Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown with some darker marbling on this perfecto. There are a couple of visible veins and the seams are also visible due to the color variations of the wrapper. They all look at home though. I’m not really sure how to explain how the torpedo head is finished as it almost looks like just the slightest amount of the wrapper is folded over to keep things connected. Whatever it is, it appears well done. There is a single band that is blue, gray and white and carries the company and line name. The aroma from the wrapper is a distinct barnyard, and even though the foot is small, I can detect the smell of graham cracker. The pre-light draw is a mix of leather and hay.

Pre-light Experience

The Jenneff Family Blend doesn’t have the most attractive presentation. Veiny, blotchy, medium brown wrapper with a slick oily feel. Bunch and roll feels average, as there are a few minor soft spots, and the torpedo style head feels rock hard, hopefully not affecting the draw. Nosing the wrapper tells charred wood and toasted nuts. Nosing the foot reveals white pepper and cedar. Cold draw tells dry nuts, hay and slight cedar.

First Third

Initial draws bring a mix of wood and cinnamon. At a quarter inch in, the cinnamon mellows some, but still influences the wood note which carries a bit of warmth to it. The retrohale carries the same wood note, but with an even milder cinnamon in the background. At three quarters of an inch, the cinnamon goes away and is replaced with a slight bit of cream while the wood note remains up front. As the third comes to a close, the wood is still up front while the cream note becomes very faint. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

First Third

First third’s flavor profile is centered around dark and earthy tones giving toasted wood, black pepper, bread and cardboard. Through retrohaling, notes of sharp black pepper and cedar. The finish is short with namely a faintly charred wood and subtle black pepper. Body and strength at a consistent medium.

Second Third

As the third begins, a slight cocoa note joins in with the dominant wood profile. At a quarter inch in, some baking spice pushes the cocoa note out of the profile. At three quarters of an inch, an ashiness joins the profile of wood and baking spice which slightly reduces the enjoyment level. The retrohale is carrying a dirty oak note. As the third comes to a close, the general wood note transitions to oak and the ashiness recedes a bit. The strength in this third was right at medium.

Second Third

The second third is still rustic and earthy, but a notable change in the delivery of spice happens. The black pepper picks up a semi-oily zing. The wood note is no longer a toasted type, instead a generic dry wood. Bread and cardboard falls on the background, being less noticeable. The retrohale remains the same with sharp black pepper and cedar. The finish has the same black pepper zing as the mouth draws as well as dry wood. Strength and body is still at medium.

Final Third

As the third begins, the ashiness is now just present on the finish while the primary note is a slightly dirty oak. As the ring gauge begins to taper down, the oak flavor begins to become more concentrated which is nice. The retrohale is a dirty oak with the dirt note being very pronounced. At three quarters of an inch, the oak note is very full with the dirt note in the background and on the long finish. The ashiness has completely left at this point. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third mimics the second third in every way. Still flavors of semi-oily black pepper zing and dry wood. The retrohale still providing sharp black pepper and cedar. The finish continues its black pepper zing and dry wood. Strength and body finishes at the medium levels.

Burn

The burn was pretty sharp. There were some slight waves at the transitions in ring gauges, but that’s pretty expected. The ash held on in one inch increments.

Burn

The burn was subpar for a couple of reasons; the cigar went out halfway through and a couple touch ups were required due to the wrapper refusing to burn. Aside from that, ashes held on pretty tight averaging 1 inch increments and the cigar burned cool the entire smoking time of 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Draw

The draw started out good and then when the ring gauge reached it fullest point it tightened up. I tried a couple more small cuts with no improvement. At the halfway mark I used a draw tool which helped significantly and then as the ring gauge began to drop again, things tightened up once again.

Overall

The start with wood and cinnamon was really nice and then things settled into a primarily general wood note. In the middle when the ashiness joined it brought things down a notch, but when that went away things improved once again. This is a pretty nice small and quick smoke that I enjoyed. If I could dodge the ashiness in future experiences, the score would bump up some. I think this is easily approachable to most smokers and would definitely recommend that you grab one if you come across it. I would easily smoke more of these.

Draw

The hardness of the torpedo style head felt within the pre-light experience played a part in the draw, making it a bit snug. Not a huge deal as I was never entirely annoyed by it but nonetheless a noticeable factor.

Overall

An experience comprised of good earthy tones in wood and spice. Not much going on in terms of nuances and complexities, but for a relatively shorter smoke, I am OK with that. This coupled by a less than favorable burn and good draw creates a mediocre cigar for me.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.80

Cost/Point

$1.03

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

5.07

Cost/Point

$1.18

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Jenneff Family Blend