Pre-light Experience

Aaron: The wrapper on the Ozgener Aramas A52 is dark brown with some raised veins and fine tooth. The seams are a bit raised and the top cap is applied quite poorly. There are two bands, with the primary carrying the company name and logo and the secondary denoting the line and company name. The color combination and layout make the text hard to read. The aroma from the wrapper is dark earth and light cedar, while the foot brings cedar and stone fruit sweetness. The pre-light draw also consists of cedar and light stone fruit sweetness.
Seth: The Ozgener Aramas A52 has a nice presentation to the cigar. The bands really pop off the dark wrapper. It is a true maduro and has a dark oily espresso color. Medium sized veins throughout with a leathery texture. Bits of tooth. Aromas of rich earth, manure, spices and stone fruit.
John: The Ozgener Aramas A52 comes in cellophane and has a UPC sticker with an integrated tear space so it remains intact when opened. There are two bands that are integrated closely to give the appearance of a single continuous band. The primary band indicates Ozgener Family Cigars and the secondary thin band indicates Aramas. For additional artisanal complications, there is a ‘109’ style cap. I weighed the cigar at 12.5 grams, and the humidity as measured by the HumidiMeter Pro was 60.7%. Aromas from the wrapper included nuts, possibly brazil nuts, and wood. From the foot, there was sweet tobacco and hay.
Jiunn: The Ozgener Aramas A52 has a uniform Colorado maduro wrapper shade. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll tight and the head is well wrapped and capped. Aromas from the wrapper are primarily cedar. Aromas from the foot give the same as the wrapper plus the addition of white pepper spice. Cold draws reveal just cedar.

Team Cigar Review: Ozgener Aramas A52

First Third

Aaron: The cigar begins with a mellow mix of toasted cedar, light earth and a faint baking spice. At a quarter inch in, there is a light floral soapiness that joins the profile. The retrohale is a very smooth toasted cedar and mild earth. At an inch in, the earth increases a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is up front, with earth a bit behind and then that soapy floral note and baking spice in the background. The strength was right at medium.
Seth: The first third starts out with this mocha flavor profile that is paired with some damp wood and earth, cedar and baking spices. Not overly complex, and medium in strength and body.
John: Sweet, herbal, earthiness starts off the first third, with herbal and wood combining on the finish and into the post draw. A musty moss combines with earth to define the center of the profile. Some baking spices join with wood through the retrohale as it continues. By the halfway point, sweet tobacco is finishing the draw.
Jiunn: The first third has a nice array of flavors. Natural bready sweetness, slight meat/gaminess, citrus, cedar and a hint of baking soda effervescence. Retrohaling gives needed spice in the form of black/red pepper spice. The finish is on the shorter end, with lingering cedar. Strength and body is medium.

Team Cigar Review: Ozgener Aramas A52

Second Third

Aaron: As the second third begins, the light baking spice transitions to black pepper. At a half inch in, the earth is now even with the toasted cedar at the front of the profile. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth and mild black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar and earth are even up front, with black pepper in the middle and the floral soapiness very light in the background. The strength remained at medium.
Seth: The second third is fairly in line with the first. Less mocha notes. Damp earth and wood up front with this cedar and baking spice finish. Hints of dry cocoa powder. Medium in strength and body.
John: Tannic wood joins with a sweet herbal flavor as tannic wood carries the draw into the finish at medium strength. A fairly apparent amount of dryness is present in the post draw as it settles in. As the cigar continues, medium to medium-full earthiness is present throughout the profile.
Jiunn: Unsure what happened in the second third, but the flavor profile is night and day different as compared to the first third. The second third drastically decreases the flavor array to mainly creamy cedar and bread. Strength and body is still medium.

Team Cigar Review: Ozgener Aramas A52

Final Third

Aaron: As the final third begins, the black pepper is now right behind the toasted cedar and earth. At a half inch in, the toast level increases. The retrohale remains toasted cedar, earth and mild black pepper. As the cigar wraps up, the profile is toasted cedar and earth just ahead of the black pepper with the floral soapiness in the background. The strength remained at medium.
Seth: Basically identical to the first third.
John: Medium-full strength earth kicks off the last third. There are no other flavor changes until the halfway point where the earth has receded to medium and brought in some wood to add additional flavor layers.
Jiunn: Just like the second third, creamy cedar and bread is all she wrote. Even though the first third has long passed, I still miss it. Strength and body remains medium.

Team Cigar Review: Ozgener Aramas A52

Burn

Aaron: The burn was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any attention. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.
Seth: Burn was a bit average. Off and on in terms of quality.
John: The burn was straight through the entire review process with the ash holding on up to 1-1/4 inch increments.
Jiunn: Burn performance was perfect. Even burn, ample smoke production, tight ashes and cool burning temperature.

Team Cigar Review: Ozgener Aramas A52

Draw

Aaron: The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.
Seth: Nice draw from beginning to end.
John: The draw was quite snug, roughly 3-1/2 to 4 notches into the resistant spectrum. Examining the cigar, it felt firmly packed with tobacco throughout.
Jiunn: Flawless draw, giving the best balance between air flow and resistance.

Overall

Aaron: The cigar began with a mellow mix of toasted cedar, light earth and a faint baking spice. A light floral soapiness joined in fairly quickly. The second third saw the baking spice transition to black pepper. The final third saw the black pepper move up in the profile. The Ozgener Aramas A52 had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around toasted cedar, earth and baking spice/black pepper. The floral soapiness was an interesting component that I enjoyed, but didn’t have a large effect on the profile. In comparison to the Bosphorus, this was definitely a step up, but not something I’d see myself returning to.
Seth: The Ozgener Aramas A52 was fairly dormant in terms of flavor delivery. Core profile of damp wood and earth was lacking and the spices did not add anything. Construction was off as well. Average cigar really with that standard pricing. Years ago, I bet this would be a $7.00 smoke. Ozgener Family has had a rough re-entry into the industry in my opinion.
John: I found the first third of the Ozgener Aramas A52 to be interesting with some herbal notes that I don’t find on many cigars. The second third seemed to fall in complexity and was a largely linear experience. By the last third, all dynamic character to the flavor profile had left and the profile was entirely flat and not engaging. The burn was perfect, while the draw was quite snug and resistant. I find the price point to be pretty reasonable, but I believe this is my least favorite Ozenger to date and I’d rather seek another of their offerings. Total smoking time was 1 hour and 57 minutes.
Jiunn: It’s been a while since I’ve had a cigar open so great and turn into an average dud. The first third did such a great job of balancing varying spectrums of flavors, but by the time the second third started, the profile became uneventful. I’d love to smoke more of these to gauge if the first third goodness can hold on longer. But given this singular cigar review of the Ozgener Aramas A52, it’s a pass.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.65

Cost/Point

$2.26

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

5.15

Cost/Point

$2.48

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

5.65

Cost/Point

$2.26

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$2.09

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Ozgener Aramas A52