Daisy Cutter, 4" x 54 ring gauge / approx $9 when they came out...now: priceless
The argument goes something like this: "Cigar X is okay, but the original version from x number of years ago was so much better." Apply this to CAO's Maduro (the original Costa Rican rolled ones), the first year or two of Opus X, or to...well, this example of Skull and Bones...the Daisy Cutter, originally produced in May 2010 and available exactly nowhere in the last 23.5 months unless you happen to have a box stashed...or know someone that does. I was having the argument a couple months ago with Dan Reeve of Cigar Explorer and he generously offered to send me one. So I now publicly say a big "Thank You" again to Dan.
This is an all-Nicaraguan smoke with a Sun Grown Criollo wrapper (according to Smoking Stogie's review, now found on Halfwheel) and is no doubt a good looking cigar. The wrapper had a understated scent of cedar and earth, and cedar came through even stronger on the foot. The cold draw was earthy with a bit of cocoa powder. One characteristic I have come to expect from the few S&B sticks I have had if full body and this one definitely does not disappoint from the first puff...but it's not a "boot to the head" fullness that some others have displayed. The smoke was oily and heavy, but had plenty of flavor as well: lots of earth, of course, but also espresso bean, cocoa powder and licorice notes on the tongue. The retrohale was spicy with a lot of cedar present.
By the halfway mark it was apparent that the stories about this cigar are, in fact, true...this IS the best of the Skull and Bones line of limited release cigars. Well, the bet I have had anyway...I cannot call myself an expert on them since I publicly stopped drinking the Viaje Koolaid last year. Like I remarked earlier: definitely full bodied...also definitely packing some strength...but not at all like most of the other S&B I've had where strength and body were an end unto themselves. Although lacking complexity and change, this did have a ton of flavor and all of it was very good. If the blenders of Viaje cigars can capture this magic again, they most definitely should.
The argument goes something like this: "Cigar X is okay, but the original version from x number of years ago was so much better." Apply this to CAO's Maduro (the original Costa Rican rolled ones), the first year or two of Opus X, or to...well, this example of Skull and Bones...the Daisy Cutter, originally produced in May 2010 and available exactly nowhere in the last 23.5 months unless you happen to have a box stashed...or know someone that does. I was having the argument a couple months ago with Dan Reeve of Cigar Explorer and he generously offered to send me one. So I now publicly say a big "Thank You" again to Dan.
This is an all-Nicaraguan smoke with a Sun Grown Criollo wrapper (according to Smoking Stogie's review, now found on Halfwheel) and is no doubt a good looking cigar. The wrapper had a understated scent of cedar and earth, and cedar came through even stronger on the foot. The cold draw was earthy with a bit of cocoa powder. One characteristic I have come to expect from the few S&B sticks I have had if full body and this one definitely does not disappoint from the first puff...but it's not a "boot to the head" fullness that some others have displayed. The smoke was oily and heavy, but had plenty of flavor as well: lots of earth, of course, but also espresso bean, cocoa powder and licorice notes on the tongue. The retrohale was spicy with a lot of cedar present.
By the halfway mark it was apparent that the stories about this cigar are, in fact, true...this IS the best of the Skull and Bones line of limited release cigars. Well, the bet I have had anyway...I cannot call myself an expert on them since I publicly stopped drinking the Viaje Koolaid last year. Like I remarked earlier: definitely full bodied...also definitely packing some strength...but not at all like most of the other S&B I've had where strength and body were an end unto themselves. Although lacking complexity and change, this did have a ton of flavor and all of it was very good. If the blenders of Viaje cigars can capture this magic again, they most definitely should.
No comments:
Post a Comment