Pre-light Experience

First impressions definitely center around the large size and unique shape. The wrapper is a light brown that has a few raised veins that carry a slightly lighter color. The piece of wrapper that is used for the foot cap is a shade lighter than the rest of the wrapper. The head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. The band is the traditional design for this brand with the logo in gold over a white band. There is also the gold leaf diamond laid directly on the wrapper. The aroma from the wrapper is an abundance of hay along with some wood while the tapered foot brings graham cracker along with a bit of hay. The pre-light draw brings a nice sweetness which straddles the line between green grapes and light hay.

Pre-light Experience

The Cavalier Geneve White Series Salomones is no doubt an attractive and unique size. The wrapper is of a lighter caramel color with a fine, slightly oily feel. Construction looks good as veins are well pressed, seams tight, uniformed give throughout and a well applied thick cap. Aromas from the wrapper give namely cedar and soft white pepper. Aromas from the foot tells more concentrated white pepper and cedar. Cold draw gives cedar, hay, sawdust and white pepper.

First Third

The cigar begins with wood, hay and grassy notes along with a mild baking spice. Reaching the largest part of the bulb, the hay and grassy notes fade back as the wood is still up front and the baking spice picks up slightly. The retrohale carries a nice mixture of the wood and baking spice. At an inch in, a hint of cream and coffee join in with the wood and baking spice. At an inch and a half, the wood, cream and coffee are all working together in a mellow profile with a little baking spice support. The strength in this third was mild-medium.

First Third

The first third gives a subtle and softer flavor experience. Soft notes of cedar, bread and baking spices are the main flavors. Retrohaling gives greater depths of bread, cedar, baking spices and a touch of sweetened stone fruits. The finish layers the palate with subdued baking spices. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the baking spice increases to become even with the wood, cream and coffee notes. At a half inch in, the baking spice mellows a bit while the wood, cream and coffee remain up front. The retrohale carries this exact same profile. At an inch and a half, the wood and cream move to the front while the coffee and baking spice notes are in the background. As the third comes to a close the wood is up front with some cream in the background as the coffee and baking spice have dropped out. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the cigar starts to burn through the progressively thinner ring gauge portion of the cigar, I notice two main transitions. The profile picks up deeper notes of bread and distinct roasted chestnuts form. Still not much in terms of pepper on the mouth draws until I retrohale the cigar. The finish picks up a faint wood bitterness in addition to the soft baking spices. Strength and body remains medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the wood is the primary player with a slight cream and bit of nuttiness present in the background. At a half inch in, the wood gains a toasty note and a slight black pepper joins the profile while the cream and nuttiness drop out. At an inch and a quarter a slight bitterness joins in with the toasty wood and pepper. As the cigar comes to a close, some mintiness joins in as things heat up to mix with the toasty wood and slight bitterness. The strength in this third bumped up to right at medium.

Final Third

Heading towards quarter way into the last third, the profile shifts such that the underlying bitter wood and baking spices take over as the main notes. This greatly overshadows especially the bread and nuttiness of the cigar. Strength and body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn line was slightly wavy at times which is fairly impressive for a vitola that has so many ring gauge changes. There was one touch-up needed in the final third. The ash held on in near two inch increments.

Burn

The burn performance was average. Multiple touch-ups due to a portion of the wrapper unwilling to burn was the main gripe. Other than that, ashes held on tight and burn temperature was cool.

Draw

The draw was perfect with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

A fairly mild profile in terms of flavor and strength as it was centered around wood and cream with some baking spice. Strength started out very low and only reached medium by the end. Construction was very good as well. With such a large cigar, the flavor profile did get a bit tiring by the end, but overall it was an enjoyable experience. The price point is fair for this cigar in terms of experience, size and smoking time. If you enjoy cigars on the milder strength side, then this is one definitely worth checking out. Flavors were enjoyable, I would just lean towards a shorter vitola.

Draw

The draw was perfect. A great match of air flow and resistance.

Overall

Very similar to the Cavalier Geneve White Series Diplomate we reviewed, the Salomones variant also creates a milder strength formula with subtle and soft flavors. This vitola in my opinion is one of the ideal formats in giving transitions and complexities (due to it’s tapered ring gauge), and this salomones did a good job of that within the first two thirds. The last third showed some balance issues due to its dominant bitterness and spice. I’d definitely smoke more of these but it’s a tough toss up between this one and the Diplomate.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$1.79

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.52

Cost/Point

$1.84

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Cavalier Geneve White Series Salomones