Down to my last few from an original release 2010 box. These cigars were good fresh and have gotten even better with the little bit of age on them. Construction of the cigars have all been top notch, both in boxes from overseas as well as from IEPT. Like others I am not a fan of hsa getting rid of old favorites in order to produce 'jawbreakers' or über hard to find regionals or Ed LEDs.....but there is a place IMO for these in any smokers line up.
What I like about these smokes is the same thing I have been finding during my recent exploration of domestic cigars. No draw issues on ANY of the 75 or so that I have smoked. The bunch in all of the visible feet have looked similar and are neither under or overfilled. All of the cigars through the multiple boxes have the same taste profile. All have looked visually appealing.
Sure these aren't pepper bombs. Or change that much while you smoke them down. But they do provide a pleasing amount of smoke with cedar and a bit of spice when exhaled through the nose. I believe that when the blender has more filler to work with a more balanced and consistant flavor can be achieved...more room for blender error. Also with these bigger ring gauges there is less chance of getting tent pegs or uneven burns. Obviously there is more secco and less ligero in this wide Churchill then say a RYJ Churchill, which makes it a mild to medium cigar. It's not like your smoking paper you can still tell its a cuban cigar for sure.
After smoking this cigar I understand, or at least think I do lol, where HSA is heading with these bigger ring gauge smokes.
Mikes
What I like about these smokes is the same thing I have been finding during my recent exploration of domestic cigars. No draw issues on ANY of the 75 or so that I have smoked. The bunch in all of the visible feet have looked similar and are neither under or overfilled. All of the cigars through the multiple boxes have the same taste profile. All have looked visually appealing.
Sure these aren't pepper bombs. Or change that much while you smoke them down. But they do provide a pleasing amount of smoke with cedar and a bit of spice when exhaled through the nose. I believe that when the blender has more filler to work with a more balanced and consistant flavor can be achieved...more room for blender error. Also with these bigger ring gauges there is less chance of getting tent pegs or uneven burns. Obviously there is more secco and less ligero in this wide Churchill then say a RYJ Churchill, which makes it a mild to medium cigar. It's not like your smoking paper you can still tell its a cuban cigar for sure.
After smoking this cigar I understand, or at least think I do lol, where HSA is heading with these bigger ring gauge smokes.
Mikes
