed Torpedo Maduro 6 1/2 x 52

Maduro wrapper

Nicarguan/Honduran Cuban Seed Long Fillers

Starts with sweet, tangy cedar, brown sugar, caramel, sweet dark chocolate, black coffee. Black pepper rated at 7 1/2.

First third: 93

Second third: Same great flavors and increased black coffee. Pepper still very good. Nice sweet dark chocolate. Nutmeg enters but not overpowering. Tight ash.

Second third: 94

Final third: sweet dark chocolate, cedar/caramel combination, light nutmeg, deep black coffee which is elevated. Nice black pepper. 

Final third: 94

Overall Score: 93.67

Tampa Candela 5 packs 6 x 52+/-

 

Nicaraguan candela wrapper over all Nicaraguan binder and fillers.

Starts with numerous notes; orange peel, meat, cedar, leather, light brown sugar, nutmeg, light fresh grass. Believe it or not the flavors mix to make an interesting flavor that has light sweetness. Black pepper at 7 1/2. Not really a black coffee base. More of a heavy leather base.

First third: 90

Second third; about the same flavor  notes but you can add lemon to the list. Very meaty, leathery flavor mix. There is just enough sweetness to make the cigar interesting. The finish has meaty leather and some grassy notes but not heavy. There are some earthy black coffee notes on the finish. Medium bodied.

Score: 90

Final third; meat notes coming out more. Plenty of orange peel/lemon notes, plenty of meaty leather and nutmeg. Light sweetness. There is now black coffee at the base. Medium to full bodied.

Score: 90

Overall Score: 90

This is a very different type of cigar and the more of them I smoke the better I like them.

M.C.B. Made In Miami Box-press Habano oscuro 5 Pack 6 x 52

This is a great looking cigar. Very well made and box pressed.

Premium Nicaraguan Long filler aged 6 years brought down from Esteli,Nicaragua and rolled in Little Havana,Florida by the best Torcedores (rollers) around! They are a 6 X 52 packed 5 with a sun grown Habano oscuro wrapper.

Starts with cedar/citrus, strawberry notes, brown sugar, cinnamon, caramel, nutmeg, light leather notes, and earthy black coffee. Pepper rated at 8. Very tasty cigar.

First third: 94

Second third: more caramel notes, black pepper very good. Finish is caramel, citrus, and good black pepper. 

Score: 94

Final third: continuation of same notes. Black coffee up. Very good black pepper, 

Score: 93

Overall Score: 93.67

These are all cigars I could easily smoke again. If interested in trying any of these click the link in the name and use code TIMROLLINS to get 15% off your purchase.

CAO LAUNCHES BONES

CAO presents “Bones,” a collection made to celebrate the memories that are made when a great cigar is lit and the games begin. Bones was named after dominoes and dice, the deeds that are best done with a cigar in hand and in the company of friends old or new.

CAO’s blender/brand ambassador Rick Rodriguez said, “Bones is about kicking back with your friends with a cold beer in your hand, playing a game, smoking, grilling, talking a little trash, and having the time of your life. And that’s what CAO is about, too. It’s about being yourself, enjoying the people you’re with and not having a care in the world while you’re having your cigar. Most of us need a break right now and Bones is just the cigar for that.”

Rick and the Nicaraguan-based CAO blending team set out to make a medium-to-full-bodied smoke that could easily be the topic of conversation or take the backseat during a game night or any smoking occasion with fellow cigar smokers. Rick and the team also developed the blend to complement a wide range of libations that go hand-in-hand with a handmade cigar.

Bones features a four year old Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over a Connecticut Shade binder. The blend is comprised of two varieties of Honduran tobacco from Jamastran and La Entrada, along with Nicaraguan Estelí and Dominican Piloto Cubano. Bones is a meaty smoke that delivers bold notes of wood, nuts and vanilla.

Bones is a full-time addition to the brand’s top-rated lineup and is handcrafted in Nicaragua at STG Estelí. The brand will ship on August 4th to cigar retailers across the country and will be available in four sizes, each named after classic games of dominoes. Each box contains 20 cigars, comes with two standard 16mm dice and is outfitted with a felt-covered inside lid which is a suitable surface for playing dice.

