The Angel Cuesta Toro started well, with a classic flavor profile. From the second third on, the profile was average, with the final third kind of teetering on being good. This is a slight step down from the Salomones vitola, possibly due to the burn issues. The flavor profile is unique and I like it when it's on, the price point just doesn't do it for me, especially with the burn issues I've experienced in the two vitolas I've smoked.
The Partagas de Bronce Corona Gorda started out with some interesting flavors in the first third, centered around floral and lavender components. As the cigar progressed, the profile became more linear and average. Given the ultra premium price point, I was expecting more from the flavor profile, so this is something I wouldn't return to based on my experience.
The overall profile for the J.C. Newman The American Double Robusto was pretty average throughout with some slight transitions that never took the cigar to a higher level. In my opinion, this is not the best vitola for the line and I wouldn't really see myself returning to this one.
I enjoyed the Angel Cuesta Salomones blend, and I can see myself smoking different vitolas of the line. It is not overly complex, but it had a really enjoyable and easy flavor profile from start to finish. Just a nice level of complexity and flavors for a cigar you can sit back and relax with and take your time.
The HVC La Rosa 520 Rare of Rare was a balanced cigar with a complex flavor profile. Lots of depth with some transitioning throughout the thirds. Nice strength and body; match the flavors of the cigar well. It has been some time since I have had a really good Ecuadorian Sumatra release, feels like years, but this delivered that great lighter Ecuadorian Sumatra flavor profile I enjoy.
The Herrera Esteli Miami Smoke Inn 25th Anniversary The Raji was a bit of a rare miss for me. The first third was a fairly intense spicy and earth combination that I found worked. As the cigar progressed, the earth components took over and it became more earth forward which took away from the complexity and other flavors.
"True" Cameroon wrappers have always been intriguing to me. There's the ideal of where it should come from, where the best come from, and there is talk about how if it's right, it'll taste rich in spice and sweetness alike. But the (my) reality is, I haven't had many good ones. Then comes this Cuesta-Rey No. 95 Cameroon. Rich, sweet, spicy and full of flavors. This was great from first to last draw.
The Cohiba Serie M Corona Gorda is a great cigar, and a nice follow up to the initial release. It is close in quality and flavors to the original, and different in it's own way because of the vitola. I felt this offering was slightly more intense, with flavors and strength, and I am not surprised based off the smaller ring gauge.
The Warped El Oso Blanco Papa was an average cigar that had a decent start, but terrible follow-up in the second and final third. Not a terrible release for Warped though given where they've been the past couple years. The cigar itself was beautiful, but it just had that average to below average quality for cigars that come out of El Titan. The price was high too for the product delivered as well.
A baller look and an overall tasty profile. I'm typically not all that excited for such a long smoking experience, as it tends to be monotonous. But, the J.C. Newman The American President showed composure throughout the vast majority of the smoking experience. Bold statement, but I think this may be worth the $20.