The Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder Brimstone is a nice offering in the line, but I don't feel it reaches or goes beyond the previous iterations. The profile is dark and strong, but the dryness just took away from the overall enjoyment. For fans of the brand and the line, it's a definite try, but for my preference, I'll go with one of the previous versions.
The ACID Kuba Arte is a solid offering and a nicely infused cigar from ACID. It is probably my favorite offering ever from ACID, and it is a blend that is good, but taken to a higher level with the infusion. The infusion is not over the top, but shows some natural qualities in the smoking experience.
The San Pedro de Macorís Sun Grown Robusto is an enjoyable offering and a solid blend. I like how the wrapper works on the cigar and the flavors delivered throughout are enjoyable. With the price tag of this cigar and all of the San Pedro offerings, these are box purchase smokes.
The San Pedro de Macorís Nicaragua Robusto had a rich and nuanced first and second third with balanced and enjoyable flavors. The last third lost most of the cigars complexity and was almost entirely driven by cedar flavors. This is another solid performer in the San Pedro line and I think Royal Agio is poised to clean up on the value category this year.
The Cubariqueño Protocol Jane Doe is medium strength with enjoyable complexity through the first and second thirds. The cigar has a range of flavors from cedar, leather, cocoa, bread, pepper, baking spices and earth. Overall, I enjoyed the Protocol Jane Doe and would happily smoke it again.
Overall, I felt the Punch Diablo Scamp was fairly average. For people that are a fan of AJ and like darker, fuller strength cigars, they may find an enjoyable experience. When I'm in the mood for something dark and fuller strength, I'd prefer something with a better flavor profile, so this cigar probably isn't something I'd return to with any frequency.
I am a fan of the Balmoral Anejo XO Oscuro Rothschild Masivo and the flavor profile it delivers. It is a great example of a Mexican wrapper and produces a complex flavor profile that has depth and transitioning from start to finish. This is what a multi-nation blend should look and smoke like.
The Hoyo de Monterrey HOYO La Amistad Black Rothschild is unbalanced and dominated by almost overwhelming pepper, until the final third where it's dominated by almost overwhelming earth. I don't have the requisite tobacco experience to determine whether the issue is with the tobacco, or the blending, but my experience tells me that the tobacco wasn't ready when the cigar was produced.
The La Gloria Cubana Esteli Robusto is an interesting cigar with a flavor profile that has distinct evolution through each third. Reaching an overall flavor strength of medium-full at times, you're treated to earth, leather, toasted notes, spices, creme brulee, chocolate and baking spices.
In terms of what I think about the Alec Bradley Medalist Toro, the profile was a good representation on a less heavy smoking experience with notes of pencil lead minerality, cedar, bread/toast and slightly over charred coffee. This is worth a shot, especially at the low price of $6.50 MSRP per cigar.
