My first review!
I got this stick and smoked it at Ruben's Smoke Stack in Hackensack, NJ. They have a full selection of Liga Privada. I got the Corona Doble because I wanted to sit and relax for a good long smoke.
The cigar is massive 7 inches x 54 ring gauge. The wrapper is dark brown, a little shiny and tightly wrapped with no visible flaws. I felt the cigar and found it to be densly packed without soft spots. The cigar was slightly softer to the touch than the Nub I smoked in the past, which was the most densely packed cigar I have had.
I clipped the cigar at the head with a xicar cutter supplied by the shop. The entire cap came off with the cut, and took a small piece of the end of the wrapper with it. This caused the wrapper to peel away slightly, loosening the wrapper. The cigar did not unravel, but that portion was loose for the rest of the smoke.
I torched the foot with a supplied triple torch lighter, and the cigar lit easily. I did not have to puff the cigar at all to light it. Right away the end turned orange and started smoking from the tip.
First third: The draw was remarkably easy. I was able to puff deeply with little to no effort at all. Smoke was still rising from the tip even while drawing air through the head. With each puff mouthfuls of cool flavorful smoke were drawn into my mouth. I would describe the smoke as very flavorful. I can't quite describe the flavors, but the first few puffs had a mild tingle and then as the burn went on the flavor may have been more tart or tangy than some of my other smokes. In comparison, I would say this had less of a peppery blast of strength than a Pepin Blue I had last week. The burn in this third was perfectly even, and the cigar produced continuous smoke from the tip.
Second third: The draw continued to be very easy. The smoke was still very cool. Draws from the head produced rich mouthfuls of smoke, and the tip no longer released smoke during the draw. At this point the flavors had more of a mildly sweet character. The finish was quite mild. The head of the cigar had a tangy flavor on the tongue. At this point I started to feel some of the strength of the cigar. My heart rate quickened and I felt a little "heady". The wrapper had unraveled a little more but maintained it's shape and stayed on the cigar.
Final third: The draw was still very easy if not more so. Light draws produced great gouts of smoke. The smoke was still cool, but deepest puffs produced the slightest hint of harshness. The tip of the cigar continuously plumed smoke. The cigar went out once when I went to the bathroom, possibly from the lit portion resting on the metal part of the "stinky" ashtray. The relight was easy and the cigar regained it's former character. The flavor was more pungent and had a nutty, astringent character without being at all dry. I smoked the cigar until the very nub. When I felt that the lightest puffs were becoming harsher on my palate I put the cigar down. I'm sure I could have kept it going a little longer if I was determined. I certainly a little dizzy at the end which is to be expected for me, but I would say this cigar is medium in nicotine strength. In the end the cigar was a lot softer and the unraveled part of the wrapper became less attached , yet still caused no problems.
Conclusion: This is probably my favorite cigar so far. It drew cooler, produced more smoke than all of my other smokes so far. The smoke was full flavored and mild. It's flavor was superb, tangy and sweet as opposed to the more creamy umame flavored smoke I enjoyed from another favorite; Tatuaje. After this stick I feel enlivened, and very satisfied. I will try more from this line, and as a side note I am going to be trying some more large ring gauges. This definitely won't be my last Liga for sure!
Sneak
I got this stick and smoked it at Ruben's Smoke Stack in Hackensack, NJ. They have a full selection of Liga Privada. I got the Corona Doble because I wanted to sit and relax for a good long smoke.
The cigar is massive 7 inches x 54 ring gauge. The wrapper is dark brown, a little shiny and tightly wrapped with no visible flaws. I felt the cigar and found it to be densly packed without soft spots. The cigar was slightly softer to the touch than the Nub I smoked in the past, which was the most densely packed cigar I have had.
I clipped the cigar at the head with a xicar cutter supplied by the shop. The entire cap came off with the cut, and took a small piece of the end of the wrapper with it. This caused the wrapper to peel away slightly, loosening the wrapper. The cigar did not unravel, but that portion was loose for the rest of the smoke.
I torched the foot with a supplied triple torch lighter, and the cigar lit easily. I did not have to puff the cigar at all to light it. Right away the end turned orange and started smoking from the tip.
First third: The draw was remarkably easy. I was able to puff deeply with little to no effort at all. Smoke was still rising from the tip even while drawing air through the head. With each puff mouthfuls of cool flavorful smoke were drawn into my mouth. I would describe the smoke as very flavorful. I can't quite describe the flavors, but the first few puffs had a mild tingle and then as the burn went on the flavor may have been more tart or tangy than some of my other smokes. In comparison, I would say this had less of a peppery blast of strength than a Pepin Blue I had last week. The burn in this third was perfectly even, and the cigar produced continuous smoke from the tip.
Second third: The draw continued to be very easy. The smoke was still very cool. Draws from the head produced rich mouthfuls of smoke, and the tip no longer released smoke during the draw. At this point the flavors had more of a mildly sweet character. The finish was quite mild. The head of the cigar had a tangy flavor on the tongue. At this point I started to feel some of the strength of the cigar. My heart rate quickened and I felt a little "heady". The wrapper had unraveled a little more but maintained it's shape and stayed on the cigar.
Final third: The draw was still very easy if not more so. Light draws produced great gouts of smoke. The smoke was still cool, but deepest puffs produced the slightest hint of harshness. The tip of the cigar continuously plumed smoke. The cigar went out once when I went to the bathroom, possibly from the lit portion resting on the metal part of the "stinky" ashtray. The relight was easy and the cigar regained it's former character. The flavor was more pungent and had a nutty, astringent character without being at all dry. I smoked the cigar until the very nub. When I felt that the lightest puffs were becoming harsher on my palate I put the cigar down. I'm sure I could have kept it going a little longer if I was determined. I certainly a little dizzy at the end which is to be expected for me, but I would say this cigar is medium in nicotine strength. In the end the cigar was a lot softer and the unraveled part of the wrapper became less attached , yet still caused no problems.
Conclusion: This is probably my favorite cigar so far. It drew cooler, produced more smoke than all of my other smokes so far. The smoke was full flavored and mild. It's flavor was superb, tangy and sweet as opposed to the more creamy umame flavored smoke I enjoyed from another favorite; Tatuaje. After this stick I feel enlivened, and very satisfied. I will try more from this line, and as a side note I am going to be trying some more large ring gauges. This definitely won't be my last Liga for sure!
Sneak
I smoke only the robustos, but I think I'll give the doble a spin.
