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Man O' War Puro Authentico

Docbp87

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MAN O' WAR PURO AUTHENTICOS
5x42





The Man O' War Puro Authentico is a mareva made by A.J. Fernandez in Nicaragua, using all Nicaraguan filler, and a Habano wrapper, grown in Esteli, was originally conceived as Abdel's personal, day to day smoke. It features a neat little pig tail cap, and a closed foot (wrapper extends beyond, and folds over the foot). This Particular example features a slightly reddish, chocolate brown wrapper, with almost no visible veins, and tight seams. The cap seems expertly applied as well. The band is a simple glossy black, with a simple gold helmet (the same style used on the other Man O' war bands). The aroma from the foot is spicy, with a mix of woody notes, and barnyard type smells. The cold draw reveals a strong sweet cocoa flavor, a touch bitter, with a fair amount of spice. In fact, the wrapper itself gives off some heat on the lips and tongue. The draw itself offers a touch of resistance, just right.

Lit at 10:30pm

The first few puffs bring not a lot of complexity, but certainly big, bold flavor. There is a woody, very slightly sweet core, a touch dirty, with a long, very spicy, hot, black pepper finish. This is one tough, cute little cookie. The draw is perfect, and smoke production is outstanding. The mouth feel is oily and thick, befitting a strong, full bodied Nicaraguan powerhouse, even if it is in a small package. In fact, I might go so far as to say this is the spiciest cigar I have had in quite some time. One must be careful retrohaling nasally with this one, as just a very small amount of smoke brings a substantial scorching heat.

The ash holds for the first segment for just shy of an inch, falling in a solid chunk into the tray. The flavor profile doesn't change a whole lot in the first few inches, with the only variant being the coming and going of sweetness and bitterness. The bitterness is not acrid, rather more of a coffee bitterness, though I can't say there is much coffee flavor. The spicy finish remains impressively potent, not something that often happens. Most spicy cigars mellow out after the first inch or so, but the Puro Authentico keeps the heat cranked up. The body is equally heavy, as is the strength. By the two inch mark, I am feeling it in my gut a bit.

Ash holds for the second time for closer to an inch and a half. Through this period, noticeably, things get a bit earthier, and darker. I cannot honestly say that this is an overly complex cigar so far, but the boldness, strength, flavor, and body all are making for an interesting, if rustic, and maybe a little rough around the edge... combination. Construction and performance as relates to it have been virtually perfect. The burn line is straight, the ash tight, the draw perfect, and smoke production bountiful. The flavor profile reminds me quite a bit actually of a recently popular sort of chocolate bar, one that combines 72% dark chocolate and hot chili pepper. An odd combination that actually works very well, and I would say is well represented here.

There is almost no change from that point to the end, though that can hardly be called a bad thing, as pleasant as the combination of flavors, sweet cocoa and wood, with an earthy core feel and taste, and a long, slow hot pepper finish, has been. The burn line, draw, and smoke all remain wonderful through the final inch or so, when heat and squishiness forced me to end this cigar. The strength remains a constant factor through almost the entire cigar, and it is quite full in strength, so not a cigar for those who do not care for a little kick from the nicotine factor. Of note is that weather present while I smoked this stick. A recent review on one of the more popular review sites mentioned humidity as a major potential factor in tar and color bleed from this stick... Well, it was raining off and on (100% humidity...) as I smoked, and the temperature was in the high 80s fahrenheit, and I suffered no such problems, nor have I ever had any such issues with the handful of these cigars I have previously smoked, and enjoyed. I think this may be an example of the necessity of smoking several samples for a review, as a dud is not unheard of in cigar production.

