This Rojas Quiet Morning Lancero was a pleasurable smoke, being creamy and sweet with just enough earthiness to round it out. With each draw, I find myself needing to slow down in a good way to enjoy the flavors so that I don't overheat the skinny cigar. Good stuff.
Overall, the first third of the CAO America 250th Anniversary showed the most promise and complexity, but the cigar steadily simplified as it progressed. Construction was excellent, with no burn interventions required and an ideal draw.
The Stoic Equanimity Wisdom had a complex profile out of the gate, but settled into a more predictable offering as it finished. From a construction standpoint, the draw was excellent throughout, and aside from a single re-light, the burn performed well enough to stay out of the way.
I truly enjoyed the first half of the Alec Bradley Thirty Years Toro. The flavor profile was well rounded and very approachable, being abundantly sweet and creamy with added spice and minerals. But unfortunately, the latter half was a bit too tannic in wood and minerals.
Monthly, we will put together a list of all of the cigars that were released, or announced to be released, in the previous month. This should give you an easy way to stay in tune with new releases.
The My Father La Lealtad Toro is a decent cigar. The flavor profile becomes a little monotonous with the size offering, but it is not unpleasant. It could come off as a profile that does not speak to a lot of smokers as well, and I feel that is a Dominican/Honduran aspect to the cigar. I believe this blend could reach a higher level with some more richness. That will add to the complexity and depth.
The CAO Italia Ciao started with an average flavor profile but took a step down in the second third and remained that way through to the end. I'm pretty sure the very tight draw just didn't let this profile exhibit what it was supposed to be, as smoke production was low early on and required multiple draws. Unfortunately, I don't think I can really report on what this cigar really is based on the draw issue, and I'm not sure if I'll return to see if I can get a better constructed one.
The Didier Rachel is a solid cigar. It’s a well-done large ring gauge offering as well. The blend is slightly one-dimensional, but it has a nice level of depth and complexity so it can get away with not showing a lot of transitioning. It’s an easy cigar overall, and I think it’s a cigar that any smoker could enjoy to a certain degree.
The Saint Luis Rey Eiroa 30th Anniversary Rothchilde is an overall great cigar being candy like in sweet and creaminess with balancing earthiness and spice. But whomever the QC team is for this company needs a talking to. There's no reason to apply such an ugly cap to an overall good looking cigar.
The Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Natural No. IV had an average flavor profile through the first two thirds, focused around toasted cedar, earth and construction paper. It took a step down in the final third as the wood bitterness increased and then transitioned to vegetal bitterness and increased some more. A pretty traditional Connecticut shade offering, but it just didn't do enough to make it something I'd really want to come back to. The price point is attractive though, so it's an easy try for those that enjoy this flavor profile.