orangedog
Navin R Johnson
First and foremost, sorry for the iPad photos. You'd think these things would have a better camera, and maybe a flash too.
Anyways... below are the two prelight photos. After clipping, the shape that hits the lips isn't box pressed, which is nice. I'm not a fan of box presses in general, but the first inch or so is rounded well.
Not sure on exact dimensions, but it is about 1/2 inch shorter than a BHK 52 and about 2/3rds the girth. So on a complete guess, maybe 4.25" x 48 or so? Maybe its closer to 4.5". Something in that range.
Similar to other S&Bs, this has a very dark, oily wrapper. Not the dry, dusty, dirty look. Like a rich, thick, leaf of tobacco. This has a covered foot too (not capped, covered - like the first ?).
Update 1
Prelight aroma is very rich and nuanced... chocolate, creme, oak, leather. Already a good indication.
Clarifying an earlier comment, it isn't perfectly round where you hold it, it is still slightly rectangular.
Draw is pretty loose. I tried to cut it close (you can judge by the picture) but I'm wondering if I got too much off. I don't think I did, I just think it has a loose draw.
Smoke is thick and heavy, plenty of it.
Leather and pepper start this thing off. I'm not even 1/4 inch in yet so it may be burning a bit hot having just lit it and burned through the closed foot. I'll give it a minute or so to see if the richness on the prelight comes through.
Update 2
Ah... let it sit for a second and its settling in nice. Initial impression? This is more of a Nic stick than some of the previous ones. The complexities are starting to build, but the notes really emphasize a strong black pepper and a sea salt - but not a pepper stick, it isn't overpowering. There is a sweet oak in the background too. What is sweet oak? Imagine oak that's been soaked in sometype of sugar/water reduction/syrup. In the past with these things I've picked up on a distinct pine - crazy as that may sound... so this sweet oak may be ilo the pine.
Update 3
Alright... I may have spoke too soon on the above - that is what I get for doing this real time. The Black Label seems to have cooled and settled a bit, and wowza! Cream, leather, sweet oak, and that chocolate associated with maduro. The pepper is still there, but an undertone. I'm about an inch in and this is already living up to the general complexity (aka range of notes) of the S&B line. Not necessarily an exact match, but definitely in concept.
Update 4
The good news at this point is that these don't seem nearly as green as some of the other releases like the MOAB. I still haven't revisited that one because I thought it needed a fair amount of time. I'm getting a tad bit of the harshness I associate with youth, but I'm not yet into the camp that these are too young. They may in fact be a-ok.
Draw has firmed up just a tiny bit, but still too loose. I think I ran into this with one of the other S&Bs... maybe the MOAB? I'll rag on the MOAB all day long when in the company of other S&Bs. Not a bad stick in its own right, just not quite up to par with the others. Although who knows... once they've sat for a while maybe they're "the bomb".
Taken a few puffs since the "good news" comment, and I'm echoing it already. The flavors are already WAY more melded together than some of the other S&Bs upon release. Cream, chocolate, leather, sweet oak, and the background pepper continuing at this point. If only that draw was a bit tighter and this thing would be awesome. It's still early though, will be back with more...
Update 5
Battle royale! The chocolate has turned more to a mocha... I'm happy with either. Chocolate and sweet oak is currently in a tag team match against the pepper and leather. Each puff seems to alternate between which one is stronger.
I had a smaller dinner probably five hours or so ago, and I'm noticing the kick in this stick. Nothing crazy, no Carl's Jr. cravings yet (which is my measure of how strong a cigar is, btw - used to be Del Taco but the Big Fat Crispy Chicken Taco is more for alcohol driven cravings, IMO). Still, this isn't a mild cigar - I'd say at this point it is attempting to leave medium status.
...certainly won't be getting a Pulitzer for this narration...
Update 6
First ashing came just shy of burning the first band. Not bad, especially considering the loose draw (which oddly enough seems to have tightened up just a bit again - not sure how). Still too loose.
Pepper and leather starting to win the battle, but the sweet oak is still hanging on. I'm guessing this combo will take this cigar home. We shall see.
Update 7
Strength is picking up - I'd say it has definitely moved into strong territory. Maybe strong +. Burn is good, voluminous smoke, just a loose draw. I don't think that is a humidity issue either - I don't think the B&M has had them long, but they generally keep their humi at 72.
Flavors are more consistent now. I probably won't update more on it unless something changes. There's about an inch left.
Cliff Notes
Good construction, appearance, wrapper, burn, etc. outside of a loose draw.
Notes of chocolate (first half or so), leather, pepper, cream (first little bit), and sweet oak.
Flavor profile in general lives up to what I'd expect out of an S&B.
Not too young like many of the other recent releases. Ready to smoke now. There was a tiny bit of harshness, but literally it was tiny. Not sure age will benefit these as much as some of the other S&Bs. We'll see in the future.
Overall, if you like the S&B line, if you like Nic sticks, if you like Liga 9s, and if you like Viaje/Tatuaje in general, I'd grab a few of these.
Took me about an hour to get where I'm at, and probably another 20 minutes or so left - so despite the smaller vitola size, probably still worth the money.
