I immensely enjoyed the first two thirds of the Avowed Hallowed Hands Corona Gorda. The candy sweet and creaminess and animal crackers mixed with cedar and baking spices was a winning combination that gave off dessert vibes. I'm not all that annoyed by the burn because I enjoyed the flavors so much.
The Crux Passport Super Selection No. 2 is a cigar that shows some early intrigue but settles into a more straightforward, wood-driven profile. It’s consistent and well-constructed, but the evolution leans more toward simplification than expansion, resulting in an overall average experience.
The Arturo Fuente Curly Head Deluxe Maduro had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around slightly smoky, toasted oak and earth. This maduro version was definitely a step above the Natural as it maintained the average flavor profile throughout and never succumbed to the woes that most budget cigars suffer from, which is bitterness or heavy toast. While this isn't a cigar I'd really come back to, for those that smoke on a budget, this is a must try as it definitely punches above its price.
The Tradecraft Vitruvian Toro is a well-executed example of a traditional, lighter-profile cigar. It doesn’t aim to be complex or transformative, but it succeeds in delivering a consistent and enjoyable experience, earning its good rating through balance, construction and reliability rather than bold evolution.
A great first third featuring balanced cocoa, roasted nuts, minerals and leather with a nice medium full body. Unfortunately, the cocoa and roasted nuts tapered off on the last two thirds which made the experience go from good to average. Hopefully this CAO Flathead Speed Shop V654 Crankshaft is around five bucks so that I can just pitch it after the first third.
The Perdomo Double Aged 12-Year Vintage Connecticut Epicure had an average flavor profile throughout, with the toasted oak being the main driver. The supporting notes didn't elevate the profile as they contributed to a dryness that kept the enjoyment level down. Unfortunately, I didn't really detect any barrel aging influence, other than the unique toasted oak profile early on. Also, the dryness and construction paper that can be an attribute of Connecticut shade offerings played too large of a role. Not a cigar I'd see myself coming back to.
This Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Sangre de Toro Raging Bull was nothing special. A cigar showing good fuller body but with too much dryness and flavors that didn't really pop. It tasted like the vast majority of Mexican San Andres in the market where it's just that dirty, gritty, earthy rawness that just isn't my jam. As such, easy pass for me.
The Tatuaje Sextooth Holiday is a nice little smoke. It delivers a flavor profile that is fairly complex, and while there is not much transitioning throughout the cigar, the core profile is complex enough to carry the cigar. It's nice in appearance, and has a great burn and draw. The earth, tobacco and manure notes are really enjoyable.
The La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Maduro Chisel had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around toasted cedar and earth. The creamy black pepper was a nice touch, but it couldn't elevate the overall profile. The snug draw and burn issues put a bit of a damper on the overall experience as it required more attention than I want to give during a smoking session. I might come back to this to see if a better constructed offering would perform better.
The Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Umbagog Bronzeback Robusto delivers a satisfying profile with enough balance and flavor development to earn a Good rating. It may not push the boundaries of complexity, but it offers a dependable and enjoyable experience that showcases the rustic, earthy style often associated with the Umbagog line.