Pre-light Experience

A very dark brown wrapper which is actually slightly darker towards the foot. There are a few prominent raised veins. The seams are easily lost in the dark wrapper and the head sports a well applied triple cap. The band is all black with white lettering and artwork. The aroma from the wrapper was a mix of manure and stone fruit. The foot gave a very light stone fruit aroma. The pre-light draw brought a mix of lightly sweet hay and leather. A very mild spicy tingle was present on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Ezra Zion All My Exes Maduro Lancero has a dark chocolate brown maduro shade wrapper. Veins are well pressed and seams tight and visible. Bunch and roll feels well done as there is a uniformed give throughout with no soft spots. The head is finished off with a well adhered triple cap. Nosing the wrapper gives wet earth, cedar and a hint of white pepper. Nosing the foot tells rich nuttiness, slight black pepper and cedar. Cold draw tells cardboard, faint black pepper and spicy cedar.

First Third

The first couple of draws brought a note of pine, but that quickly changed into cedar. The retrohale is also cedar, but it carries a good dose of spiciness to it. At a half inch in, the cedar transitions to oak, both in the mouth and retrohale. At three quarters of an inch in, the oak becomes a bit darker and also gains some creaminess. The retrohale is a nice warm oak. As the third comes to a close, the creaminess disappears and leaves the dark oak to be slightly drying. The strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

First third has a plethora of mainly earthiness. First and foremost, a campfire like effect takes shape giving toasted wood and tongue sticking wood bitterness. In addition, synthetic medium bodied sweet cream and well mannered black pepper spice. Through retrohaling, strong black pepper, sharp cedar and hay. The finish consists of lingering toasted wood bitterness on the tongue and fresh black pepper. Strength and body is medium within the entire first third.

Second Third

As this third begins, the oak continues, but is now accompanied by some earthiness. At half an inch in, the earthiness moves to the front with the oak in the background. The profile is also a bit drying. At an inch and three quarters, a little cream joins in which gets rid of the dryness. As the third comes to a close, a mintiness moves into the background while the earthiness and oak are up front and creates a long minty finish as well. The strength in this was slightly above medium.

Second Third

Much sweetness is lost within the second third. This leaves a profile that is mainly centered around campfire toasted wood and wooded bitterness. The black pepper spice is slightly increased but never a dominating factor. The retrohale remains unchanged, still providing strong black pepper, sharp cedar and hay. The finish is also unchanged, still giving lingering notes of toasted wood bitterness and fresh black pepper. Strength and body continues it’s stride of being medium.

Final Third

As this third begins, the mintiness present at the end of the last third transitions to make the oak appear to be younger and slightly green while there is still a good amount of earthiness in the profile. At a half inch in, the youngness of the oak goes away. At an inch in, the oak gains a significant amount of char and the retrohale also carries some charred oak. After a few more draws, a fair amount of bitterness joins in as well and the earthiness isn’t detectable as it’s a strong charred oak profile. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third was medium-full.

Final Third

The first half of the last third mimics the second third. The second half is where the profile becomes a bit single note dominant. The toasted wood and wooded bitterness overtakes the profile, overshadowing the other notes (especially the creamed sweetness and spice). The retrohale however does not lose it’s effectiveness, giving strong black pepper, sharp cedar and dry nuts. The finish is also dominated by the toasted wood bitterness. Strength and body finishes at the medium mark.

Burn

The burn was pretty sharp through the first two thirds and then got pretty wavy in the final third. The cigar also went out on me twice and required re-lights. The ash held on in three quarter inch increments and would fall without notice.

Burn

Burn was very good, especially for a difficult to bunch and roll lancero. Total smoking time clocked in at 1 hour and 50 minutes. Ashes held on fairly strong, averaging 1.5 inch increments. Burn line, although never razor sharp, was sharp enough. Most notably, not a single touch-up or re-light was performed.

Draw

The pre-light draw was very tight which caused me some concern, but once lit, it was only slightly snug and I really didn’t need to pay any attention to it.

Overall

The cigar started with some quick and flavorful transitions and then settled into a consistent profile until the final third when things got very dark and bitter. Not that it contains any, but those that like fire cured tobacco or campfire profiles might really dig this one. For me, I would have preferred if the profile from the first third had continued on. I would be curious if more time might allow this blend to settle down some and create a more well rounded profile. I’d be interested in revisiting a year down the road or so.

Draw

The draw, although slightly on the loose end of the spectrum, was still very good. No real complaints here.

Overall

There’s such a uniqueness of flavors in the All My Exes Maduro in the form of that campfire effect. I know there is no fire cured tobacco in the cigar (per Ezra Zion) but my mind kept thinking there was. I enjoyed parts of the cigar (first third and second third) but the dominating wood bitterness towards the end was a let down, especially when sweetness and spice was lost in the midst of it. This made for an overall average experience for me.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.40

Cost/Point

$1.66

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.00

Cost/Point

$1.49

Scoring System