Chicken Foot (Robusto): 5” x 54 – SRP per cigar $7.49

Blind Hughie (Toro): 6” x 54 – SRP per cigar $7.99

Matador (Churchill): 7.25” x 54 – SRP per cigar $8.49

Maltese Cross (Gigante): 6” x 60 – SRP per cigar $8.99

VF 1998 -- VegaFina Commemorates 20+ Years - From New to Global Brand

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – VF 1998 commemorates the VegaFina brand’s more than two decade run, from its beginnings in La Romana, Dominican Republic at the famed Tabacalera De Garcia – to today’s recognition as a global brand. With a reputation built on impeccable construction at a stellar price point, the VegaFina brand is also one of the best-selling cigar brands in Europe.

Hand crafted by the same Grupo De Maestros behind the iconic Romeo y Julieta, Montecristo and H. Upmann brands, VegaFina are handmade premium cigars celebrated by adult aficionados across the globe for their affordability and excellence.

“It is an exciting time for the VegaFina brand, says Jennifer True, AUSA’s senior brand manager. “We know the VF 1998 will resonate with adult consumers looking for a great looking signature smoke that is both high-quality and competitively priced.”

A top-notch premium cigar, the VF 1998 is expertly blended by some of the tobacco industry’s leading experts. “In a way, we have been working on this cigar for over 20 years,” explains Pedro Ventura, a member of the Grupo De Maestro for Tabacalera USA. “Since the brand’s inception shortly before the turn of the century, we have taken our learnings from various blends to develop a cigar with just the right characteristics for the VF 1998. We are very proud of the result.”

The VF 1998 is made of tobaccos born from proprietary tobacco fields in five regions: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Colombia, Indonesia and Ecuador.

A cigar with distinction

The VF 1998 can rightfully be referred to as a cum laude cigar. As anyone who has attended a graduation ceremony knows, cum laude in Latin means “with distinction,” a phrase used to represent a high level of achievement. For the VF 1998, this distinction is achieved through a sophisticated blend of tobacco leaves that have been carefully selected and aged for at least four years.

This aging process provides the cigar a unique and balanced character that is recognizable by its rich, complex aroma and its flavor, with a gentle and refined mix of distinctive and intense nuances – a new level of complexity achieved for the VegaFina brand.

A premium image

The VF 1998 will be presented in boxes of 10 and will include a range of three popular vitolas whose names refer to the cigar ring gauges: VF 50; VF 52 and VF 54 with an MSRP range between $8.60 - $9.60. Initially available to retailers on Altadis U.S.A’s Connect 360° trade program and Casa De Montecristo retail stores.

VF 1998 Product Summary:

Introduction Date: September 2020

Box Count: 10 cigar per box

VF 50: 50 x 4 ½

VF 52: 52 x 5 ¼

VF 54: 54 x 6 1/8

Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Colombia

Binder: Java Indonesia

Wrapper: Habana Ecuador x`x`

Tasting card:

• Wrapper: dark brown color, shiny and silky, with almost no veins.

• Aroma: woody, floral and toasted; hints of cedar, leather, cinnamon, nuts and honey.

• Taste: woody and roasted, with mild salty and spicy hints and sweet nuances of mellow fruit; notes of almonds, white pepper, vanilla, coffee and molasses.

• Strength: medium.

• Draw: excellent.

• Combustion: even and homogeneous.

• Ashes: light grey with little darker veins, compact and stable.

• Smoking time: VF 50: 40’; VF 52: 55’; VF 54: 70’.

Viaje Birthday Blend 2020 (6 x 52 Torpedo)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Halfwheel.com website)

The latest installment of the Viaje Birthday Blend has been released, which celebrates Farkas’ birthday on June 6. It is a 6 x 52 torpedo priced at $9.53 per cigar or $362 per box of 38.

