Pre-light Experience

There is a main band with the El Centurion name, a secondary band listing the H-2K-CT designation and then an orange ribbon at the foot, so a fair amount of the cigar is covered up when looking at it straight out of the cellophane. Medium brown colored wrapper with easily visible but tight wrap lines. Some very small veins are also visible. The cigar is box pressed with slightly rounded edges. The triple cap is well applied. A faint sweet hay aroma is found on the wrapper while the foot gives off a much sweeter and fuller hay aroma. The pre-light draw brings a little spice to the lips with a slight leather flavor.

Pre-light Experience

The El Centurion H2KCT corona is soft pressed, silky and uniformed medium brown. The cigar feels well rolled with no soft spots and seams being relatively seamless. The head is finished off with a well adhered triple cap. In terms of pre-light flavors, nosing the wrapper gives barnyard and cedar. Nosing the foot provides hay and a potent dose of sneezing white pepper spice. Cold draw tells gritty natural tobacco notes, and a lingering white pepper spice.

First Third

Upon lighting, a thick blanket of creamy pepper coats my tongue with a very long finish. The retrohale carries the same flavor but at a reduced level. After the first 1/8 inch, the fullness of the flavor dials back a bit losing a majority of the initial pepper. The flavor is still creamy with a little of the pepper tingle on my tongue as I blow out the smoke. Half way into the third and the creaminess remains with a slight increase in sweetness and the pepper still faintly hanging on in the background. The retrohale carries a bit of wood smoke with it. Nearing the end of the third, it becomes less creamy and the sweetness fades away. The sweetness has moved to the retrohale. Right at the end of the third I ash the cigar for the first time as I need to remove the secondary band before the burn line reaches it. The first third strength level was slightly higher than medium.

First Third

First handful of draws create a powerful and surprising flavor experience for a Connecticut. Dominant white pepper spice, hay and bread, followed by faint cedar. Through retrohaling, intensified white pepper spice and bread notes. I’m curious as what kind of “hybrid U.S. Connecticut” the cigar has to create such a strong white pepper spice (or is it due to the binder and filler). Nearing the end of the first third, the white pepper spice does slightly taper while the bread note is enhanced. Body and strength is at a medium pushing the medium plus range for the entirety of the first third.

Second Third

As the third begins, the retrohale is carrying a nice sweetness with it. The primary flavor on the initial draw is now a very light cedar. The creaminess seems to come and go throughout this third while the amount of smoke created on each draw is impressive. Towards the middle of the third, a bit of pepper comes back into the profile to mix with the creaminess. The retrohale now consists of sweet cream with a little bit of the pepper. Nearing the end of the third, a woodiness comes into the profile as the primary flavor and edges out the sweetness. The strength of this third was a solid medium.

Second Third

Second thirds flavor profile is initially a continuation of the first third (still dominant white pepper spice and pronounced bread notes). Towards the latter half of the second third, a charred and burnt wood note enters. This flavor mixes in well with the other notes but at times creates a hint of bitterness. Within a few random draws, there are notes of cloves and a slight sweet creaminess. Body and strength continues to be at a medium pushing the medium plus range for the entirety of the second third.

Final Third

This third continues the woodiness with a slight bit of cream. There is still some pepper on the finish and the retrohale is very creamy and woody. Wood has now pushed out all other flavors and the retrohale has a bit of mineral quality to it. A bit of sweetness comes back in mid way through the third to mix with the wood. The retrohale is now the only place the cream can be found. The cigar finishes primarily woody with hints of cream. The strength for this third was just below medium.

Final Third

Last thirds flavor profile brings the latter second thirds flavors. Still a dominant white pepper spice, pronounced bread notes, and now the charred and burnt wood notes create a more noticeable bitterness. The bitterness is in the background as a constant reminder but never taking away from the other mentioned notes. Body and strength continues to be at a medium pushing the medium plus range for the entirety of the last third.

Burn

The burn was very good. The ash held on in segments between one and two inches. No touch ups or corrections were required.

Burn

Burn was consistently good throughout the entire cigar. One inch average ashes that held on fairly tight. Burn line was also fairly sharp.

Draw

The draw was a tad tighter than I prefer, but it didn’t seem to cause any issues with the performance.

Overall

Right after lighting, the cigar hit me with a tremendous amount of flavor. That tailed off after the first few draws and settled into a nice flavor level. Primarily creamy and sweet with some pepper in the first third, some wood came into the second third and is how things finished off. A really nice set of core flavors. The performance was excellent requiring no attention there and allowed me to really focus on the flavor. This is a very good Connecticut wrapped offering that doesn’t hit the typical mild strength profile they are typically associated with. It is still something that can be enjoyed as a morning or first cigar of the day, but that isn’t to say it couldn’t be enjoyed at any time. Definitely a cigar that is approachable for any level of smoker.

Draw

Draw was slightly loose for my liking. But most importantly, the slightly loose draw did not take away from the focus of flavors.

Overall

This was a subpar Connecticut cigar. I feel almost odd to call it a Connecticut as I have never tasted such strong pepper notes from a Connecticut. The flavor profile did overall meld well minus the background bitterness within the second and last third. I would recommend this cigar to a veteran smoker as I believe the dominant white pepper notes will deter a novice cigar smoker who typically enjoys a milder bodied and strength cigar.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.47

Cost/Point

$1.18

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

4.67

Cost/Point

$1.63

Scoring System