601 Red Robusto
Temperatures in Stockton and Tracy reached 102 degrees. Inside my car this afternoon it was hotter than fish grease.
So when I got home I retrieved from the humi a 601 Red Robusto. I have been reluctant to smoke this as I am a raving fan of the boxed pressed blue and green labels. But I figure, "what the heck, go for it."
Pre-Light:
I sniff the foot and detect leather and earth. Inspection of the wrapper reveals a top notch roll and the three seam cap was truly, the best I have ever seen.
The couple of pre-light draws reveal to me that I am in for a treat in terms of smoke volume. I detect an almost acrid taste of burnt toast.
Not to be detered, it's off with the cap, a toasting of the foot and we're off.
First Third:
First couple of puffs reveal a stronger than normal Pepin blast of spice. The spice over powered every other discernable flavor for the first 1/8th of an inch.
After a few more puffs the cigar begins to settle down and I detect a hint of leather and orange peel. The latter is very subtle. The smoke is dry with a very short finish. I am also encountering some slight resistance on the draw. The ash is firm, the burn line is sharp and at this time I am beginning to kick myself over the choice as I pulled a Tatuaje Red Tubo out and opted for this instead based on the time.
Well, to finish this first third...I get ashed! The ash falls into my lap and now I'm like "What the hell! Life is too damned short for bad cigars and crappy smoking experiences."
However, I hate losers and will not suffer a quitter so I man up and forge ahead.
Second Third:
I figure with a fallen ash perhaps I'd be served well to let it sit for a minute in hopes that it would go out and allow me the oportunity to purge it. Well it did and I did.
After re-lighting it, the spice was still predominate along with the leather and orange peel. By now I am sorely dissatisfied as I was expecting a little more in the way of complexity.
This third of the stick was boring and monotonous. The finish is so short that even on a retrohale I find myself wanting to draw again within seconds so that I can experience the now present rich tobacco taste.
Unfortunately, the volume of smoke produced by this stick is whispy and airy. So I remove my Palio from it's sheath and lip off a bit more of the cap. Now the stuck is putting off massive volumes of dense, almost chewy smoke!
Final Third:
Good things do come to those who wait (or have enough sense to remove more cap). Now the flavor of fresh roasted coffee beans is more pronounced and the spice has mellowed to the background. I can't help but wonder that perhaps if I had given the stuck an intervention earlier, I would have reached this level of enjoyment sooner. (Good thing for me that I have a couple more of these).
Now I am tasting a raspberry chocolate like flavor and the spiciness has reared it's head to let me know it was still here. In fact, I am almost certain that I am experiencing a nicotine buzz. This stick packs a velvet hammer that just sneaks up un you.
Ok already, I was wrong, it was smoker error, the final third was as flavorable as you could imagine.
Final Thoughts:
If not for my lack of attention to detail in the beginning this may have been a solid 85 on a 100 point scale. So while not as good as the boxed pressed blue toro, it was worthy of my time. Besides, I nubbed this stick in honor of my foolheartedness.
I am sure I will give it another shot before summer is out for if I like it, I want to pick up the last half a box or so of the ones at my local B&M before they get the new blend.
So there you have it. Thank you for suffering an old fool and here's to good sticks, good friends and great times.
Temperatures in Stockton and Tracy reached 102 degrees. Inside my car this afternoon it was hotter than fish grease.
So when I got home I retrieved from the humi a 601 Red Robusto. I have been reluctant to smoke this as I am a raving fan of the boxed pressed blue and green labels. But I figure, "what the heck, go for it."
Pre-Light:
I sniff the foot and detect leather and earth. Inspection of the wrapper reveals a top notch roll and the three seam cap was truly, the best I have ever seen.
The couple of pre-light draws reveal to me that I am in for a treat in terms of smoke volume. I detect an almost acrid taste of burnt toast.
Not to be detered, it's off with the cap, a toasting of the foot and we're off.
First Third:
First couple of puffs reveal a stronger than normal Pepin blast of spice. The spice over powered every other discernable flavor for the first 1/8th of an inch.
After a few more puffs the cigar begins to settle down and I detect a hint of leather and orange peel. The latter is very subtle. The smoke is dry with a very short finish. I am also encountering some slight resistance on the draw. The ash is firm, the burn line is sharp and at this time I am beginning to kick myself over the choice as I pulled a Tatuaje Red Tubo out and opted for this instead based on the time.
Well, to finish this first third...I get ashed! The ash falls into my lap and now I'm like "What the hell! Life is too damned short for bad cigars and crappy smoking experiences."
However, I hate losers and will not suffer a quitter so I man up and forge ahead.
Second Third:
I figure with a fallen ash perhaps I'd be served well to let it sit for a minute in hopes that it would go out and allow me the oportunity to purge it. Well it did and I did.
After re-lighting it, the spice was still predominate along with the leather and orange peel. By now I am sorely dissatisfied as I was expecting a little more in the way of complexity.
This third of the stick was boring and monotonous. The finish is so short that even on a retrohale I find myself wanting to draw again within seconds so that I can experience the now present rich tobacco taste.
Unfortunately, the volume of smoke produced by this stick is whispy and airy. So I remove my Palio from it's sheath and lip off a bit more of the cap. Now the stuck is putting off massive volumes of dense, almost chewy smoke!
Final Third:
Good things do come to those who wait (or have enough sense to remove more cap). Now the flavor of fresh roasted coffee beans is more pronounced and the spice has mellowed to the background. I can't help but wonder that perhaps if I had given the stuck an intervention earlier, I would have reached this level of enjoyment sooner. (Good thing for me that I have a couple more of these).
Now I am tasting a raspberry chocolate like flavor and the spiciness has reared it's head to let me know it was still here. In fact, I am almost certain that I am experiencing a nicotine buzz. This stick packs a velvet hammer that just sneaks up un you.
Ok already, I was wrong, it was smoker error, the final third was as flavorable as you could imagine.
Final Thoughts:
If not for my lack of attention to detail in the beginning this may have been a solid 85 on a 100 point scale. So while not as good as the boxed pressed blue toro, it was worthy of my time. Besides, I nubbed this stick in honor of my foolheartedness.
I am sure I will give it another shot before summer is out for if I like it, I want to pick up the last half a box or so of the ones at my local B&M before they get the new blend.
So there you have it. Thank you for suffering an old fool and here's to good sticks, good friends and great times.
)
