5.75" x 60 ring gauge, approx. $8.50A couple weeks ago, I established that I still consider the L-500 Oscuro to be my favorite all-around stick, but I thought it was also time to evaluate how I feel these days about the lighter-wrapper version of the same stick. As with the Oscuro version, this cigar features Dominican filler and binder along with an Ecuadorian wrapper. This natural wrapper is a light brown, not a cramy tan like you would find on a Connecticut shade-grown. It is very slightly oily and fairly good-looking--it's smooth and not overly veined, but it is mottled with some odd-looking blemishes as well. This kind of thing is hardly noticeable on the Oscuro. The wrapper smells like hay and earth; the foot has a chocolately, composty aroma--very rich.
The prelight draw was wonderful, which is normal for a cigar of this girth; the flavors were chocolate, sweet tobacco, and a little coffee. There was also a spicy tingle on the lips. I got a little sloppy with my Lotus triple-flame lighter and ended up scorching the first half inch of the wrapper; the first few puffs were charry as a result, but I cannot blame LFD for my sloppiness, so no points deducted.
As I enjoyed this cigar, I was struck by the beauty of early autumn here on this east Tennessee evening and also by the rapid change in seasons. Barely a month ago it was hot and humid all day and my evening smoking times were pleasant but at time uncomfortable due to the moisture in the air. On September 1 it cooled rapidly and quickly and then we were met with about 2 weeks of unrelenting rain--about 12 inches total before that cycle broke the other day. Yesterday was the first evening I have needed to wear a jacket while smoking in many months--the temp fell to 60 as I smoked and to 50 overnight. It is dark out now, but there are a lot fewer bugs than even a week ago. I hear acorns falling and thudding to the ground across and street and the sound of distant gunfire as hunters practice for the beginning of deer season.
The first third of this stick was characterized by some cedary and coffee notes along with a hint of some chocolately sweetness. The cigar recovered well from the flambe I served it at first and burned very evenly so far with a consistently great draw. The retrohale was smooth and woody.
The second third more resembled a mild-bodied smoke in the flavor department--the smoke was creamy and there were hints of hay and honey, but with a little black pepper from time-to-time as well. Overall, the body so far was strictly medium but the flavor was still rich.
The final third continued the milder ways of this cigar. While not outright "mild," it is significantly more mild than the oscuro version of the stick. The flavors ended with more hay and cream and a slight bitterness. Not bad, and perhaps a better choice for beginning herfers, but not really my preference. If I were given one of these sticks, I would definitely smoke it and would enjoy it, but when the time comes to lay down money, I have to go for the darker expression.
Body: 5/10
Strength: 5/10
Complexity: 7/10
AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3/5
Value: .5/1
Total: 7.5/10
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