I'm looking forward to other reviews of these, or comments on them. I'd definitely recommend them - along with a full stomach.
Anyways... below are the two prelight photos. After clipping, the shape that hits the lips isn't box pressed, which is nice. I'm not a fan of box presses in general, but the first inch or so is rounded well.
Not sure on exact dimensions, but it is about 1/2 inch shorter than a BHK 52 and about 2/3rds the girth. So on a complete guess, maybe 4.25" x 48 or so? Maybe its closer to 4.5". Something in that range.
Similar to other S&Bs, this has a very dark, oily wrapper. Not the dry, dusty, dirty look. Like a rich, thick, leaf of tobacco. This has a covered foot too (not capped, covered - like the first ?).
Update 1
Prelight aroma is very rich and nuanced... chocolate, creme, oak, leather. Already a good indication.
Clarifying an earlier comment, it isn't perfectly round where you hold it, it is still slightly rectangular.
Draw is pretty loose. I tried to cut it close (you can judge by the picture) but I'm wondering if I got too much off. I don't think I did, I just think it has a loose draw.
Smoke is thick and heavy, plenty of it.
Leather and pepper start this thing off. I'm not even 1/4 inch in yet so it may be burning a bit hot having just lit it and burned through the closed foot. I'll give it a minute or so to see if the richness on the prelight comes through.
Update 2
Ah... let it sit for a second and its settling in nice. Initial impression? This is more of a Nic stick than some of the previous ones. The complexities are starting to build, but the notes really emphasize a strong black pepper and a sea salt - but not a pepper stick, it isn't overpowering. There is a sweet oak in the background too. What is sweet oak? Imagine oak that's been soaked in sometype of sugar/water reduction/syrup. In the past with these things I've picked up on a distinct pine - crazy as that may sound... so this sweet oak may be ilo the pine.
Update 3
Alright... I may have spoke too soon on the above - that is what I get for doing this real time. The Black Label seems to have cooled and settled a bit, and wowza! Cream, leather, sweet oak, and that chocolate associated with maduro. The pepper is still there, but an undertone. I'm about an inch in and this is already living up to the general complexity (aka range of notes) of the S&B line. Not necessarily an exact match, but definitely in concept.
Update 4
The good news at this point is that these don't seem nearly as green as some of the other releases like the MOAB. I still haven't revisited that one because I thought it needed a fair amount of time. I'm getting a tad bit of the harshness I associate with youth, but I'm not yet into the camp that these are too young. They may in fact be a-ok.
Draw has firmed up just a tiny bit, but still too loose. I think I ran into this with one of the other S&Bs... maybe the MOAB? I'll rag on the MOAB all day long when in the company of other S&Bs. Not a bad stick in its own right, just not quite up to par with the others. Although who knows... once they've sat for a while maybe they're "the bomb".
Taken a few puffs since the "good news" comment, and I'm echoing it already. The flavors are already WAY more melded together than some of the other S&Bs upon release. Cream, chocolate, leather, sweet oak, and the background pepper continuing at this point. If only that draw was a bit tighter and this thing would be awesome. It's still early though, will be back with more...
Update 5
Battle royale! The chocolate has turned more to a mocha... I'm happy with either. Chocolate and sweet oak is currently in a tag team match against the pepper and leather. Each puff seems to alternate between which one is stronger.
I had a smaller dinner probably five hours or so ago, and I'm noticing the kick in this stick. Nothing crazy, no Carl's Jr. cravings yet (which is my measure of how strong a cigar is, btw - used to be Del Taco but the Big Fat Crispy Chicken Taco is more for alcohol driven cravings, IMO). Still, this isn't a mild cigar - I'd say at this point it is attempting to leave medium status.
...certainly won't be getting a Pulitzer for this narration...
Update 6
First ashing came just shy of burning the first band. Not bad, especially considering the loose draw (which oddly enough seems to have tightened up just a bit again - not sure how). Still too loose.
Pepper and leather starting to win the battle, but the sweet oak is still hanging on. I'm guessing this combo will take this cigar home. We shall see.
Update 7
Strength is picking up - I'd say it has definitely moved into strong territory. Maybe strong +. Burn is good, voluminous smoke, just a loose draw. I don't think that is a humidity issue either - I don't think the B&M has had them long, but they generally keep their humi at 72.
Flavors are more consistent now. I probably won't update more on it unless something changes. There's about an inch left.
Cliff Notes
Good construction, appearance, wrapper, burn, etc. outside of a loose draw.
Notes of chocolate (first half or so), leather, pepper, cream (first little bit), and sweet oak.
Flavor profile in general lives up to what I'd expect out of an S&B.
Not too young like many of the other recent releases. Ready to smoke now. There was a tiny bit of harshness, but literally it was tiny. Not sure age will benefit these as much as some of the other S&Bs. We'll see in the future.
Overall, if you like the S&B line, if you like Nic sticks, if you like Liga 9s, and if you like Viaje/Tatuaje in general, I'd grab a few of these.
Took me about an hour to get where I'm at, and probably another 20 minutes or so left - so despite the smaller vitola size, probably still worth the money.
I'm looking forward to other reviews of these, or comments on them. I'd definitely recommend them - along with a full stomach.
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