I loved the flavor profile on the Howard G All Pro Series Leon Searcy Lil Searc, body and strength, and how it smoked from beginning to end. Smooth cigar with nice flavors. Core flavors throughout with some transitioning and subtle changes in complexity. Good construction. Tuna approved!
The All Saints Solamente was a pleasant review experience, with the largest range of flavors delivering in the first third. The second and last third were largely defined by a wood profile. The draw and burn were flawless. Overall, this is something I could see myself returning to, as the cigar was fairly medium-minus in terms of strength, but I'd like to see more flavor delivery in at least the second third.
To my surprise, the A.C.E. Prime The Sergeant was a pretty well balanced cigar. After reading that it's corojo, I expected more spice, but perhaps it got blended out from the large 58 ring gauge. Sweetness and creaminess off toasted mixed nuts, wood earthiness off cedar, and soft bread. This is the type of profile that I can sit back and smoke multiples of in a day. Happy to smoke more.
Judging by the cover of the book, I thought a developing brand plus a high $16 price tag gave me a bit of an eye roll. But when I lit up the Blackbird Macaw and got through the first third, I was happy to be wrong. Beautifully spicy and sweet with a deep, long finish. Regrettably, the next two thirds didn't taste very good as there was too much harshness seeping through. Nice start, but it didn't finish strong.
The Zino Platinum Crown Series Limited Edition 2020 was a nice cigar and another solid Zino release. It is not the best Zino I have smoked, but still a really good cigar. It is better than most, but slightly lacking when you look at Zino overall. Very nice flavors with good construction. I really liked the body and strength that came with the flavors.
The Cattle Baron Maduro Bull was an overall average smoking experience, with the first third offering some promising flavors of cedar, cream, coffee, cedar and malty sweetness. I would smoke the Maduro again, but I'd be more inclined to try it in a more traditional size like their Stockyard (Robusto).
The Viaje Skull and Bones The Hulk was an overall good experience, with the best portions coming in the first and second thirds. Flavors were complex and included baking spices, sweetness, graham cracker, spicy cedar, bread, coffee and tannins. The natural comparison will be The Hulk versus Bruce Banner. Between the two, I prefer The Hulk as I found the flavors to be more complex and balanced.
The Tatuaje Gran Cojonú Series A is an intense cigar that has body and strength. The notes of cinnamon, pepper and chocolate pair well throughout, and the currant and raisin notes at the start really add for a great opening. It has been a while since I smoked a Cojonú, but this delivers what the line is all about.
I was blown away by the Fernandez Torrens 4ta Década Barrilito Leyenda and found it to not only be a fantastic Dominican puro, but a great offering as a cigar overall. If I look back on the Dominican puros I have had throughout my smoke life, this in the top five. Amazing!
I don't really see Saga getting too much buzz on social media, but cigars like this Saga Short Tales Tomo VI: The Sixth Element: El Tabaco are ones that I could see having a wide appeal. Medium strength with good flavors is a good combination for many levels of smokers. I'd have no problem smoking more of these and would suggest people give them a try to see if it interests them in the line or the brand itself.