The Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Black Angus FSG delivers those classic FSG flavors, but with a lot of richness as well. It is balanced. Saka did a good job of showing off the tobacco, but not having that tobacco be the main drive in the body and strength. It’s a blend meant for a larger cigar, and it is done well. Rich earth and spice notes with a lot of tobacco and barnyard. Great full body cigar.
Looking at the five Cojonú 2012 offerings, I would place this Tatuaje Cojonú 2012 Corojo in third behind the current Habano and Reserva offering. If you went back to 2012, I would have this behind the Capa Especial offering as well. It’s softer than the Habano and Reserva offerings while also capturing those Corojo qualities of dry earth, spices, seasoned wood and leather notes. I was hoping for a little more transitioning with the cigar, and complexities, but it was a solid smoke overall.
The Espinosa Las 6 Provincias ORT is probably my favorite Las 6 Provincias. It’s right there with the CMW. I loved the flavor profile produced, and the cigar remained balanced throughout. It has a flavor profile that every cigar smoker will enjoy, and it is approachable to all smokers with strength and body. I gave Espinosa a hard time for having these made at San Lotano, but I am understanding the reason more and more each year.
The AJ Fernandez 20th Anniversary Toro was a solid cigar. I really liked the Nicaraguan flavor profile delivered, and it was filling on many levels. Construction was perfect with the cigar as well. I thought the size was a little large, I would have preferred a 54 or 52, but it still smoked great for being as large as it was. It kept my interest from beginning to end. I enjoyed the cinnamon, cocoa and pepper quality profile delivered.
The CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke was a fun cigar from beginning to end. The cigar did not show a lot of transitioning, but there were complex flavors throughout. The burn and draw could use some improvement, but I also believe dry boxing these cigars for a period before smoking will help dramatically. I am not sure how these will age, for some reason I have a feeling the youth is what makes this cigar fun, but who knows. Either way, really enjoyed the blend.
The 601 La Bomba Warhead X had an average flavor profile throughout and became a bit mundane about halfway through. A very earth driven profile that didn't really provide any excitement. Not one of my favorite Warheads and not a cigar I'd see myself coming back to.
I enjoyed the AVO Expressions Limited Edition 2024, but it also seemed too expensive for the cigar. The flavor profile of cedar, hay, tobacco and spices is always a classic, and AVO does it well, so delivering a similar quality with an LE is silly. I guess you can say this is a good cigar, and a good AVO, but a bad LE. But, that is the case for many cigars.
This Quesada 50th Anniversary Toro Prensado is a pretty nice showing for a big anniversary. A medium strength profile with proper flavor delivery throughout the cigar, which is rare. I'd have no problem coming back to this cigar, even with the slightly high price point and I'd be very interested in trying the perfecto if I could get my hands on it.
The Gurkha Tyson 2.0 Undisputed Maduro 6x54 was an improvement over the Habano, but that is not a challenge. It’s like Tyson taking me on in the ring. It delivered some faint cocoa and earth qualities throughout, and it was consistent. Body and strength were on point with the flavors and it’s an easy smoking cigar. It’s not worth $19.00, but there are few cigars these days that are worth $19.00.
The Gurkha Tyson 2.0 Undisputed Habano 6x54, in a word, was disappointing. The first and second thirds were pleasant enough, but I was expecting a more dynamic profile out of a $19.00 cigar with Tyson branding. The last third started out flat and became unbalanced as the wood bitterness increased in strength. There's nothing in the flavor delivery that would interest me in returning.