The Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Sonata Vibrato started well for the first inch, but then started to fall off. The cigar maintained an average flavor profile the rest of the way. Overall, the cigar was just OK. The quick ramp up of strength in the final third was a surprise. Not a cigar I'd really see myself coming back to.
Not gonna lie, I was ready to type about how this is the same AJ chef and therefore the same story as per usual. But I am wrong. Very wrong. This Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Diamante No. 2 was delicious, capturing not just AJ earthiness, but it was much more than that, delivering great notes of chocolate, minerals and sweetness. Very pricey indeed, but definitely worth trying.
I really enjoyed the AJ Fernandez New World Dorado Figurado, and it was a nice return to the New World line/brand. I thought it was a solid Nicaraguan puro that delivered an enjoyable flavor profile that was present throughout. Not overly complex, or showing a lot of transitioning, but an overall good blend. I prefer the Toro vitola offering, but a nice Figurado.
The Room101 Snake Shake presented very full flavors through the first half, but it was a pretty basic set of flavors that didn't really grab my attention. The fullness of flavors waned in the second half, but that didn't really change the enjoyment level for me. Just an average flavor profile throughout and not something I'd be in a hurry to return to.
The H. Upmann Nicaragua AJ Fernandez Heritage Toro had a nice start with a vibrant set of flavors. The second third saw the vibrance wane a fair amount and maintained an average profile from that point on. The price point is attractive, but even with that, the overall smoking experience wasn't one that would bring me back to this cigar with any kind of frequency.
Overall, the AJ Fernandez New World Cameroon Toro was pretty linear in it's flavor profile until some transitions in the final third. Having reviewed the cigar in the Double Robusto previously, this vitola provided a very similar, average experience. The price point is attractive, so it's an easy try if the blend intrigues you.
The Diesel Sunday Gravy San Marzano was about what I expected from the brand at this price point, a bundle type flavor profile. While the first third was average, it went downhill from there and isn't something that was all that enjoyable. If you're a Diesel fan or a bundle smoker, give it a try, but I can't see myself coming back to this.
The Diesel Crucible is a solid cigar and a strong one at that. It is not my cup of tea, due to the strength, but it is right in line with the Diesel brand and a cigar I could enjoy from time to time. This is an evening cigar for me.
I enjoyed smoking the Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 2 Toro. While the cigar wasn't necessarily as complex as I would want, the flavors that were present were enjoyable, and harmonized in a way that kept me engaged.
The Epic Ten was a pleasant, slightly above average, albeit underwhelming review experience considering the anniversary nature of the cigar. The Epic Ten did deliver some good flavors through the first third. I had high hopes for the cigar, given the Cameroon wrapper, and my enjoyment of other past Epic releases.