I thought with the latest release going out yesterday I'd give one of these a go and do a small review if for no other reason than to elaborate a bit more on whether or not I think this cigar is worth the price tag.
Holy Braille
5 x 50
Ecuadorian Habanos wrapper
Binder/Filler unknown.
It certainly is a pretty cigar to my eye. A lovely light brown in colour (my apologies, the pictures aren't great as they're from a tablet), with tight seams, a triple cap and a couple of veins. After cutting and touching the cigar to my lips I get a real bite, not the smooth, sweet I was expecting from the tag line (I know poor, naive me) but more of a sour tang. Nothing to note from the cold draw as this bite sort of overpowers anything else.
First few draws are full of cedar, some other woody notes possibly oak and dialled back note of the sour bite, I'd call it a citric acid. No real spice or pepper at this stage but I wasn't expecting any after the cold draw. For the rest of the first third the cedar really smoothes out to some quite pleasant favours and the citric acid dials back even further to a fruity sweetness. Burn and draw are pretty much bang on right now.
Second third starts out with an almighty bollocking off my girlfriend as she'd just got home and realised I'd ate all the ham she was saving for something I should have known about...marvellous, off to the shops when I've finished this then. The Holy Braille though, sweetness has almost completely curtailed and replaced by a very slight spice, just on the tongue, nothing really through the nose. The cedar falls away slightly as well, to be replaced by a floral note that appears especially through the retrohale. Burn and draw still performing admirably.
As I come into the final third I am enjoying the Holy Braille but it certainly isn't blowing me away. The floral note is certainly the dominant one at this stage with that hint of spice still on the tongue. As I move through the final third the smoke develops a bit more body, a bit more strength. The sourness is also starting to make a return, just a hint at the back of the throat that's undercutting the finish every now and then. Floral note has dropped off a cliff for the last inch and the lingering spice brings a warmth to your mouth. On the nose there's a very strange note I'm afraid I can't identify, it's a warm flavour almost like BBQ'd chicken but also slightly chemically (I know, that's a terrible description but it really did mystify me). Burn and draw finished as well as it started.
So after all that was the Holy Braille worth the cost? To me, no. I enjoyed it definitely but there was always an unpleasantness interfering through the first and final thirds and this was where the majority of the flavours were as the second third was a bit flat. I'm certainly looking forward to trying another in a few weeks to see if that changes anything.
I've enjoyed doing a review again so thanks for reading and please leave any comments as I'd love to improve.
Holy Braille
5 x 50
Ecuadorian Habanos wrapper
Binder/Filler unknown.
It certainly is a pretty cigar to my eye. A lovely light brown in colour (my apologies, the pictures aren't great as they're from a tablet), with tight seams, a triple cap and a couple of veins. After cutting and touching the cigar to my lips I get a real bite, not the smooth, sweet I was expecting from the tag line (I know poor, naive me) but more of a sour tang. Nothing to note from the cold draw as this bite sort of overpowers anything else.
First few draws are full of cedar, some other woody notes possibly oak and dialled back note of the sour bite, I'd call it a citric acid. No real spice or pepper at this stage but I wasn't expecting any after the cold draw. For the rest of the first third the cedar really smoothes out to some quite pleasant favours and the citric acid dials back even further to a fruity sweetness. Burn and draw are pretty much bang on right now.
Second third starts out with an almighty bollocking off my girlfriend as she'd just got home and realised I'd ate all the ham she was saving for something I should have known about...marvellous, off to the shops when I've finished this then. The Holy Braille though, sweetness has almost completely curtailed and replaced by a very slight spice, just on the tongue, nothing really through the nose. The cedar falls away slightly as well, to be replaced by a floral note that appears especially through the retrohale. Burn and draw still performing admirably.
As I come into the final third I am enjoying the Holy Braille but it certainly isn't blowing me away. The floral note is certainly the dominant one at this stage with that hint of spice still on the tongue. As I move through the final third the smoke develops a bit more body, a bit more strength. The sourness is also starting to make a return, just a hint at the back of the throat that's undercutting the finish every now and then. Floral note has dropped off a cliff for the last inch and the lingering spice brings a warmth to your mouth. On the nose there's a very strange note I'm afraid I can't identify, it's a warm flavour almost like BBQ'd chicken but also slightly chemically (I know, that's a terrible description but it really did mystify me). Burn and draw finished as well as it started.
So after all that was the Holy Braille worth the cost? To me, no. I enjoyed it definitely but there was always an unpleasantness interfering through the first and final thirds and this was where the majority of the flavours were as the second third was a bit flat. I'm certainly looking forward to trying another in a few weeks to see if that changes anything.
I've enjoyed doing a review again so thanks for reading and please leave any comments as I'd love to improve.