The Atabey Corona Cigar 25th Anniversary, for the vast majority of the time, had a wonderful, full flavor experience that ranged from sweet and pastry like to earthy and spice. I certainly don't think it's worth the commanding price point of $34, but I can see myself smoking one here and there on rare special occasions.
Typically, based on smoking experience, when I see another non-Cuban Montecristo, I assume an average experience. My assumption basically made an ass out of myself. The Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua No. 2 was far from average, being quite complex with sweet Hawaiian bread, barnyard, herbal tea and baking spices for most of the smoking time (last third lost steam). I'll happily smoke more of these.
The Illusione PCA 2020 Exclusive is the first Illusione cigar released in the last few years in which I did not enjoy. There was no balance and complexities to the cigar. Being heavily charred red pepper spice and dry cedar oriented, it's not the typical DNA of Dion's masterful blending style that I'm accustomed to. I guess you can't win them all.
A solid short smoke. I loved the sweet and creamy pastry-like vanilla wafers note. The backing of baking spices, cedar and minerals was just enough to tie the profile together. The VegaFina 1998 VF 50 is not a complex cigar, but one of those cigar experiences where it makes you nod your head a couple times and say, "man, that was good."
This was a good flavor profile, delivering a small set of flavors, but big flavors. The fresh seeded jalapeno and richness in sweet and creamy nuttiness was all it took. I really enjoyed that simplistic nature of the Rocky Patel Grand Reserve Toro. This, coupled by a great burning and drawing cigar, yields just a darn good cigar.
This isn't what I was expecting out of Aganorsa Corojo '99. Being heavily spice and mineral driven, I got little or no soft notes of bread, nuts and even citrus, which is what I tend to expect. The profile was leaning too much into being sharp and charred, which ultimately made the Aganorsa Leaf Lunatic Torch Visionaries an overall average experience.
Definitely not my cup of tea in terms of the large ring gauge, but when it comes to overall flavor delivery, I gotta give praise to the Drew Estate Undercrown Sun Grown Dojo Dogma. Silky/buttery mouthfeel with flavors of sweet cream, roasted chestnuts, minerals, cedar and layered red pepper spice. Well executed until the final third in which harshness and an abundance of minerals shows. This one is worth it.
The Crowned Heads Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2020 LC56 was unfortunately a miss for me. I would go as far as to say it is my least favorite Las Calaveras. The profile suffered from lack of complexities and depth of flavors. I'll have to pass on this year and look forward to next year's release.
This was a tasty little cigar. Well balanced and full of flavors, never letting off the gas pedal from first draw to last. Minerals, baking spices, roasted chestnuts, milk creaminess and white pepper spice. Nothing to dislike about that flavor combination. I thoroughly enjoyed the JRE Aladino Habano Vintage Selection Rothschild and it's an easy recommend.
With such a nice luxurious package (for only $8 nonetheless), the flavor delivery doesn't match up. It's more of your traditional Connecticut shade with softer notes. The ted's Trump Presidential Cigar has a good presentation, but not something I'd come back to.
