Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a light brown. There are a couple of veins that run the length of the cigar and then a network of veins connecting from there. There are also a couple of water spots present. The seams are visible but very smooth. There are two caps applied very well. The band has The Upsetters on it and the logo along with the Jamaican colors. It also references being made by hand as well as Nicaragua and Jamaica. The aroma from the wrapper is a minty/menthol smell. The aroma from the foot is a general sweetness. There is also an immense sweetness on my lips from the wrapper.

Pre-light Experience

The Foundation The Upsetters Django has a leathery Colorado Claro shade wrapper. Seams are tight and a couple minor veins are protruding out. Bunching and roll feels well executed as there is a structured and uniformed give throughout the entire cigar. Head is finished off with a well applied, thick double cap. Nosing the wrapper gives a mixture of wood and mint based essential oils and reminds me of Chinese herbal medicine (pungent mixture typically comprised of various dry wood, herbs and spices). The foot smells just like the wrapper in addition to a hint of dry black pepper. Cold draw tells synthetic sweetness off the cap on the tongue and lips, and cedar.

First Third

As the cigar begins, it is a light woodiness. A quarter inch in, the woodiness becomes more defined as oak and is a bit drying. The retrohale is also oak. Half an inch in, some creaminess joins in with the oak. I get a good amount of sweetness whenever my tongue touches my lips. An inch in, I get a quick hit of the minty/menthol flavor that I got from the wrapper aroma pre-light, but is quickly followed up by the slightly creamy oak. The strength in this third is slightly below medium.

First Third

The first third has dominant mouth and lip coating synthetic sweetness. Following this note, dry cedar, Chinese herbal medicine and faint black pepper spice. Through the nose, cedar, intensified black pepper and faint bread. The finish has lingering legs of synthetic sweetness, dry cedar, wood bitterness and herbal tea. Body and strength within the entire first third is at the medium mark.

Second Third

As this third begins, it continues with the slightly creamy oak and the retrohale is also a slightly creamy oak. A quarter inch in, there is some bitterness that joins the slightly creamy oak. At an inch in, the bitterness goes away and a slight bit of the minty/menthol flavor is now in the background. As the third comes to a close, it remains creamy oak up front and minty/menthol in the background. The strength in this third is right at medium.

Second Third

The second third remains unchanged. Still dominant mouth and lip coating synthetic sweetness followed by dry cedar, Chinese herbal medicine and faint black pepper. Through retrohaling, cedar, intensified black pepper and faint bread. The finish is lengthy with synthetic sweetness, dry cedar, wood bitterness and herbal tea. Body and strength continues to be at a solid medium.

Final Third

As this third begins, the minty/menthol flavor increases and becomes even with the slightly creamy oak. At a half inch in, the minty/menthol flavor moves up front and the slightly creamy oak is now in the background. Every once in a while, I still get a slight sweet flavor from my lips, but not at all like the level I got in the first third. As the cigar finishes, it is still primarily minty/menthol with a slightly creamy oak in the background. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

Final Third

The last third is a shuffle of the first and second thirds. Wood bitterness and Chinese herbal medicine moves to the forefront. On the secondary, dry cedar, synthetic sweetness and slight black pepper. Through the nose, still the same notes of cedar, intensified black pepper and faint bread. The finish lingers with dry cedar, wood bitterness, herbal tea, less mouth engulfing synthetic sweetness. Body and strength finishes off at the medium mark.

Burn

The burn was a little wavy, but always kept up with itself. The ash held on in one inch increments.

Burn

Burn was great. Total smoking time came in at a good 1 hour and 35 minutes. Burn line although never sharp, was not an issue as all leaves burned in unison with no touch ups or re-lights. Ashes held on tight, averaging one inch increments.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer, but still allowed me to take nice full draws.

Overall

I am not opposed to infused cigars like some smokers are, so my low score is not due to me not enjoying the segment. In my opinion, an infused cigars purpose is to present flavors that are appealing to people that don’t enjoy the flavors that a non-infused cigar would provide. In this case, the only flavors like that were the minty/menthol flavor and I don’t personally care for that in a cigar. With the strength level being around medium, it might cause casual or new smokers to shy away from this. Without having any description of the infusion profile for any of the various cigars in the line, it makes it hard to determine what one might get from the others. I couldn’t see recommending this to someone who enjoys infused cigars or is looking to try one. I also can’t see myself wanting to revisit it either.

Draw

The draw was considerably tight throughout the entire smoking experience (one cigar smoked for review). Even cutting to the very bottom of the cap yielded no relief.

Overall

I will be the first to admit I am not a fan of infused cigars. But reviewing should always be done in an objective manner. With that said, I find the sweet cap with its dominant synthetic sweetness over powered the flavor profile. I was really interested in tasting the uniqueness of the Jamaican tobacco, but perhaps that was over shadowed by the sweet cap. This isn’t the right cigar for me but I hope fans of infused cigars will give this a try and tell me if I’m missing anything.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

4.67

Cost/Point

$1.93

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

3.73

Cost/Point

$2.41

Scoring System