Hot Cake Golden Line is a hit on many levels. I would not say it is overly complex, but a great value Connecticut that can be enjoyed by any level of smoker. Constructed perfectly, the HVC Hot Cake Golden Line Corona Gorda smoked cool with core flavors from start to finish. Yes, I will come back to this cigar. Yes, I can see this cigar becoming a regular in my rotation. Nice morning beach cigar.
The Romeo y Julieta Envy Amulet had an average flavor profile through the first two thirds with a dry profile focused around toasted cedar, dry earth and black pepper. The final third dropped a level as the char appeared. Overall, I wasn't impressed with this cigar as the flavor profile was pretty mundane and didn't finish well. Not a cigar I'd see myself returning to.
Like many Black Works Studio offerings, this cigar showed deepness in flavors as well as a good head spin with it's higher nicotine delivery. Being rich and rustic in flavors, this Black Works Studio Poison Dart Corona Gorda will please any existing fans of the brand as well as welcome new smokers willing to smoke the darker side.
The Connecticut definitely had some strength and body, and the flavors were darker than your typical Connecticut as well. It really captured that modern Connecticut. I have a feeling that the cigar will be softer in a larger format, and that may make those more appealing to me. Overall, the La Aroma de Cuba Connecticut Corona was a solid cigar.
The Oliva Serie O Maduro Robusto didn't start all that great with some staleness and carboard, but things came together in the second third with a nice combination of flavors, but then waned in the final half of the cigar. Not a bad offering, but not all that exciting either. This is a step above the Natural offering in the line, but I'm not sure I'd see myself coming back to it with any frequency.
The La Palina Nicaragua Connecticut Toro delivered some enjoyable and engaging flavor combinations through the first and second third, with the final third having discordant combinations that didn't work for me. I would smoke this again, the price is reasonable for the market and the smoking time was on point for a Toro at 2 hours and 13 minutes.
This Cohiba Riviera Robusto is the first Cohiba that's not made at El Titan de Bronze that is well worth it. Even though it's Mexican San Andres, it kind of smokes like a quality Connecticut broadleaf without the heavier chewiness. The price is a bit steep for what it is, but since I care most about flavors, I'm all in on this one.
The Brick House Bricktoberfest 2022 had a pretty average flavor profile throughout. The stale/cardboard effect on the cedar along with the dry earth just didn't really intrigue me. I don't really see myself coming back to this cigar, but if you like a drier, cedar and earth focused flavor profile, it might be worth a try.
The Micallef Black Robusto had a nice start with a dynamic flavor profile. Things mellowed in the second third and dropped a level and maintained that profile the rest of the way. This is an interesting offering from the brand at a lower price point. While I found the cigar OK, it's not something I'd see myself returning to all that often, but I'm interested in trying the Toro vitola.
The Black Label Trading Co. La Madonna Negra Rothschild was a delight to smoke with flavor intensity ranging from light-plus up to medium-full at times but never causing palate fatigue. I thoroughly enjoyed the review and for an anniversary release cigar the price point is extremely attractive. I'm not sure the short vitola allowed the cigar to fully develop and I'd be interested in trying this in the Corona Gorda or the Robusto.