The Padron Series 3000 Maduro had a nice start, with a well rounded flavor profile. It took a step down in the second third as the cocoa departed and remained at that level the rest of the way. With Padron, the question usually arises, Natural or Maduro. For this vitola, they both performed equally for me, so I can't say I have a favorite between the two.
The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos 90 Años is a good cigar. It has a flavor profile that is complex throughout, and the cigar shows some nice transitioning from beginning to end. The body and strength increased in the second and final third, and it has a nice burn and draw as well. The size on the blend is great, and I am curious to see what other vitolas there are with the blend. This is a good cigar, and I look forward to discovering the blend and brand.
This was not a cohesive blend. The wood bitterness in itself as a flavor can give a cigar a boost in complexities, but with this cigar, it was a main focal point. On top of that, the Illusione Group of Five SE didn't really have anything else going for it. No doubt a pass for me.
The Avowed The Vow 11.25 had a nice start, with a good combination of flavors that really showcased the unique mustiness. It took a step down in the second third as the earth moved up and down and remained average for the remainder of the cigar. This cigar was a bit of a step up over the 7.05 I reviewed previously, but I still don't see it as a profile that did enough to come back to with any real frequency.
A consistently good cigar from start to finish. The range of flavors were not vast but I loved how full and distinct the flavors were. Highly anticipate what this reveal is. I'd definitely be in for at least a bundle of 10 of this Raices Cubanas 1941 Nuevo Comienzo Gran Toro.
This Tatuaje PCA 2025 started off good, but it took a dive deeper and deeper into the dumpster the more I smoked it. Initial offerings of toasted mixed nuts, baking spices and minerals were nothing short of a good cigar, but as the cigar progressed, the flavor complexities weakened and by the end the harsh caking on my palate ultimately confirmed this is not something I'd turn back to.
The Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Sumatra Robusto had a nice start as the earth with the decomposing leaves, that doesn't sound all that appealing, actually was. It took a step down in the second third as the leaf note departed, and remained at that level the rest of the way. I liked how things started and hoped that it would have continued longer, but it wasn't to be. Overall, not a cigar that I'd really see myself coming back to.
I enjoyed the La Flor Dominicana Apollonia TAA 2025. I loved the flavor profile generated and the complexities with the cigar. It showed depth throughout with not a lot of transitioning required. The burn and draw were great additions to the flavor profile from the cigar, and it's a cigar I would come back to in the future. Interested in other vitolas as well.
This League of Fat Bastards Wingman is a cigar that went from having a very promising first third, providing a velvety smooth and flavorful experience, to something that went meek and rustic in minerals, spices and wood. The flavors were so far apart from the first to the latter two thirds that it tasted like two different cigars. Very odd. This is a pass for me.
The Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Champagne Epicure had a nice start as the simple flavor combination was well delivered. The profile dropped a level in the second third as the earth built up and remained at that level for the remainder of the cigar. This is a decent Connecticut shade offering that provides a heavier strength profile from traditional offerings. It's not a cigar I'd come back to with real frequency, but it's nice to revisit from time to time.