Ended at 11:42pm, for a total smoke time of one hour, 12 minutes, which for a petit corona is a fantastic burn time. This is not a cigar for the lover of mild cigars. It is however a fantastic, rustic, earthy, spicy powerhouse, suited well to those who like strong cigars, but not the recent trend towards behemoth vitolas. The price, and presentation also both make the MOW Puro Authentico a cigar quickly working its way into my "regular" rotation, as they are in no short supply, are readily available at a couple of the big online houses, and come conveniently packaged in inexpensive boxes of 10 (great looking boxes too, I might add). For me, and this is where personal opinion comes into these reviews, these cigars represent a great way to enjoy a strong, rustic, straight forward smoke, suited to reading a book, or watching a film while enjoying good flavor that doesn't necessarily require one's full attention to appreciate a plethora of transition. Great smoke.
 

JDog

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Thank you for the review. I got one of these in a trade... thank you Dr. Xikar. I didn't get the same tastes as you but only smoked the one. I ordered a few more to smoke, so I look forward to seeing if my impression changes. I did get a pepper in the first third but a tea like taste. Moving to the midpoint a woody taste and then a earthy woody taste for the final third. No cocoa, but the pepper was there almost throughout the stick... can't wait to try the others.... probably smoked it too fast to notice some of the flavors that you mentioned...
 

njstone

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Nice review! I'm looking forward to trying these soon (finally). I love the Ruination, but thing that annoys me is that there is no short format in that blend. I'm hoping the PA will fit the bill for me!

As to the humidity effecting "bleeding," I think that it ceritanly can do so, but of course it won't always. It's often in the 90% range here, and I've had more bleeding than I did when it was dry. Also tighter draws, sadly.

Side note: I think it's interesting that we in the States usually call a 5" x 42 a "Corona" when the Cubans call it a "Petite Corona."
 

MattBell

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I have a couple of these that I've been avoiding for some reason. I guess I'll have to bust them out and give them a shot.
 

Docbp87

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Side note: I think it's interesting that we in the States usually call a 5" x 42 a "Corona" when the Cubans call it a "Petite Corona."
Yes, but the geniuses here also call a 5.5x56 a Corona Gorda... Off by 10 ring gauges. Misnomers are everywhere in the NC market.
 

njstone

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Yes, but the geniuses here also call a 5.5x56 a Corona Gorda... Off by 10 ring gauges. Misnomers are everywhere in the NC market.
That, sir, is a fact! I'll never forget the Gurkha Blue Steel "Rothchild" which was 6" x52, lol. (funny thing, that was a good cigar, lol).
 

Zedman05

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I had one of these this weekend, and fell in love immediately. I will not hesitate to buy a box whenever I can, as these were THAT good. I too found the burn time longer than expected; mine was about an hour and a half.
Great review btw.
 

iCraig

Cigars, hockey, and beer.
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Smoked one of these the other day. Enjoyed it and found myself searching out a box after smoking that one.
 
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Nice review and spot on. These are great cigars and have been in my regular rotation since hitting the market. I enjoy all of the Man O' War lines and so I had to try these as soon as they were available.

Another cigar I found that really hit the taste buds right at about the same time was the Ave Maria Clermont.

I can't get enough of either one of these.
 

Dread

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Great review. This is by far the best CI/Cigar.com exclusive by a landslide. Its truly up there with some of the best in the industry.
 
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Nice review and pics. Thanks for the review.Your assessment is fairly close to my experience with this stick. I really enjoyed smoking this one. I tend to think of them as "the poor man's Dirty Rat", they share many of the same characteristics, although obviously they are not identical, and they cost much less. They are similar enough to make me want to buy a box. I can't help but wonder what a year or two of rest would do for them.......
 

whodeeni

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Nice review and pics. Thanks for the review.Your assessment is fairly close to my experience with this stick. I really enjoyed smoking this one. I tend to think of them as "the poor man's Dirty Rat", they share many of the same characteristics, although obviously they are not identical, and they cost much less. They are similar enough to make me want to buy a box. I can't help but wonder what a year or two of rest would do for them.......
Love that "Analogy"! :)
 

mwlabel

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Smoked one last night while walking around campus. The spice and power were rather overwhelming, I think it would have been better if I had a beverage to go with it.
 
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