Pre-light Experience

The cigar is a nice medium brown with some visible veins due to the lighter color surrounding them. There are a couple of water spots on the wrapper, but nothing significant. The seams are tight and hardly visible. The head is tapered and rounded off well before coming to a sharp point like a torpedo would. There is a little lifting on the caps, but nothing major. The band is simple and the font reminds me of futuristic memorabilia from the 1950’s. I don’t get much of an aroma from the wrapper other than a very faint leather. The aroma from the foot is a fairly sweet tobacco. The pre-light draw reminds me quite a bit of graham cracker. The mouth-feel is pretty interesting as it is a bit difficult to get a good grasp or seal on the cigar when taking a draw due to the uniquely shaped head.

Pre-light Experience

The Warped Futuro Seleccion 109 has a beautiful, oily, almost Colorado red wrapper tint. The cigar feels well rolled with no soft spots present, tight seams, and packed full of tobacco. The head is finished off with a well adhered triple cap. Nosing the wrapper gives pungent barnyard and cedar. Nosing the foot gives pungent barnyard and sharp white pepper spice. Cold draw tells damp earth, spicy red pepper, and cedar.

First Third

Upon lighting, I’m greeted with a dry wood that carries some spice, which is a very nice welcome. The spice and wood really intermingle well and the retrohale carries the same flavors and has a bit of a warming feeling along with it. About of a third of an inch in, the spice starts to fade back a bit and some creaminess joins the wood. The spice from earlier is still lingering in my mouth, it just isn’t as present on each draw. Nearing the three quarter inch mark, a nice sweetness comes in on the retrohale to go with the creamy wood and mild spice. Further in, the sweetness disappears from the retrohale and the wood flavor becomes more identifiable as cedar. Nearing the end of the third, the sweetness comes back on the retrohale. The strength in this third was right around medium.

First Third

First third wastes no time providing mouth watering, sharp flavors of oily white pepper spice, cedar, and sweet bread. Through the retro-hale, the white pepper spice and cedar is further intensified. About an inch in, the white pepper spice is getting the better of me, lodging towards the back of my throat, making it a bit irritating. Body is at a solid medium and strength towards the end of the first third is starting to creep to a medium plus.

Second Third

This third starts with the same cedar and creaminess from the previous third. The sweetness on the retrohale has vanished again and it is now a bit drying. About a half inch into the third, the cedar becomes more pronounced with a nice accompanying spice. Halfway through the third, the creaminess picks up to go along with the cedar. Nearing the end of the third, the cream drops out and leaves the cedar with just a faint bit of spice. The strength in this third was just below medium.

Second Third

The sharpness of flavors is toned down within the second third. Still providing the same flavor profile (oily white pepper spice, cedar and sweet bread), the cigar so far is fairly linear. Also, my throat feels less irritated by the white pepper spice (always a big plus). At various pockets, the sweetness morphs into a caramel and baking spice is in the mix. Body continues to be at a solid medium while strength is shifting towards the medium side.

Final Third

This third begins with cedar and the retrohale is bringing a bit of meatiness. After a quarter inch or so an ashy flavor begins. The ash flavor quickly went away after a few draws. The cedar flavor wanes a bit but is still very much present on the retrohale. In the middle of the third, a bit of mineral flavor comes into the retrohale along with a little bit of heat. The mineral flavor is now coating my tongue and intensifies as the third progresses. The strength in this third was medium-full

Final Third

Last third is a mixture of first and second third. At the core of it, still oily white pepper spice, cedar, and sweet bread. Within the middle of the last third, the sharpness of the cedar returns as well as an intensified caramel and sweet bread. New flavor of intermittent floral notes also appears. Body and strength like the second third, is at a medium.

Burn

The burn on this cigar was not very good. The wrapper didn’t want to burn in certain areas in the first and second thirds. In the second and final third, the cigar went out on we quite a few times. The ash held on for an inch at a time, but parts would flake off randomly.

Burn

Burn performance was poor. I had to perform three re-lights; one at the tail end of the first third, and two within the second third. The ash was fairly flowery but ash holds were strong, averaging 1.5 inches.

Draw

The draw was a bit tight, but nothing that really effected anything and was most likely due to the tapered head. I didn’t want to cut any more than I did in case it would cause any issues with the cap.

Overall

The cigar started out great in the first third with very vivid flavors. Unfortunately, the flavor profile didn’t maintain this level the rest of the way. The burn failed this cigar and caused me to have to re-light a fair amount. I wouldn’t mind a few re-lights if the flavor level kept going from the first third, but that wasn’t the case. I would have to expect that the re-lights had an adverse effect on the flavors. I would still recommend that people try this cigar as I wouldn’t expect every one to burn this way and thus would have a better flavor experience for the full cigar.

Draw

Draw was perfect. Absolutely amazing with just the right amount of give.

Overall

Like with most cigars from Warped, I thought the Futuro Seleccion 109 was a tasty offering. I did find the notes to be a bit raw and sharp for my liking and guessing the cigar will meld better with age. The burn issue (re-lights) was a let down, feeling the need to constantly fight with the cigar. Would still buy a fiver to give it some proper TLC in the humidor as I am banking aging will create a more harmonious flavor profile.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.40

Cost/Point

$1.81

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.00

Cost/Point

$1.62

Scoring System