Bahia Insignia 10th Anniversary
Brand: Bahia
Name: Insignia
Size: 6 x 52
Shape: Toro
Cut: straight
First impression: This is a medium dark brown like an old aging leather couch. It's mildly veiny but still has excellent construction. The foot looks well packed and the dry draw is a medium. The body has a beautiful tobacco aroma. I am not able to get very specific yet for some reason. The foot exhibits much of the same with the addition of drying hay. Only on a very long dry draw do I get any pepper at the back of the throat.
First 3rd: Since I had to light this using traditional sulfur tipped matches I have to dismiss the first few puffs. At about a half inch this cigar is burning well and giving hints of pepper, and something else that I can't zone in on yet. I do feel as if my mouth is being coated with smoke (like a poorly ventilated room after about 10 years of constant smoking) which I have not felt before. I wondering if this is because of the humid environment in which I am smoking it or maybe it was the matches (*I can now dismiss this theory since I smoked other cigars in the same environment using matches and they were NOT like this).
A quick rinse of the pallet and a few more draws produce a balanced flavor on the pallet with nothing jumping out. This cigars is producing a nice white ash and a good amount of smoke.
A few more puffs and the body has a hint of roasted coffee aroma to the nose while the flavors remain well balanced to a fault. I'm not getting anything bad but I'm also not getting anything pronounced.
As I near the end of the first third the ash continues to stay white and seems very solid though I can't trust it because of previous Bahia experiences. I will see how long it last though. That coating of the mouth is back and I don't like it. It reminds me of the reason I stayed away from cigars for so many years. Which now gets me thinking about abandoning this stick. The ash has held tight for the first third and the burn is about as even as it gets.
So far I am underwhelmed considering its lower priced brethren the Bahia Blu.
Second 3rd: On the very next drag she gave up the ash which is respectable but surprising considering there was no warning. Bitch landed on my hand too and gave me a nice burn.
A few puffs in and still no flavor enhancement but she is burning well and the ash is still white. I have to start seriously thinking about my commitment to this stick at this point. Save my lungs and pallet for something better later tonight or finish this mediocre smoke.
Since I know tonight might bring the offering of some fine Habanos or at least another selection from my personal stash; I am opting for the abandonment of this stick. It's just not giving me anything in return to motivate the continuance of a mediocre smoke.
Other reviews rave and some don't and mine does not. I still prefer the Bahia Blue over the Insignias 10th anniversary.
How long did it take to smoke: 2:05 - 2:45 ( 40 minutes unfinished)
Did you have to re-light and how often: no
What were you drinking with it: water
Recommend: I can't as there was nothing more than a well burning nice white ash to this smoke. The flavors were to even to get anything from it aside from smoke and a mouth coating of said smoke. I do hate posting a dud review as each person has individual pallets and an experience like this always makes me doubt myself. There were other cigars had the same week I smoked this one in similar circumstances and those were much better.
Brand: Bahia
Name: Insignia
Size: 6 x 52
Shape: Toro
Cut: straight
First impression: This is a medium dark brown like an old aging leather couch. It's mildly veiny but still has excellent construction. The foot looks well packed and the dry draw is a medium. The body has a beautiful tobacco aroma. I am not able to get very specific yet for some reason. The foot exhibits much of the same with the addition of drying hay. Only on a very long dry draw do I get any pepper at the back of the throat.
First 3rd: Since I had to light this using traditional sulfur tipped matches I have to dismiss the first few puffs. At about a half inch this cigar is burning well and giving hints of pepper, and something else that I can't zone in on yet. I do feel as if my mouth is being coated with smoke (like a poorly ventilated room after about 10 years of constant smoking) which I have not felt before. I wondering if this is because of the humid environment in which I am smoking it or maybe it was the matches (*I can now dismiss this theory since I smoked other cigars in the same environment using matches and they were NOT like this).
A quick rinse of the pallet and a few more draws produce a balanced flavor on the pallet with nothing jumping out. This cigars is producing a nice white ash and a good amount of smoke.
A few more puffs and the body has a hint of roasted coffee aroma to the nose while the flavors remain well balanced to a fault. I'm not getting anything bad but I'm also not getting anything pronounced.
As I near the end of the first third the ash continues to stay white and seems very solid though I can't trust it because of previous Bahia experiences. I will see how long it last though. That coating of the mouth is back and I don't like it. It reminds me of the reason I stayed away from cigars for so many years. Which now gets me thinking about abandoning this stick. The ash has held tight for the first third and the burn is about as even as it gets.
So far I am underwhelmed considering its lower priced brethren the Bahia Blu.
Second 3rd: On the very next drag she gave up the ash which is respectable but surprising considering there was no warning. Bitch landed on my hand too and gave me a nice burn.
A few puffs in and still no flavor enhancement but she is burning well and the ash is still white. I have to start seriously thinking about my commitment to this stick at this point. Save my lungs and pallet for something better later tonight or finish this mediocre smoke.
Since I know tonight might bring the offering of some fine Habanos or at least another selection from my personal stash; I am opting for the abandonment of this stick. It's just not giving me anything in return to motivate the continuance of a mediocre smoke.
Other reviews rave and some don't and mine does not. I still prefer the Bahia Blue over the Insignias 10th anniversary.
How long did it take to smoke: 2:05 - 2:45 ( 40 minutes unfinished)
Did you have to re-light and how often: no
What were you drinking with it: water
Recommend: I can't as there was nothing more than a well burning nice white ash to this smoke. The flavors were to even to get anything from it aside from smoke and a mouth coating of said smoke. I do hate posting a dud review as each person has individual pallets and an experience like this always makes me doubt myself. There were other cigars had the same week I smoked this one in similar circumstances and those were much better.
