The Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 Sun Grown had a nice profile through the first tow thirds with the toasted cedar, baking spice and meatiness with a nice chewy smoke. The final third took a step back as the meatiness departed and some wood staleness and bitterness joined in. It's nice coming back to some of these long standing lines that deliver with a very approachable price point. I'd easily come back to this cigar in the future.
The La Gloria Cubana Serie S Maduro Robusto Gordo had a promising start in the first third, with interesting flavor combinations that kept me engaged. As the cigar continued, each third seemed to step down in balance and flavor combinations leading to a disappointing last third. I'm glad I had the opportunity to review the La Gloria Cubana Serie S Maduro Robusto Gordo, but based on the flavor delivery, this isn't something I"d return to.
The Brick House Bricktoberfest 2023 started out with an engaging and interesting first third, while the second and last thirds weren't as dynamic for me, the flavors were still balanced and pleasant. Despite the overall rating, this cigar was pleasant to smoke and I enjoyed the restrained nature of the strength.
The La Aroma de Cuba Connecticut Monarch had an average flavor profile throughout. Really just focused around the toasted cedar, baking spice transitioning to black pepper and earth. I was interested to try this vitola after having reviewed the Corona previously to see how a larger ring gauge would effect the flavor profile. It turns out, that I prefer the Corona and don't really see myself coming back to this size.
The Room101 Daruma came out of the gate with a promising collection of flavors that combined in ways to keep me engaged. I found the cigar unbalanced and harsh on the palate through the second third and the acrid component in the final third only added to that. I can't recall a cigar dropping this far between the first third and the second third, and I find myself wondering if the humidity level of the cigar was partially or largely responsible.
The Gurkha Pure Evil Toro had a nice start, with a velvety smoke delivery. The second third dropped a level as the flavor profile wasn't quite as interesting and maintained that level the rest of the way. I liked how the cigar started, and really wished it could have kept the cinnamon component throughout. I would be interested in trying the Robusto vitola to see how that fared, but I'm not really sure that I'd come back to this Toro.
The San Cristobal Revelation Legend had a nice start, with a good combination of flavors and then dropped a level in each third as the profile lost it's vibrancy and then the char and wood bitterness joined in. I was hoping the chocolate fudge aroma from the wrapper pre-light was indicating a fair amount of chocolate in the profile, but it was very short lived. Overall, not a cigar I'd see myself coming back to.
The Gurkha 35th Anniversary Toro had an average flavor profile throughout. The stale, dry, toasted cedar was the main player and didn't really set a tone for an exciting smoking experience. I appreciate the low cost for an anniversary cigar, but it just didn't deliver on flavor, and that's what I'm here for. I don't see returning to this cigar.
The Trinidad Espiritu No. 3 Toro started with melt your face off black pepper, but mellowed through the first third and was pretty average through the first two thirds. The final third took a step down as the toasted cedar became heavy and some wood bitterness joined in. Not a cigar I'd likely come back to as the flavor profile didn't show much balance or excitement.
The Angel Cuesta Toro started well, with a classic flavor profile. From the second third on, the profile was average, with the final third kind of teetering on being good. This is a slight step down from the Salomones vitola, possibly due to the burn issues. The flavor profile is unique and I like it when it's on, the price point just doesn't do it for me, especially with the burn issues I've experienced in the two vitolas I've smoked.