Stogie_Bear
Chulo Savage
Date: The 7th day of April, the year 2015
Review: Warped La Hacienda Superiores
Size: 5 5/8 x 46
MSRP: $7.50
Purchased from: Edward's Pipe & Tobacco, Lakeland, FL - (863) 687-4168
Smoking Environment: I’m rushing towards a waterfall. I’ve been pounding pavement and working my tail off all day in this hot Florida sun, dealing with irrational clients and senior citizen drivers. I cannot think of a better way to close a workday than to let the air and water fall out from around me and plunge face first into an ice-cold beverage and newly released Warped stick. It’s just one of those days… you know what I’m talkin’ about.
So, the A/C is cranked and I settle into my favorite chair. Cutter and lighter at the ready. The air temperature is a comfortable 74 degrees inside and I turn on some Stevie Ray Vaughan and try to ignore the barrage of emails and phone calls endlessly pinging my cell phone. Although… a text group of friends helps to lighten the mood.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Appearance/construction: Expertly executed triple cap and seamless wrap. Semi-oily wrapper with minimal tooth. Medium brown color for the most part, with some slightly darker leaf variation towards the foot. It only seems to be the case with this particular stick from my haul, so no harm there. Solid tight fill with good rebound. These are freshly delivered, yet seem perfectly humidified (After all, it’s a pretty short trip from Miami).
Aroma Pre-Light: Mostly hay, cedar, and natural tobacco scent, with a minor hint of cocoa.
Cold draw: Great draw, with just the right amount of resistance for me. Cedar, and again maybe chocolate as an after thought.
Light: Lit with a cedar plank, quickly and evenly.
First impression: Very unusual blast of flavor from the first puff… This tasted like fresh tomato, cilantro, lime, onions. My mouth is watering with what I think is pico de gallo and it’s just the first few puffs.
Aroma Post-Light: Clean tobacco, cedar, and sugary-sweet citrus blossom (yes, I know what that smells like… it’s Florida).
First Third: The pico has dialed down pretty much immediately to a profile of fresh white pepper, citrus, and getting a very creamy feel and voluptuous smoke. I’m writing off the weird pico de gallo experience to simply luck of the draw and the fact that this stick is literally right off the truck from Miami. The first inch of ash floats down to my lap, almost in slow motion. I honestly can’t bring myself to care. Incredibly sharp burn line, and nice white ash with tons of smoke. The pepper continues to fade to the back of my throat and through the retro, leaving the sublime cream and fruit flavors in the forefront. Very ‘clean’ feeling smoke.
Second Third: This is not a pepper lover’s smoke. Extremely creamy buttery goodness with citrus into the second third as well. There is pepper, but it is all on the back line. The retrohale is like candy, very sweet with a little spice to sting the nostrils. The burn starts to get a little wonky, but quickly self corrects as I realize how fast I am smoking. The flavor profile holds all the way through the second third, with some added bread/wheat notes in the aroma. Very smooth flavors, medium bodied smoke.
Final Third:The pepper kicks up a tiny notch, if only because of the approaching burn line. But it unlocks some serious complexity in the last third. I’m getting what taste like a brie cheese and grapes with some toasted graham crackers. Burn has fixed itself more than once at this point. No corrections, no cuts, no relights. Still a generous amount of smoke from both sides of the stick. Entering into the ‘nub’ and the white pepper releases another wave, only to be swept away by cream and soft lime rind. No shortage of flavor, with some great complexity in the final third. Finally the pepper and heat overcome the profile, but not before I singe my mustache.
Overall Impression/Final Notes: I’m done. Another home run from Kyle @warpedcigars. These are stupid-good.
Smoke time: 1hr10m
Scoring:
Appearance and Presentation: 19/20
Lighting and Burning Properties: 13/15
Construction Properties: 29/30
Taste Properties: 33/35
Total: 94/100
Author’s Note: As always, I welcome any constructive criticism so that my reviews can continue to grow in strength and depth. I will try my best to review sticks that have not been previously reviewed here and that are generally “available.” As a service to my brothers, I intend to write with as much detail as I can muster, and with an honest opinion. However, it is only MY opinion, so please try a stick before you buy a box if you have any intention of being fiscally responsible with this beloved affliction for fine tobacco that we all have. Also, all cigars are kept humidified at 63-68% and dry boxed if needed, unless otherwise specified in the write-up. Thanks for reading!
Last edited:
