This JRE Aladino Candela Robusto was an average candela. Price is nice, but it's an average candela. If it had some earthiness with the candela profile, it would have been better. A prettier wrapper would have helped the cigar as well. Nice lemon curd profile in the first two thirds. When it was paired with the cedar, lemongrass and white pepper notes, it was great. Just needed something more.
Overall, the Sencillo Black Lancero was a good cigar. Bolder and rustic delivery of mala dried red pepper spice, earthy dirt grit, and softened nicely by naturally sweet and creamy mixed nuts. This isn't the type of flavor profile that I necessarily enjoy, but the delivery of the bolder flavors mixed with softer flavors was well done. And a great burning and drawing lancero to boot.
The Davidoff Year of the Rabbit Limited Edition 2023 had a complex profile through the first two thirds and then became less dynamic in the final third. It really amped up the profile from multiple blends the company has employed previously. This is a cigar I'd definitely come back to, but the high price point is a bit of a detractor. Nice to see a step back up for the Year of series.
At this point in time, i.e. smoking the cigar for review about 3 months after release, the cigar is average tasting. Interestingly enough, I smoked this cigar at a local cigar shop about 2.5 months ago and the cigar was much more enjoyable. It has the overall Tatuaje ID of great body and heavier and bolder flavors, but it's not packaged well yet. I know it will get better with some time.
This Caldwell Long Live The Queen Queen's Crown is the exact profile of Caldwell cigars that I enjoy. Cigars that are first and foremost undeniably full of flavors. The flavors in themselves meld well with the softer and spikier notes. The stronger strength is not typically there but the strength never took away from the focus of the flavors. Well done.
This Villiger Villiger de Nicaragua Edición Limitada 2022 was a solid blend from beginning to end. Love the diversity of tobacco in the cigar. Rich profile that is one of the few examples of dark Ecuadorian Sumatra flavor working well. Some transitioning, but it made up for it with the depth and complexity. Nice strength and body level as well. If the factory keeps producing cigars like this, I see good things for Villiger.
This Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Short Churchill G is new(er) age Connecticut shade done right. That is, a baseline profile that is full of soft flavors touching on sweetness, creaminess and nuttiness. The newer age side of it being a bit more spice than your traditional old school Connecticut shade. Pleasure to smoke and will be back for more.
I wasn't blown away by the My Father Flor de Las Antillas 10th Anniversary. I have never been crazy on the line, but I would have expected more with this being a 10th Anniversary blend. Of course, it could be because I just was not one for the line from the get go. However, I have found My Father to do very well with anniversary cigars, even if I did not enjoy the core line blend as much as I cared for the limited offering.
I really enjoyed this Highclere Castle Senetjer and the flavor profile delivered. Balanced with some dry earth and cocoa qualities. Balance of sweet and peppery with the spices. Great construction. Well made cigar with nice strength and body to pair the flavors as well. Beautiful presentation. Hard to not buy a box of these cigars. Great offering by Highclere Castle and Foundation.
The La Flor Dominicana Solis had a nice start, but as the earth began increasing in the second third, it dropped down a level and maintained that the rest of the way. This was an interesting cigar to smoke. I could see it doing well, as it's a lighter offering than a fair amount of LFD's portfolio. I probably wouldn't see myself coming back to it all that often, but I would smoke it again.