5-1/2" x 54 ring
I have had this stick in my humidor since last November. I picked it up at the Big Smoke in Las Vegas and my friends who had smoked it remarked so much on its strength that I was afraid to give it a try; I was waiting for the right time--a time when I wasn't going to smoke a second or third cigar and a time when I wasn't rushed or pre-disposed to being knocked flat by a powerful smoke.
This cigar is so dark, it's almost black; it has a nice oily sheen and a toothy wrapper. The pre-light aroma is sweet and cocoa-y (is that even a word?). After cutting it, the cold smoke shows a great draw with hints of blueberry flavor. I lit this up outside during the afternoon and it was sunny, making it hard to tell if I got an even light from the beginning, but I don't think I did. I had uneven burning right from the start and this didn't go away throughout the entire stick. Disappointing, but, again, hard to know if it was because of the uneven lighting or a construction problem--I'll give the cigar roller the benefit of the doubt at this point, though.
The first portion of the cigar shows just where this stick is going: is has a full body with thick smoke. The flavors most prevelant are leather and earth. By the half-way mark, the true power of the cigar is starting to kick in; some leathery hints remain, but they are joined by some chocolate. At the last third, the stogie starts to show some spice and nuttiness, as well as more of the earthiness that was present early on.
Overall, this is a very strong cigar. I was not quite able to finish it off. Definitely not a cigar for beginners--unless you want to scare them off smoking for the rest of their lives!
Rating: 90
Vermar here;
ReplyDeleteThis is my first blog post, so forgive me if I post something in the wrong place or misspell a word or two. The El Rico Habano line of cigars is a brand every serious cigar smoker must try. They are rich in flavor, full-bodied and complex. The prices are reasonable too.