The Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Connecticut Epicure had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around the toasted cedar and oak, earth and cardboard. This is one of those "your Grandfathers Connecticut's" in regards to the classic flavor profile that's a bit dry with the cardboard/paper note to it. Not really the flavor profile I go for and not a cigar I'd really see myself returning to.
The Tatuaje Escasos H had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around toasted cedar and dry earth. While the flavor profile was smooth with lower strength, the dry earth kind of dampened the other flavors, which I believe didn't allow it to shine as it could have. Not a cigar that really excites me and not something I'd likely to return to.
The Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon Robusto had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around toasted oak and earth with black pepper supporting. The flavor profile was pretty simple and didn’t provide any real excitement. Not a cigar that I’d really see myself revisiting.
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 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.
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 Arturo Fuente Curly Head Deluxe Natural had an average start and then dropped a level in the second third as the paper gained some bitterness. It remained at that level for the remainder of the cigar. This is a serviceable budget cigar, but the bitterness of the paper was a detriment, which is unfortunate. With the perfect construction, if it could have dodged the bitterness, it would be an attractive cheap smoking experience. Not a cigar I'd see coming back to.
The La Flor Dominicana Cameroon Cabinet Chisel had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around the toasted oak and earth.The supporting notes were pleasant, but didn't really elevate the profile. This was a smooth and easy smoking cigar, but the flavor profile didn't really do enough to make it stand out. It's an interesting Cameroon offering, but not something I'd see returning to with any real frequency.
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 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.