ChefBoyRG54
BoM Sept '14 & BoY 2014
First time in 4 days I get to smoke and the stars aligned where I have as much time as I need and it's almost 50 out. Four days is the longest I've gone since late winter last year. Part trying to dial back a bit(just a bit) and being busy with the holiday which was fantastic especially after being gone for a couple weeks. Saw my brother and parents for first time in about a month 
Time to review a stick I've been excited about since John(jmphotog) sent it to me.
The Herrera Esteli Tienda Exclusiva from Barrister!
I have smoked a few regular HEs and the lance which I enjoyed a lot. Interestingly enough, this cigar looks totally different with a much darker SA wrapper. Much smaller too. I forget the exact spec but looks like 5 or 5.5 x 46(4 7/8 x 46, looked it up)? For $12 msrp, it sure is small...but it's limited!!!
Invites you to take a whiff. Smells delicious. Sweet, with a meatiness to it that reminds me of a good meat pasta sauce.
She's a temptress and the red label is very bold but classy. Let's dig in
Xi3 cut reveals a grassy scent under the cap and the cold draw is one of the most unique I've ever tasted. A bold herb I can't pin. Greener tasting than basil. Wow
Upon touching the foot she releases a cooked herb scent right away. Fires right up with my xikar double torch that I always forget the name of.
First impression
Much like the cold draw, a unique taste that is not overpowering. Very inviting. Easy draw, but not effortless. Perfect imo. Just realized how densely packed this sucker is. Almost rock hard. Fits the look
First third...
Great tasting stick right from the go. A complex set of flavors that are different from puff to retro. My mouth is filled with a dense flavor of almost an oregano seasoned meat, but the retro is sweet with light spice and grassy flavor. Very interesting and building some anxiety on where this is going.
Lightly pepper flavors come into play with the herbal taste being the backbone of the array. Lingers long after the smoke is gone from my palette.
The grassy flavor isn't something like normal grassy. It's more like fresh cut grass but with another outside element. Plant food? Fertilizer? Garden? So familiar but nothing I've ever experienced in a cigar before. Strange but good.
Smoke production is great, burn is slightly uneven but ok. Dense white ash
The grassy taste makes you want to follow but there is a bouquet of magic going on here. The spice level is excellently balanced and enjoyable. The sweetness follows the grassy taste and is slightly liga like. The after taste is fresh and mild but lingers like a tease. Fantastic first third, one of the most unique I can remember recently. I'm guessing more experienced reviewers would have named about 3-5 more specific flavors but I'm not there yet.
Ash before it falls in my lap, purge her out and get ready for the second third.
First third was a homerun. Met my expectations and the hype. H hopefully it keeps going this way!
Second third...
This immediately opens up with a sweet baking spice. Fresh baked tobacco cookies? Sounds great!
I should mention that the burn had completely corrected itself and has been even ever since.
The profile here is similar to the first third but the grassy flavor has really calmed down, the spice has remained, the sweet ness had built up, and the experience is evolving nicely.
The sweetness is heavily rooted in a cinnamon or sugar cookie foundation. Fresh baked, not store bought preserved if that makes sense. Like the steam is still coming of them. Rich and hearty. The retro is absolutely fantastic. Smooth with only a tingle of spice in the nostrils able to push a ton of smoke through. Burning great.
Listening to Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory album is a great fit(awesome album). Fall In followed by Stay Useless is an epic back to back.
And my heater from stogie guy Ryan is keeping me cozy. Thank you again Ryan for the wonderful gift!
Second third has transitioned well. While the same level of spice remains, the main flavors have completely changed to keep my interests peaked. The grassy flavor in the first was unique and the cinnamon baking flavor in the second is something I love. Smooth retro, great burn, excellent smoke production, perfect draw, no complaints. Nothing overpowering, just a well balanced, enjoyable smoking experience.
Final third...
Expecting big things
Very slight kiss of flame touch up needed on one side. No biggie
The grassy flavor working back in with the sweet flavor taking a back seat. Going from dessert to a more main course type flavor. Meaty almost with a dash of pepper.
The final track called Cut You is on. Great song for anyone with a crazy relationship in their past. I over qualify for that so I find it eerily comforting but I love it. Live and learn...painfully lol
The spice is about gone, very smooth. It's a nice balance of grassy, cinnamon, sweetness. Very enjoyable but not mind blowing.
Final third starts consistently enjoyable but not the epic close I hoped for. Not bad at all, just not bringing a finale to the table like I had hoped.
I will say the burn has gone great, never hot or bitter.
Final thoughts...
A very unique flavor profile to begin then transitioned to very familiar, enjoyable bouquet of flavor with a nice complexity. I know these aren't available to buy at this point but coming across one would be worth it if the price or trade is fair. I just two more in a butt hurt bomb I hit smacked with on black Friday so I'm pretty happy to know I'll toast them in time and look forward to seeing what some time does for these.
Score...
91
I suppose, would be 93 if the final third brought it more. Halfwheel gave an 85 when released so maybe a little time already improved these. I like what Willy brings with the HE and the El tiity de bronze so I stay optimistic that more good things are to come despite the swisher concern of many. I haven't had the DE super fanboy experience personally, but have really enjoyed a lot of their work(price point and availability aside).