Viaje debuted the Birthday Blend in 2016 as part of its White Label Project (WLP), though that designation lasted only one year before the line got its own packaging and banding, though did retain the WLP’s sticker that indicates some blend and production details. The original plan was to adjust the number of cigars per box in each release to correspond with Farkas’ age that year, though FDA regulations prevented that plan from moving forward.

While the company has not disclosed this year’s blend, the 2019 version used a Nicaraguan criollo 98 wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers.

The blend is said to be inspired by Old Forrester’s Birthday Bourbon, a limited edition, 12-year-old, vintage dated expression that comes out on Sept. 2, the birthday of company founder George Garvin Brown.

The cigar is well made and dark brown. It has a nice feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the torpedo cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were a citrus/cedar combination, brown sugar, cinnamon, caramel, cream, leather, and black coffee. There is a low amount of nutmeg at this point. The sweeter flavors greatly outweigh any nutmeg notes. There was a very nice amount of black pepper which I rated at an 8. Nice sweet start.

At the first third (28 minutes) the cigar settled down. I did not have the intensity of the sweeter notes. I still had the citrus/cedar, brown sugar, cinnamon, caramel, leathery nutmeg, and earthy black coffee. The black pepper is still very good. The finish is cedar, nutmeg, hints of leather, hints of brown sugar, and a lot of lingering black pepper. The flavors are still good but they have very much toned down in their intensity. I rated the first third 92. (FYI, the intensity of the flavors at light up would have rated the cigar 94.)

As I moved through the second third (55 minutes) the flavor notes are still there but they are watered down by an increase in nutmeg. If you will recall, the cigar had hardly any nutmeg when it started. Well, you'll notice it now. The leather has also toned down. The black coffee has also increased. The cigar is very close to full bodied at this point. The finish has more nutmeg, a little cedar, and hints of brown sugar. The lingering black pepper is still very good. The cigar has changed even more but it's still fairly appealing. I rated the second third 91.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 20 minutes. The cigar continued to change but not for the better. There is now a lot of nutmeg and earthy black coffee. I even had dry oak notes pop up that were not there before. There are now only hints of the front end sweeter flavors. The cigar is full bodied. The finish is pretty much unchanged but there is a lot more nutmeg now. The lingering black pepper remains very good, as well as the pepper on the front end. The way the cigar started was very good. I very much enjoyed the initial flavors. But the cigar went downhill from that point. The final third lost quite a bit. I rated the final third 88.

Overall Score: 90.33

Dissident Home 2020 (6 x 54 Box Press)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Cigar-coop.comwebsite)

Early in 2019 it was announced that Dissident Cigars was purchased by Benjamin Holt and the brand would be returning to market.

Back in 2015, Dissident Cigars had plans to do a limited release Honduran puro known as Home. However, in 2015 the brand halted operations and the cigar never made it to market. Now with Dissident returning under Holt’s stewardship, the cigar is making a comeback. This time production is shifting to Fabrica Oveja Negra and will have a totally new look. The 2019 Dissident will feature an Ecuadorian Maduro wrapper and a Corojo spiral over an Ecuadorian binder and 100% Estelí Nicaraguan filler. The cigar will come in one size – a 6 x 54 box-pressed Toro. It will be presented in 20-count boxes with a price point of $14.00 per cigar.

“In the process of blending this cigar I really tried to focus on what the name Home meant to me in the context of cigars. I kept reflecting back on how much I love Estelí tobacco and the first time I spent at Fabrica Oveja Negra. Fabrica Oveja Negra creates fantastic artisan cigars and it instantly became a no brainer for me to highlight these tobaccos in this way. I’m very proud of this cigar and how it brings out the flavor that I feel is the taste of Estelí,” said Benjamin Holt in a press release.

Blend and Origin

Wrapper: Ecuador Maduro & Corojo

Binder: Ecuador

Filler: Nicaragua

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Factory: Fabrica Oveja Negra

Vitolas Offered

Box Press Toro: 6 x 54

The cigar is an absolute beauty to behold. The barberpole wrapper is fantastic. The box press is sharp. The cigar has an average feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors at light up were numerous; cedar, peach, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, caramel, dark chocolate, light cream, light leather, and a lot of black coffee. There was a nice amount of black pepper rated at 8. A fantastic start.

