Graycliff Turbo Edicion Limitada 2012
Size: Torpedo (6x52)
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
This cigar was gifted in return for sending a pipe tobacco sampler.
Appearance: Even milk chocolate in color. There are some veins visible on the wrapper, but it feels smooth to the touch. The band design is very nice, with the flat black and gold bordering against the milk chocolate wrapper. It is overall a very nice looking cigar. There is also a bit of sheen when held in the light.
Pre-Light : The cigar is firm and consistent, there are no soft spots that can be felt.
Aroma: Slight hints of soil and grass, offering up just a little sweetness to the nose. There is some background scent of leather and even a little spice that can be detected.
Cold Draw: The draw is pretty firm. The wrapper gives some faint spice tingle to the lips. Earthy flavors are dominant in the cold draw. Tobacco, hints of hay and leather. There is some sweetness..and an almost sour flavor showing through. Not sour in a bad way, just a bit unusual.
1st: Initial flavors are natural tobacco with some little bits of sweetness. It rounds into flavors of tobacco with light leather and some background wood tones. There is a bit of lingering spice flavor, but it doesn't have the bite of pepper. It also stays in the mouth between puffs. The retrohale offers up a much stronger version of the spice, and some almost charred cedar.
2nd: The cedar has picked up and come into the flavor mix here. The more prominent flavors of tobacco and leather are still strongest. Some sweetness, and a bit of the sour flavor from the cold draw come and go in the background. Neither stay very long, but they keep recurring. The burn so far is performing perfectly.
3rd: The spice is a bit stronger going into the final third. Tobacco, cedar and toned down leather still make up the flavor profile. It becomes a bit dry nearing the band. The sour flavor has disappeared, but the sweet hints still keep making their in and out appearances. Nearing the end, everything seems to get a bit darker in flavor. The tobacco is heavier, and the cedar becomes dry.
Impressions: Overall it's a solid cigar, both in performance and taste. It's not going to wow someone who is used to full flavor, fast transitioning cigars. However, it won't overpower a newer palate that might want to step into some earthy darker flavors with hints of spice. The only downside to the cigar was the draw. It remained too tight throughout. For a smoker who less experienced with this problem, it can cause you to over-compensate by puffing too hard or too fast. This will cause the flavors to get too hot and bitter quickly. It's a good mid-afternoon, lunch time cigar. I don't see it as overpowering in its flavor, but it is strong enough to leave just about anyone satisfied.
Size: Torpedo (6x52)
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
This cigar was gifted in return for sending a pipe tobacco sampler.
Appearance: Even milk chocolate in color. There are some veins visible on the wrapper, but it feels smooth to the touch. The band design is very nice, with the flat black and gold bordering against the milk chocolate wrapper. It is overall a very nice looking cigar. There is also a bit of sheen when held in the light.
Pre-Light : The cigar is firm and consistent, there are no soft spots that can be felt.
Aroma: Slight hints of soil and grass, offering up just a little sweetness to the nose. There is some background scent of leather and even a little spice that can be detected.
Cold Draw: The draw is pretty firm. The wrapper gives some faint spice tingle to the lips. Earthy flavors are dominant in the cold draw. Tobacco, hints of hay and leather. There is some sweetness..and an almost sour flavor showing through. Not sour in a bad way, just a bit unusual.
1st: Initial flavors are natural tobacco with some little bits of sweetness. It rounds into flavors of tobacco with light leather and some background wood tones. There is a bit of lingering spice flavor, but it doesn't have the bite of pepper. It also stays in the mouth between puffs. The retrohale offers up a much stronger version of the spice, and some almost charred cedar.
2nd: The cedar has picked up and come into the flavor mix here. The more prominent flavors of tobacco and leather are still strongest. Some sweetness, and a bit of the sour flavor from the cold draw come and go in the background. Neither stay very long, but they keep recurring. The burn so far is performing perfectly.
3rd: The spice is a bit stronger going into the final third. Tobacco, cedar and toned down leather still make up the flavor profile. It becomes a bit dry nearing the band. The sour flavor has disappeared, but the sweet hints still keep making their in and out appearances. Nearing the end, everything seems to get a bit darker in flavor. The tobacco is heavier, and the cedar becomes dry.
Impressions: Overall it's a solid cigar, both in performance and taste. It's not going to wow someone who is used to full flavor, fast transitioning cigars. However, it won't overpower a newer palate that might want to step into some earthy darker flavors with hints of spice. The only downside to the cigar was the draw. It remained too tight throughout. For a smoker who less experienced with this problem, it can cause you to over-compensate by puffing too hard or too fast. This will cause the flavors to get too hot and bitter quickly. It's a good mid-afternoon, lunch time cigar. I don't see it as overpowering in its flavor, but it is strong enough to leave just about anyone satisfied.