Thanks again John M fire the great smoke. Burned almost 1.5 hours since I'm slower than most.
Time to review a stick I've been excited about since John(jmphotog) sent it to me.
The Herrera Esteli Tienda Exclusiva from Barrister!
I have smoked a few regular HEs and the lance which I enjoyed a lot. Interestingly enough, this cigar looks totally different with a much darker SA wrapper. Much smaller too. I forget the exact spec but looks like 5 or 5.5 x 46(4 7/8 x 46, looked it up)? For $12 msrp, it sure is small...but it's limited!!!
Invites you to take a whiff. Smells delicious. Sweet, with a meatiness to it that reminds me of a good meat pasta sauce.
She's a temptress and the red label is very bold but classy. Let's dig in
Xi3 cut reveals a grassy scent under the cap and the cold draw is one of the most unique I've ever tasted. A bold herb I can't pin. Greener tasting than basil. Wow
Upon touching the foot she releases a cooked herb scent right away. Fires right up with my xikar double torch that I always forget the name of.
First impression
Much like the cold draw, a unique taste that is not overpowering. Very inviting. Easy draw, but not effortless. Perfect imo. Just realized how densely packed this sucker is. Almost rock hard. Fits the look
First third...
Great tasting stick right from the go. A complex set of flavors that are different from puff to retro. My mouth is filled with a dense flavor of almost an oregano seasoned meat, but the retro is sweet with light spice and grassy flavor. Very interesting and building some anxiety on where this is going.
Lightly pepper flavors come into play with the herbal taste being the backbone of the array. Lingers long after the smoke is gone from my palette.
The grassy flavor isn't something like normal grassy. It's more like fresh cut grass but with another outside element. Plant food? Fertilizer? Garden? So familiar but nothing I've ever experienced in a cigar before. Strange but good.
Smoke production is great, burn is slightly uneven but ok. Dense white ash
The grassy taste makes you want to follow but there is a bouquet of magic going on here. The spice level is excellently balanced and enjoyable. The sweetness follows the grassy taste and is slightly liga like. The after taste is fresh and mild but lingers like a tease. Fantastic first third, one of the most unique I can remember recently. I'm guessing more experienced reviewers would have named about 3-5 more specific flavors but I'm not there yet.
Ash before it falls in my lap, purge her out and get ready for the second third.
First third was a homerun. Met my expectations and the hype. H hopefully it keeps going this way!
Second third...
This immediately opens up with a sweet baking spice. Fresh baked tobacco cookies? Sounds great!
I should mention that the burn had completely corrected itself and has been even ever since.
The profile here is similar to the first third but the grassy flavor has really calmed down, the spice has remained, the sweet ness had built up, and the experience is evolving nicely.
The sweetness is heavily rooted in a cinnamon or sugar cookie foundation. Fresh baked, not store bought preserved if that makes sense. Like the steam is still coming of them. Rich and hearty. The retro is absolutely fantastic. Smooth with only a tingle of spice in the nostrils able to push a ton of smoke through. Burning great.
Listening to Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory album is a great fit(awesome album). Fall In followed by Stay Useless is an epic back to back.
And my heater from stogie guy Ryan is keeping me cozy. Thank you again Ryan for the wonderful gift!
Second third has transitioned well. While the same level of spice remains, the main flavors have completely changed to keep my interests peaked. The grassy flavor in the first was unique and the cinnamon baking flavor in the second is something I love. Smooth retro, great burn, excellent smoke production, perfect draw, no complaints. Nothing overpowering, just a well balanced, enjoyable smoking experience.
Final third...
Expecting big things
Very slight kiss of flame touch up needed on one side. No biggie
The grassy flavor working back in with the sweet flavor taking a back seat. Going from dessert to a more main course type flavor. Meaty almost with a dash of pepper.
The final track called Cut You is on. Great song for anyone with a crazy relationship in their past. I over qualify for that so I find it eerily comforting but I love it. Live and learn...painfully lol
The spice is about gone, very smooth. It's a nice balance of grassy, cinnamon, sweetness. Very enjoyable but not mind blowing.
Final third starts consistently enjoyable but not the epic close I hoped for. Not bad at all, just not bringing a finale to the table like I had hoped.
I will say the burn has gone great, never hot or bitter.
Final thoughts...
A very unique flavor profile to begin then transitioned to very familiar, enjoyable bouquet of flavor with a nice complexity. I know these aren't available to buy at this point but coming across one would be worth it if the price or trade is fair. I just two more in a butt hurt bomb I hit smacked with on black Friday so I'm pretty happy to know I'll toast them in time and look forward to seeing what some time does for these.
Score...
91
I suppose, would be 93 if the final third brought it more. Halfwheel gave an 85 when released so maybe a little time already improved these. I like what Willy brings with the HE and the El tiity de bronze so I stay optimistic that more good things are to come despite the swisher concern of many. I haven't had the DE super fanboy experience personally, but have really enjoyed a lot of their work(price point and availability aside).
Thanks again John M fire the great smoke. Burned almost 1.5 hours since I'm slower than most.
