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Rasshat reviews A, B, C going out

3/5King

Shwing!
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Wouldn't you like to know, IL

Ducttapegonewild

Actual Size
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Hurst Texas USA

Rasshat Blind "A"
First and foremost, thank you Ryan (Rasshat) for this opportunity.
Construction veiny and toothy, but not overly so.
Prelight draw is tight with hints of hay, mild, and very little spice to it.
Lit with standard triple flame, nice even light.
First draw is very underwhelming. Little to no spice and very little flavor to it.
First third. This thing started with a nice, even burn, but quickly went wonky. Texas Connie and I both agree, this one is just a bad burn.

It keeps trying to correct itself, but fails. The flavor just isn't there, regretfully, I don't think this one will last.
Pulling into the second third, I am struggling to keep it lit, the smoke production is minimal at best, I have to draw multiple times in order to get a mouthful of smoke. Could this be my first experience with an overly wet cigar? I'm beginning to feel like shit for not liking this cigar. Rasshat takes the time, thought and effort to send out what he thinks will be an enjoyable cigar and I'm not liking it. Pitched it halfway through, I'm just not liking this one, it takes too much work to keep it going and the work to reward ratio is way to high. If the flavor was there, I'd power through it.
Final third, just couldn't do it.

Out of respect to Rasshat, my fellow blind reviewers, and the manufacturer, I am not giving this a final thought or score, I feel bad when I don't like something someone put hard work and effort into.

Maybe the next one will be better...
 

ChefBoyRG54

BoM Sept '14 & BoY 2014
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Sterling Hts, MI
Ok, from now on let's dry box before reviews lol

Sorry you had a bad go at that one Matt. I strongly suggest a revisit when the time permits.
 

Ducttapegonewild

Actual Size
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Texas Connie is hot! Why didn't I get an intro while in Texas??? Who is she and what's her story?
Well Rasshat, I'm glad you asked.
The back story, I used to work with a young lady named Connie, when she came into the company, I was absolutely awe struck with her beauty. So much that when I was checking her out, another young lady I worked with called me "elevator eyes" when she busted me checking her out. Anyhow, time goes on and Connie and I become great friends. To the point that we have spent lots of time outside of work hanging out. Well, continuing on, the area that she worked in had this one, her word here, "creepy dude" that brought this bowling pin in as part of a nativity scene a few years ago. He eventually quite, got fired, moved jobs, not sure, but left the pin in her office. One day, I asked her about it, and she tells me that she gets creeped out by that thing because she feels like it is staring at her. Being the nice guy (and smartass) that I am, I bring the pin up to my desk. I position it so when she has to come upstairs to talk to anyone in my department, it will be looking right at her... Running joke, she would come up and put my Steelers terrible towel over the pin whenever she came up to visit. Fast forward to June of this year, she gets a new job in Abalama, we change buildings, and I cannot keep the pin there. I take said pin home and send Connie a text saying I am naming the pin Texas Connie to remind me of her...
As for why you didn't get to meet her when you came through DFW, she was still at my desk and she didn't have a name at the time.
Every once and a while, when the group we all hung out with goes out, I bring Texas Connie with us, take pictures and send them to her so she doesn't feel left out of our Texas games.
 

ChefBoyRG54

BoM Sept '14 & BoY 2014
Rating - 100%
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Messages
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Location
Sterling Hts, MI
You were in the right factory :)
Well, Maduro Connecticut broadleaf with sparkles, barely a difference on ring gauge, same length, same shape "let me see if I have another one" made me think a little...Too close haha
Haha it fit perfectly that they are super similar and so is my experience with them
 

ChefBoyRG54

BoM Sept '14 & BoY 2014
Rating - 100%
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Joined
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Messages
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Location
Sterling Hts, MI
Texas Connie is hot! Why didn't I get an intro while in Texas??? Who is she and what's her story?
Well Rasshat, I'm glad you asked.
The back story, I used to work with a young lady named Connie, when she came into the company, I was absolutely awe struck with her beauty. So much that when I was checking her out, another young lady I worked with called me "elevator eyes" when she busted me checking her out. Anyhow, time goes on and Connie and I become great friends. To the point that we have spent lots of time outside of work hanging out. Well, continuing on, the area that she worked in had this one, her word here, "creepy dude" that brought this bowling pin in as part of a nativity scene a few years ago. He eventually quite, got fired, moved jobs, not sure, but left the pin in her office. One day, I asked her about it, and she tells me that she gets creeped out by that thing because she feels like it is staring at her. Being the nice guy (and smartass) that I am, I bring the pin up to my desk. I position it so when she has to come upstairs to talk to anyone in my department, it will be looking right at her... Running joke, she would come up and put my Steelers terrible towel over the pin whenever she came up to visit. Fast forward to June of this year, she gets a new job in Abalama, we change buildings, and I cannot keep the pin there. I take said pin home and send Connie a text saying I am naming the pin Texas Connie to remind me of her...
As for why you didn't get to meet her when you came through DFW, she was still at my desk and she didn't have a name at the time.
Every once and a while, when the group we all hung out with goes out, I bring Texas Connie with us, take pictures and send them to her so she doesn't feel left out of our Texas games.
That there is a great story :)
 

Stogie_Bear

Chulo Savage
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Valley Stream, NY
A - Tatuaje Regios Reserva



Let's give Sal a round of applause!!!

He nailed it
Sweet! Thanks! The sparkly maduro wrapper said Tat to me, I knew it was a blend I hadn't tried before, and the the size narrowed it down a bit. Reserva was the lucky winner out of what's left.

