Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a very dark brown with some Colorado red mixed in. There are a couple of large, pressed veins on the back side of the cigar. The seams are smooth and only visible due to some slight color variation on the wrapper. The head is finished off with what appears to be a double cap. The band is off-white with rose gold accents and shows three hand pulling on a crown. The aroma from the wrapper is interesting as it is slightly soapy and also carries a bit of minerality to it. The aroma from the foot is a mix of leather and hay. The pre-light draw is a very creamy leather note and I do get some of that minerality from the wrapper.

Pre-light Experience

The All Out Kings Smash has a rustic and thick maduro shade wrapper. Veins are perfectly pressed and seams tight. Bunch and roll is well done as there is a uniformed give throughout with no traces of soft spots. Head is finished off with a well adhered, thick triple cap. Nosing the wrapper tells rich cedar and slight barnyard. Nosing the foot gives moderate white pepper and creamed nuttiness. Cold draw reveals airy dry wood and dry roasted nuts.

First Third

Initial draws bring a slightly creamy, aged cedar note. At a quarter inch in, a slight minerality joins the profile while the retrohale is carrying the aged cedar note. At three quarters of an inch in, the aged cedar transitions to oak. There is also a slight spiciness now present and hints of minerality remain in the background. At an inch and a quarter, the oak becomes a little darker with some black pepper and minerality in the background. As the third comes to a close, still a dark oak note as the pepper fades away and some minerality remains. Strength in this third was slightly below medium.

First Third

Starting off, flavors of lightly charred wood and an abundance of flowery perfume. Quarter inch in, a baker’s chocolate mixes into the profile. Retrohaling brings a mixture of creamed nuttiness and black pepper spice. The finish is made up of refined earthy minerality and soft dry wood. Strength is medium and body is medium plus.

Second Third

As the second third begins, a slight char joins the dark oak and some minerality remains in the background. At a half inch in, some of the darkness leaves the oak while the char remains at the same level. At an inch in, the char leaves while the darkness returns and the minerality continues on in the background. The retrohale carries the dark oak note. As the third comes to a close, the minerality ramps up becoming even with the dark oak note. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Second Third

Second third loses out on the flowery perfume and is now centered around the same lightly charred wood, baker’s chocolate and addition of baking spices. The retrohale still has the same richness in creamed nuttiness and black pepper. The finish is still fairly earthy with good minerality and soft dry wood. Strength and body remains medium and medium-full, respectively.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the cigar has warmed slightly, bringing a bit of toastiness to the dark oak and the minerality is just slightly behind the wood. At a half inch in, the minerality drops back while the dark oak gains some char. At an inch in, the minerality has completely left the profile and the dark and charred oak continues on. This is how the cigar finishes, The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third exhibits a mixture of sweet cream, dry wood and baking spices. Retrohaling brings bread, baking spices and black pepper. The finish is the same with minerality and soft dry wood. Strength remains medium and body also remains medium-full.

Burn

The burn was absolutely perfect. Razor sharp burn line with a dense and sturdy ash that held on in inch and a half increments. The cigar’s smoke production was like a house on fire, even at rest.

Burn

The burn was perfect in every sense. Razor sharp burn line, solid self tapped ash marks averaging 1.5 inch increments, and cool and slow burn.

Draw

The draw was just slightly tighter than I prefer, but that’s just a minor gripe as it was still very good.

Overall

The profile was pretty smooth with some transitions. The wood note moved from aged cedar to oak and then the oak got darker as the cigar went along. Minerality was a common note throughout as well. Performance was fantastic allowing me to focus just on flavor, which I appreciate. Strength stayed around medium throughout and should be approachable to most smokers that like a darker flavor profile. This is the second vitola I’ve smoked in the line and is a good offering from the collaboration. I’d gladly smoke more and look forward to smoking the larger vitolas.

Draw

The draw although very good, was a bit tight for my liking. Cutting the cigar in line with the ring gauge lead to no relief.

Overall

I enjoyed the Smash version of the All Out Kings. To be more specific, I enjoyed it leagues more than the Give Me Your Lunch Money version. The abundance of the flowery perfume within the first third was noteworthy and unique. In general, I’m assuming the thicker ring gauge helps to round out the cigar (in reference to the thinner ring gauge of the Give Me Your Lunch Money. Six ring gauges thinner to be exact). This vitola should be on the buy list of darker flavor cigar lovers.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.67

Cost/Point

$2.07

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.02

Cost/Point

$1.97

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: All Out Kings Smash