I found this Villiger La Capitana Lonsdale to be both unique and delicious. The mixture of savory, herbal and sweet qualities worked really well off each other. The only complaint that I really have is, what's with the band artwork? It doesn't follow anything along the Villiger profile.
The Broncano Classic Silver Toro is a solid cigar that would be on a whole other level if the second third was the profile throughout. It took some time for the cigar to take off, and unfortunately it had a slight downhill in the final third, but the middle portion was very enjoyable. It’s a cigar I would come back to, and one of the better Mexican San Andres releases I have had recently. I am a fan of the Broncano brand so far, and I look forward to their next release.
The Mexigars HBA executes delivering earthiness and spice very well, but the culprit is the dry and stale mouthfeel throughout the entire smoking experience. Because of this, the flavors themselves all taste monotone and flat. This is not something I would be interested in returning to.
The Diamond Crown Tampa had a nice start, with a good combination of flavors. The profile took a step down in the second third as the earth and toast levels were increasing and remained that way for the rest of the cigar. Overall, a fairly average experience. Add in the very high price point and it's not a cigar I'd see myself coming back to.
The CAO FASA Sombra Toro was not a bad cigar, but it was lacking. The flavor profile never took off, and I felt it was underwhelming for a modern Connecticut. I think it’s a cigar that a lot of new smokers could smoke, nice introductory cigar, but at the same time not a brand or line that is going to speak to those smokers. I don’t see retailers pushing this cigar. I also don’t know many CAO smokers that are going to go out and grab this cigar.
What the heck happened between the first third and the latter two thirds? It felt like smoking entirely different flavor profiles. If the Cavalier Genève Project Broadleaf Boartamer tasted more in line with the first third, this would have been a winner without a doubt. What a shame.
This Stolen Throne Castle 919 Belicoso is another winner created at Rojas. The combination of barnyard funk and meatiness was a delight and wins my palate 10 out of 10 times. Fans of Noel Rojas blends as well as appreciating balanced flavors should definitely check this out.
The Perla del Mar Corojo Double Toro had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around the toasted cedar and earth. There were some nice supporting notes, but nothing that really elevated the profile. The cigar smoked smooth throughout, and the press really helped with a good mouthfeel for the larger ring gauge. While I wouldn't see myself coming back to this frequently, I could see some really enjoying this based on the smooth smoking experience and the low price point for a larger cigar with a long smoking time.
The Illusione Epernay Tuonela Le Monde is a good cigar. The cigar delivers a complex profile that is balanced from start to finish. It is more earth, cocoa and coffee focused with the Mexican offering, but it is a balanced and complex blend. Lovely burn, draw and construction as well. I am interested in smoking the blend in other vitolas, but it is a blend I would come back to the in the future.
The Asylum Split Personality 40x4 opened with some intrigue given the unique vanilla and banana aromatics, but the smoking experience struggled with balance and consistency. While the draw and burn performed admirably, the profile leaned heavily toward cloying vanilla and hay bitterness, with little evolution. A novel concept, but the overall delivery was underwhelming. I appreciated there wasn't a sweet cap, but the overall profile isn't something I'd reach for.