At the first third (30 minutes) the cigar is fantastic. The flavors are somewhat like ambrosia, a southern dessert or side dish composed of various types of citrus fruits and coconut that combine into a wonderful combination of flavors. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish had notes of citrus, cedar, honey, nutmeg, and nice lingering black pepper. The cigar is quite impressive at this point. I rated the first third 97.

As I moved through the second third (56 minutes) there were some changes. The extreme sweetness of the "ambrosia-like" flavors decreased but in their place were a lot of chocolate and black coffee notes. Now the cigar is tasting more like a typical James Brown cigar with all the dark notes. There are underlying notes of caramel that come out. The nutmeg is very manageable. There is still a lot of black pepper. The cigar is a high grade medium to full bodied. The finish is now one of chocolate, nutmeg, light caramel notes, and an increased lingering black pepper. I rated the second third 96.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 13 minutes. I was enjoying it so much I used my PerfecDraw tool to help get every last puff. In the final third I got more cedar and brown sugar. The chocolate notes are still very good along with light caramel. The nutmeg is still there but it's not intrusive. The black coffee holds the base. The light leather that I had at light up was not seen after that point. The cigar is now full bodied. The finish has cedar and more nutmeg to go along with the chocolate and light caramel. The lingering black pepper was still very good. This is a somewhat complex cigar that makes changes all along the way. I rated the final third 96.

Overall Score: 96.33

L’Amateur de Cigare names CAO Pilón Cigar of the Year

CAO Pilón was named “Cigar of the Year” by celebrated international cigar magazine L’Amateur de Cigare.

The magazine’s prestigious tasting panel rated a total of 450 cigars, with Pilón ultimately winning out against the finest cigars available in France, one of the world’s leading markets for handmade cigars.

Regis Broersma, president of General Cigar said, “We are extremely proud that CAO Pilón received this honor from such a distinguished and respected international publication. When we created Pilón, we developed the brand according to a 19th-century Cuban fermentation technique, so it is ironic that Pilón beat out the best of the best cigars from Cuba, as well as other top cigar-producing countries.”

L’Amateur de Cigare described Pilón as “elegant” and hails its “great complexity and agreeable persistence,” while praising Pilón’s “satisfying finish” and “excellent value.”

CAO Pilón was introduced in the U.S. in 2015 and launched in France in 2018 at an exclusive event in Paris at the DuPont headquarters.

Handcrafted in Nicaragua at STG Esteli, Pilón was created by Rick Rodriguez and the CAO blending team who utilized the labor-intensive pilón process of natural fermentation to maximize the flavor and color of the Cuban seed Ecuadoran wrapper, delivering a taste and appearance unattainable through other methods. The blend consists of spicy Nicaraguan filler and binder leaves from the distinctive growing regions of Esteli and Ometepe. CAO Pilón bears a deep, rich color and an incredible depth of flavor, featuring notes of wood, spice and a touch of sweetness.

CAO Pilón is available in the U.S. and in select markets worldwide in these formats:

Churchill 7x 48 – SRP per cigar $8.49

Robusto Extra 5 x 52 – SRP per cigar $7.49

Corona 5.5 x 44 – SRP per cigar $7.09

Toro 6 x 58 – SRP per cigar $8.49

Torpedo – 7 x 54 - SRP per cigar $8.89

Protocol Cigars announces Protocol Pool Party Year 1

Protocol Cigars announces a special limited edition release cigar called the Protocol Pool Party Year 1. The cigars were produced at Erik Espinosa’s La Zona Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. The Protocol Pool Party Year 1 is offered in a Corona Gordo: 5 5/8 X 46 vitola. They are presented in a 10 count paper bundle. Only 100 Bundles have been produced. The packaging is symbolic of fun summer time pool parties. This cigar is wrapped in a Mexican San Andreas Maduro Leaf, Connecticut Shade Binder, and Nicaraguan Corojo from Esteli and Condega filler. The Protocol Pool Party Year 1 is a solid medium to medium plus with spicy rich flavors and a long sweet creamy finish. 

