The challenge with a larger format cigar like this for me, is providing enough complexity that I don't get bored for the lengthy smoking experience, while not overwhelming the palate. I think, overall, the experience with the Bond Roberts Fenomenos Linea E No. 1 was pleasant, but other than the first third, the remainder of the review was relatively unremarkable.
The Micallef Color Blend Bundle #2 is a good cigar. It kept my interest from beginning to end, and it has a nice core flavor profile. It helped that the burn and draw were perfect from start to finish as well. The peanut notes were great with the cream and cedar, and while softer, I have not had a flavor profile like this since the Humo Jaguar 14 years ago. I can see myself buying some down the road.
I'm sort of battling myself with this AJ Fernandez Amar Torito. Typically, I have a strong dislike for highly earthy (dirt/soil) type cigars. But even though this cigar had that, there was a richness in other flavors (spice, sweetness, barnyard) that kept me engaged in every draw. Given this, I want to smoke more in the hopes of finding consistency.
I enjoyed the initial third's baseline of sweet and creaminess the most. Past the first third, the Drew Estate Undercrown El Tigre Dominicano Corona Viva became a bit more stale and highlighted bitterness in minerals and oak wood. Overall, it's not a flavor profile that I enjoy but I can see others enjoying this style of cigar.
This Rojas Quiet Morning Lancero was a pleasurable smoke, being creamy and sweet with just enough earthiness to round it out. With each draw, I find myself needing to slow down in a good way to enjoy the flavors so that I don't overheat the skinny cigar. Good stuff.
Overall, the first third of the CAO America 250th Anniversary showed the most promise and complexity, but the cigar steadily simplified as it progressed. Construction was excellent, with no burn interventions required and an ideal draw.
I truly enjoyed the first half of the Alec Bradley Thirty Years Toro. The flavor profile was well rounded and very approachable, being abundantly sweet and creamy with added spice and minerals. But unfortunately, the latter half was a bit too tannic in wood and minerals.
The My Father La Lealtad Toro is a decent cigar. The flavor profile becomes a little monotonous with the size offering, but it is not unpleasant. It could come off as a profile that does not speak to a lot of smokers as well, and I feel that is a Dominican/Honduran aspect to the cigar. I believe this blend could reach a higher level with some more richness. That will add to the complexity and depth.
The Didier Rachel is a solid cigar. It’s a well-done large ring gauge offering as well. The blend is slightly one-dimensional, but it has a nice level of depth and complexity so it can get away with not showing a lot of transitioning. It’s an easy cigar overall, and I think it’s a cigar that any smoker could enjoy to a certain degree.
The Saint Luis Rey Eiroa 30th Anniversary Rothchilde is an overall great cigar being candy like in sweet and creaminess with balancing earthiness and spice. But whomever the QC team is for this company needs a talking to. There's no reason to apply such an ugly cap to an overall good looking cigar.