John Archives - Developing Palates - Cigar, Beer and Spirit Reviews and Ratings

Team Cigar Review: Tatuaje Anarchy KAOS

The Tatuaje Anarchy KAOS is a cigar that started out great and slowly deteriorated. That first third was great, giving way to sweetened condensed milk, roasted peanuts, zesty minerality, subtle red pepper spice and cedar. But as the cigar progressed, the sweetness dramatically dropped, and eventually led to undesirable char and burnt notes. I'd like to revisit the cigar in 5 to 6 months to see if the cigar will smooth out its rougher edges. But as of now, it's a soft recommend.

Jiunn Liu, September 23, 2020

Team Cigar Review: La Aurora TAA Exclusivo

The La Aurora TAA Exclusivo represents the type of quality that all TAA cigars should deliver. A complex assortment of flavors, with each third delivering a consistently good experience, with construction to match. I would happily smoke more of these at the earliest opportunity.

John McTavish, September 21, 2020

Team Cigar Review: Córdoba & Morales Finca Santa Fe FSG Toro

The Córdoba & Morales Finca Santa Fe FSG Toro was a consistently good experience from start to finish, illustrating some of the best aspects of Florida Sun Grown tobacco. The list of flavors included hay, cedar, baking spices, vegetal, cocoa, mustiness, sour citrus and musty cedar. I'm lookong forward to smoking more Finca Santa Fe FSGs in the near future. The draw and construction were both perfect.

John McTavish, September 18, 2020

Team Cigar Review: Viaje Skull and Bones The Hulk

The Viaje Skull and Bones The Hulk was an overall good experience, with the best portions coming in the first and second thirds. Flavors were complex and included baking spices, sweetness, graham cracker, spicy cedar, bread, coffee and tannins. The natural comparison will be The Hulk versus Bruce Banner. Between the two, I prefer The Hulk as I found the flavors to be more complex and balanced.

John McTavish, September 16, 2020

Team Cigar Review: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Muestra de Saka Unstolen Valor

The Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Muestra de Saka Unstolen Valor was overall a good experience. The first and second third had a complex medley of flavors that kept me interested and engaged through the smoking experience. Draw and construction were very good. The presentation was great, and I would happily light another Unstolen Valor up the next time I have the opportunity.

John McTavish, September 14, 2020

Team Cigar Review: Camacho Distillery Edition Corojo Toro

I personally don't care for the flavor profile overall, it is not my cup of tea, but nonetheless it is a good cigar and I believe some would enjoy this offering of the Camacho Corojo. In my opinion, just stick with the classic Camacho Corojo over this Camacho Distillery Edition Corojo Toro.

Seth Geise, September 11, 2020

Team Cigar Review: Tatuaje Black Label Petite Corona BC

After smoking the Tatuaje Black Label Petite Corona BC, this cigar joins the ranks of Rothchild Maduro. Wonderfully Nicaraguan Criollo with great nasal clearing red/cayenne pepper spice, barnyard stank and meatiness. I can see myself smoking multiples of these in one sitting. Well worth the price point and tasting experience.

Jiunn Liu, September 9, 2020

Team Cigar Review: Napa Cigar Society Perfecto

The Napa Cigar Society Perfecto was an overall good cigar. The cigar was highly earthy, providing rich soil. In combination with the earthiness were red pepper spice and a gentle sweet and creamy nuttiness. Although most of the cigar was enjoyable, I'm unsure it is $16 enjoyable. As such, this is a grab a couple to try recommendation.

Jiunn Liu, September 8, 2020

Team Cigar Review: Patina Maduro Rustic

I'm a bit taken back by how much I enjoyed the Patina Maduro Rustic. My experience with Patina has been for the most part lackluster. Granted the Maduro was never made at Casa Favilli, if this is an indication of all his lines tasting better as a result of the production move, I say winner, winner Patina dinner. Will not hesitate to return to this.

Jiunn Liu, September 2, 2020

Team Cigar Review: JRE Aladino Cameroon Lonsdale

The JRE Aladino Cameroon Lonsdale has to be one of the best cigars I've smoked and reviewed during 2020. The first third is a harmonized and complex list of flavors that kept my palate highly engaged. The rest of the cigar wasn't as complex, but still good with enjoyable flavor combinations. Burn and construction were great on the cigar, no doubt elevating the smoking experience.

John McTavish, August 31, 2020