The Protocol Pool Party will not be for sale. These limited edition cigars will instead be given to the first 100 attendees to the Protocol Pool Party on Saturday, August 1st, 2020. This is a ticketed event in Neptune, NJ.  The event is not the first of its kind. In the past the Protocol Pool Party was held at the home of co-owner Kevin Keithan. The event has steadily outgrown that location. The company has decided to make the party a yearly ticketed event. This event is 100% outdoor and on a 7 acre picnic ground with an Olympic size pool. This event is 100% compliant with all NJ State Covid Rules and Regulations. The company has implemented several levels of protection to all attendees.  “We wanted to do something special for our supporters, especially since everyone has been locked at home for the last several months. 

The demand to attend and numbers have grown exponentially for this event and needed move to a bigger venue. We have implemented safety precautions to ensure everyone’s wellbeing. The health of our supporters is of the utmost importance to us.  With that said everyone will be safe and a phenomenal time will be had by all!” Juan Cancel, co-owner Protocol Cigars. For more detailed event information visit the company’s website at ProtocolCigars.com or their social media platforms. 

Archetype Master by Ventura Cigar Co. (6 x 52)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Cigar-coop.com website)

Ventura Cigar Company has launched two new cigars under its Archetype brand known as Master and Pupil. These cigars are coming from the Joya de Nicaragua factory in the Dominican Republic.

In terms of the theme, Ventura Cigar Company explains, “Inspired by the studies of both Sigmund Freud and Karl Jung, who identified common threads and themes of storytelling that transcend both time and culture, Archetype cigars outline the familiar tale of a hero’s journey, with cigars punctuating each crucial stage. Master and Pupil incorporates the essence of Freud and Jung, teacher and student, and tensions uncovered with the reversal of roles and transition of student to teacher.”

It’s the first major release to come from Joya de Nicaragua for Ventura Cigar Company.

Master is described as “bold, confident”. This cigar is an all Nicaraguan Puro – available in one size, a 6 x 52 Toro.

“No matter where you are in life, you are a master or a pupil. And then, one day, you are both,” says Michael Giannini, General Manager of Ventura Cigar Company. “We are students first, learning from those who came before. And then we find ourselves as the teachers, imparting our knowledge on others just starting their quest. We are never fully done learning, either, so the roles of teacher and student are fluid, always changing. The Archetype Master and Pupil cigars explore these transitions and tensions through blends that offer strength and nuance throughout the smoke. We’ve worked on these for over a year with the masters at Joya de Nicaragua, of whom we are all students.

The cigar is dark brown and has a nice feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was good with a touch of firmness. The initial flavors were a little odd; a somewhat sweet grapefruit note, a sour/oily nutmeg, and earthy black coffee, and light leather notes. These are very odd and different flavors. Already it's obvious that this cigar is very different from The Pupil, which I reviewed a couple weeks ago. 

At the first third (28 minutes) the sour/oily nutmeg has toned down. I now get a cedar/grapefruit citrus note as the lead flavor. There is a touch of brown sugar. I still had lots of earthy nutmeg, dry leather, and black coffee. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is nutmeg, a dusting of brown sugar, and leather with decent lingering black pepper. The front end black pepper is rated at 6; not very much. At this point the cigar is not hitting on may cylinders with me. I rated the first third 89.

As I moved through the second third (58 minutes) all I had were hints of cedar and brown sugar, a lot of nutmeg, leather, and earthy black coffee. The finish is unchanged. The cigar is still medium to full bodied. For me the cigar is quickly going downhill. I rated the second third 86.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 17 minutes. In the final third the already low levels of cedar actually decreased. Otherwise the cigar remained about the same. This is not a cigar that I would want again but that's just my tastes. You may love it. Go by the description and decide for yourself. After all, they blended it this way for a reason. There is a market for just about any cigar out there. This one is just not for me. I rated the final third 85. Don't forget about the Pupil which was a much better cigar. I would highly recommend trying it.

Overall Score: 86.67