I'm slammed with family stuff today so don't know of I'll have time for anything other than a quick smoke today, worst case B&C are up Mon & Tuesday evenings.
 
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The Wolverine State
Just gonna post a first and last pic to avoid excessive scrolling, especially since we all have the same stick. If you MUST have all the pics, just ask.

Date: 10/25/14
Review: Rasshat Blind Review A
Size: 5 ½ x 50



Appearance/construction: Smooth and semi-oily wrapper with a gorgeous dark chocolate color, and obviously grown in mineral rich soil from the sparkle. Triple capped like a boss! This is a very well-constructed stick, which narrows down the options for my guess substantially. Some rather large veins running through mine, but I don’t think it will affect the burn. Also, very firm with very little give on the press. This baby is packed full!

Aroma Pre-Light: Getting hints of wood and spice on the aroma of the wrapper. When testing the foot, a huge scent of black licorice and spice, but very sweet in a way.

Cold draw: Went with a straight cut with scissors to really open the cap and to avoid any potential draw issues; I would hate to have to recut to open it up after lighting. A little resistance on the cold draw, probably a 6/10, and the wrapper just soaked up every molecule of moisture on my lips. There is a heavy spice on my lips, plus licorice, cinnamon and natural tobacco flavors from the cold draw. Also, the spice on my lips and tongue continues to tingle long after the cold draw. Spicy…

Light: Lighting with cedar. Quick and easy light, with a razor flat burn. Draw is still a little tight, but I’m not too worried yet.

First impression: Not as much spice as I expected after tasting the cold draw. This stick jumps right into smooth, skipping all the bitter nonsense you get in the first half inch of most cigars. Additionally, there is earth flavored coating along the top of my mouth. Dave said it best: buttery.

Aroma Post-Light: The smoke aroma consists of pepper and spice for me, with a hint of burning cedar.

First Third: Ok, after the initial half inch of “first impression,” I’m rolling into the first third with a moderately open draw (8/10) and tons of flavor. The smoke is creamy and smooth, with cinnamon and spice on the tongue and a sweet Irish cream and leather on the retrohale. Still burning mostly even, skewing a bit and then promptly self-correcting at every turn. I need to slow down, I’m already starting to cone a bit… but it just tastes so damn good…

Well, unfortunately I am forced to patience when I have to help our foot-soldier mail man carry his bag up the driveway. This man walks entire neighborhoods at a time, scoffing at the belligerence and naivety of the mail drivers who deliver their packages from the comfort of their right-side drive government pawn-trucks. He hates all of you. This one is from TeamRandR… wonderful… you people just can’t help digging your own graves…

Ok, back to the review. Nice tight ash on this stick. Great flavor and burning slow. I take sip of tea (thanks to the mad tea bomber himself) and decide not to rush. Moving into the second third…

Second Third: Not much flavor change so far, more of a mellowing of the original flavors. I’m not getting as much spice or cinnamon on the tongue and lips, but it is still present, probably due to the softening on the cap as I slobber all over it…. It’s hard for bears to dry smoke like pansies. I’m chewing on it and it’s fantastic.
Shut-up.

I’m getting the occasional grit when I chew, which is fine. I’m beginning to pick up more earthiness and leather in the draw, but still a very creamy and plentiful smoke. The retro is significantly more pleasing than the first third, with sweet tobacco and cedar.

I start into the meat of the stick, the very middle, and this transforms into a pepper show. Still have the buttery goodness and the leather. I swear I just tasted my grandma’s homemade sausage gravy for a second… annnnd it’s gone.

The ash is rock solid, right up until it’s not. You can’t lightly tap it off… either you’re going to flick it like a cigarette if it’s too soon, or it just falls off. It’s like each of these cigars has their own personality. This is the hard-ass boss who’s really a pushover when you bring him a country-fried steak biscuit…. Not saying that’s me or anything…. But my employees did get a half day yesterday… and I did receive a steak biscuit. There is the infrequent light hint of dried fruit on the tongue, but it never stays long.

Moving towards the end of the second third, the flavor still has not changed much for me. The retro is still very delightful and buttery. It is growing in pepper flavor, ever so slightly, draw by draw. The only real noticeable addition to the flavor is caramelized brown sugar. No, not straight caramel. More like when you’re making a brown/cane sugar glaze and it’s toasting on the bottom of your sauce pan, slowly losing solidity as it accepts the truth: that it is about to be drizzled over homemade empanadas and there is nothing to prevent its untimely demise.

Wow… I really ran with that one…. Sorry.

Final Third: Some nice full pepper coming in, while maintaining the sweet brown sugar in the back with leather, butter and more pepper in the retro. The pepper has kicked up a lot in this final third but not to an unmanageable level. Still a very tasty smoke. Smoke production is still plentiful and the draw continues to open up the closer I get to the end. Construction is still holding strong, even with the chew. The cap is still intact and there has been no unravelling of any sort. Burn still incredibly even with the occasional self-correction.

Very full pepper now that is starting to push the other flavors out. The heat still isn’t too bad, which is great because I’m moving into the “nub” status. I’ve stopped retrohaling since the pepper got really heavy.

Overall Impression/Final Notes: Good cigar. Probably a good post dinner cigar, in retrospect. I’m not really sure where to place my chips, although I would not be surprised if this was a high class smoke. I’m going to say something from My Father, although I’m not sure what blend.



Smoke time: 1h40min
Scoring:

Appearance and Presentation: 18/20
Lighting and Burning Properties: 14/15
Construction Properties: 26/30
Taste Properties: 32/35

Total: 90/100
Too funny! Didnt mean to bomn your review lol!1
 
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