Room 101 The Big Payback
Size: Chavala (5x50)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $4.50 B&M Purchase
Appearance: The wrapper is a nice even dark brown in color. There are a couple of noticable, larger veins on the surface. The leaf itself has a bumpy, rough "toothy" texture. The cigar is even in firmness, and has smooth very well rolled seams. The band is really striking against the dark brown of the wrapper. The silver and black really make it stand out.
Pre-Light
Aroma: Earth and rich leather. There are some hints of a sweetness beneath, lingering at the end of the inhale. The foot of the cigar has a more earthy profile, backed with some hints of spice.
Cold Draw: The cold draw performs well, and seems just about right. Not too loose or too tight. There are earthy flavors. Soil, some hints of leather and a bit of spicy (mildly so) tobacco.
1st: The initial puff of the cigar gives that familiar Nicaraguan pepper blast, with some earthy flavors to tone it down. Mild cedar is also present from the start of the cigar, mostly noticable in the background. The retrohale here gives a nice hit of pepper, not overpowering, and stronger cedar flavors. Overall a smooth blending of flavors, with nothing over shadowing the others too much. A bit of dark tobacco flavor comes into play as the cigar transitions into the second. The burn performed spot on.
2nd: The tobacco flavor picks up, becoming the main taste here. There can still be hints of the earthy, soil like flavors. Cedar is faint, and the pepper has toned down to a lingering spice in the mouth. The exhale leaves the mouth a bit dry and woody. More of an oak than a cedar. Still a very nice burn. Retrohale offers stronger pepper, and a nice leathery aroma that lingers in the nose between puffs.
3rd: The tobacco has faded into creamy, smooth leather. Cedar is present, though still a background note. It has some sweetness to it in this part of the cedar, which blends it well with the creamy leather. The smoke here also gives a buttery texture in the mouth, which really helps to bump up that "creamy" aspect in the flavor. It's very nice. The retrohale here gives mild pepper, very much weakened from the previous portions of the cigar. The cedar is stronger here, and that soil aroma blends in on the retrohale also.
Impressions: In my opinion, at the price point..this is one of those "unbeatable" cigars. I've smoked several (Chavala size only) and they have all left me satisfied and impressed. The flavors are well blended, balanced and transition enough to not allow the cigar to be one sided or boring. The pepper plays its role without being too strong, making it a good cigar for someone looking to bump up to a higher end "medium" level. Easily one of my favorite newer cigars that I've had the opportunity to try.
Size: Chavala (5x50)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $4.50 B&M Purchase
Appearance: The wrapper is a nice even dark brown in color. There are a couple of noticable, larger veins on the surface. The leaf itself has a bumpy, rough "toothy" texture. The cigar is even in firmness, and has smooth very well rolled seams. The band is really striking against the dark brown of the wrapper. The silver and black really make it stand out.
Pre-Light
Aroma: Earth and rich leather. There are some hints of a sweetness beneath, lingering at the end of the inhale. The foot of the cigar has a more earthy profile, backed with some hints of spice.
Cold Draw: The cold draw performs well, and seems just about right. Not too loose or too tight. There are earthy flavors. Soil, some hints of leather and a bit of spicy (mildly so) tobacco.
1st: The initial puff of the cigar gives that familiar Nicaraguan pepper blast, with some earthy flavors to tone it down. Mild cedar is also present from the start of the cigar, mostly noticable in the background. The retrohale here gives a nice hit of pepper, not overpowering, and stronger cedar flavors. Overall a smooth blending of flavors, with nothing over shadowing the others too much. A bit of dark tobacco flavor comes into play as the cigar transitions into the second. The burn performed spot on.
2nd: The tobacco flavor picks up, becoming the main taste here. There can still be hints of the earthy, soil like flavors. Cedar is faint, and the pepper has toned down to a lingering spice in the mouth. The exhale leaves the mouth a bit dry and woody. More of an oak than a cedar. Still a very nice burn. Retrohale offers stronger pepper, and a nice leathery aroma that lingers in the nose between puffs.
3rd: The tobacco has faded into creamy, smooth leather. Cedar is present, though still a background note. It has some sweetness to it in this part of the cedar, which blends it well with the creamy leather. The smoke here also gives a buttery texture in the mouth, which really helps to bump up that "creamy" aspect in the flavor. It's very nice. The retrohale here gives mild pepper, very much weakened from the previous portions of the cigar. The cedar is stronger here, and that soil aroma blends in on the retrohale also.
Impressions: In my opinion, at the price point..this is one of those "unbeatable" cigars. I've smoked several (Chavala size only) and they have all left me satisfied and impressed. The flavors are well blended, balanced and transition enough to not allow the cigar to be one sided or boring. The pepper plays its role without being too strong, making it a good cigar for someone looking to bump up to a higher end "medium" level. Easily one of my favorite newer cigars that I've had the opportunity to try.
