Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Lars Tetens Grass Big is light brown and has dark marks on the veins and where the veins push on the wrapper that passes above it. The pointed head is well finished with a little flag while the foot is partially covered with excess wrapper. The veins are slightly raised and the seams are easily visible due to the color variation on the wrapper. The band is black and gold and carries various images as well as the brand and line names. The aroma from the wrapper is a grassy herbal note while the foot reminds me of pound cake. The pre-light draw only produces a very faint grassy herbal note. It is almost non-existent.

Pre-light Experience

The Lars Tetens Grass Big, that’s a name, is quite ugly in appearance. The wrapper looks terrible and the aroma is pronounced. I am picking up some fresh grass, wheat grass and lemongrass qualities. With that being said, the cigar is firm in hand and appears to be well made. There is a little bit of a tail present on the tapered head, and it’s an interesting look.

First Third

The cigar begins with a subtle flavor profile of grassy herbal notes and white pepper. At a quarter inch in, the flavor profile has become a bit fuller. At three quarters of an inch, some creaminess has joined in which smooths out the grassy herbal note and changes the white pepper to more of a faint baking spice. The retrohale carries a musty herbal note with light baking spice. As the third comes to a close, the creaminess is now paired up with some mustiness as the grassy herbal note remains slightly ahead and there is still a faint baking spice in the background. The strength in this third was at mild-medium.

First Third

The first third opens up with some strong bitter lemon and grass notes. I am picking up some wheat grass as well, and with that is some Hawaiian Punch flavors. It is a unique first third and I found that it had a body around the medium level, flavors as well and a strength between mild and medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, some wood joins the profile and is even with the mustiness up front while the grassy herbal note is now in the background. At a half inch in, the musty wood is primarily whats presented with a very light grassy herbal note in the background. The retrohale is wood up front with some mustiness behind it. At an inch and a quarter, some dry earth pairs up with the mustiness up front while the wood has moved back slightly. As the third comes to a close, the profile is musty earth and wood. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly below medium.

Second Third

When I get into the second third of the cigar, I find a lot of the similar flavors from the first third and it has not shown a lot of transitioning. I am picking up those Hawaiian Punch notes with some lemon, grass, wheat grass and lemongrass. The body and flavors are around the medium level and the strength just between mild and medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the musty earth and wood continue on. At a half inch in, a slight vegetal note joins the profile. The retrohale carries the musty earth and wood combination. The cigar wraps up with the combination of musty earth and wood with a slight vegetal note. The strength in this third remained at slightly below medium.

Final Third

The final third is identical to the first and second third. Body and flavors around a medium level. Strength between mild and medium, and flavors of Hawaiian Punch, lemon and grass.

Burn

The burn was not good. It was pretty wavy and required a couple of touch-ups. The cigar went out in the first third and required a re-light. After that, I had to keep up deliberate quick draws to keep things going and even then, the smoke production was fairly light.

Burn

The burn was very good from start to finish. At times it was a little wavy, but far from being poor and it produce a nice charcoal colored ash on the end.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with a light mix of a grassy herbal note and white pepper. Some cream joined shortly after and changed the pepper to baking spice. Later, some mustiness joined in. By the second third it was jest the herbal note and mustiness until wood took the lead with the mustiness and the herbal note faded away. The burn was bad and caused me to babysit the cigar to keep things going. Overall, the Lars Tetens Grass Big was quite average in regards to flavor. It would be great to give to a new smoker or someone who doesn’t smoke frequently as the strength was low and the flavor profile was mellow. The burn however would frustrate anyone and unless this was a fluke, I couldn’t recommend lighting this up. If others have a different experience, then it could be something to try out, but the price point will unfortunately keep everyone but the most curious away.

Draw

Draw was fairly solid throughout. I wish it was a little bit more constricted, but it was not loose by any means.

Overall

To the readers out there, I am going to be blunt. The Lars Tetens Grass Big is a bad cigar. There was nothing enjoyable throughout the entire smoking experience. I am not opposed to infused cigars, I think my history of reviewing them and comments will show that, but this cigar is an insult to infused cigars. It’s an insult to cigars. I think it is fair to ask someone smoking this, do you even like cigars? It’s cigars like this that make me scream, “c’mon FDA!” With that, the fact that this cigar is $45.00 is absolutely insane. That is ridiculous! I thought about compiling a list of ultra premium cigars that are superior to this and priced at/under $45.00, but the list would simply be all ultra premium cigars that are priced at/under $45.00. Save yourself and don’t smoke this like Aaron and I did. Save your time. Save your money. Save your life.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

4.38

Cost/Point

$10.27

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

3.57

Cost/Point

$12.62

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Lars Tetens Grass Big