So my eyes weren't deceiving me. The elegance of the packaging matched the smoking experience. The overall flavor profile showed good harmony, touching on sweetness, sourness and tannins (which helped with the body). It's been a while since I liked something out of Altadis, so this Romeo y Julieta 150th Anniversary Balconet was definitely a much needed win. Well done.
The Dapper 10th Anniversary delivers a balanced and approachable smoke with sweet, creamy tobacco and wood flavors that evolve gradually. While the first two-thirds offer a pleasant combination of bread, baking spices and mild tannins, the last third introduces more assertive tannins and an acidic finish that slightly detracts from the overall smoothness. Overall, this was a good anniversary release that fits well in the Dapper portfolio.
I enjoyed the Raices Cubanas Liga de Reyes Toro, and while I believe the score is the same as the Clásico, I prefer this blend overall. I would prefer the blend in a smaller format, but the larger Toro was not out of hand. There is a sweetness to the blend, but it is balanced with warm baking spices. The Nicaraguan tobacco plays its part in this blend, and it elevates the overall blend. It's not about where the tobacco is from, but if it is good tobacco.
The A Bronx Tale had an average flavor profile throughout. The cinnamon graham cracker was nice at the beginning, but didn't last long. Overall, it seems like a cigar that would be approachable to many, which makes sense based on the brand and the market it targets, but for me, it isn't something I'd see coming back to.
The La Flor Dominicana Litto Gomez 55th Anniversary Emeraude TAA delivered a heavier profile centered around earth, coffee and tobacco. I found the flavors balanced well in the first third but seemed to fight to retain that balance through the rest of the review experience. This cigar also carries a bit of a premium price point, and based on that and the flavor profile I'd rather seek out some of the regular production LFD offerings.
I enjoyed the Atabey Black Ritos. The cigar was balanced with a nice flavor profile from beginning to end. Good level of complexity throughout. The honey sweetness with coffee, cedar and earth was nice. With perfect level of construction, and a nice strength and body, it was a blend that every cigar smoker could enjoy. Price excluded.
The Rocky Patel Emerald Toro had a nice start with a good combination of flavors. The second third dropped a level as some components mellowed and the creaminess departed for a bit. The final third remained average. Nothing too exciting gong on with the cigar, and the good profile for just the first third didn't do enough to make me want to come back to the cigar.
The Casa Magna Maduro TAA Exclusive Toro Box Press is a good cigar from first draw to last draw. What I just wrote is rarely seen in our cigar reviews. The fullness of flavors were great, covering all the major parts of a good cigar (sweet, savory, body). Total under the radar for me given that it's TAA and Casa Magna (I rarely enjoy either of these cigars).
I struggle with this Eladio Diaz 71 Aniversario because it focuses on strength over flavors for the majority of the cigar. The combination of nicotine hits to my body mixed with a subpar flavor array of minerals and cedar made me want to gut through the cigar as fast as possible. I will not be interested in more of this blend.
The Espinosa Murcielago Shikaka TAA Exclusive 2024 had all the Connecticut shade that I look for and enjoy. From a baseline of sweet and creaminess to surrounding notes of wood and spices, this is what it should be. Well done.