Since Alex requested it and nobody else started it yet, I figured I'd get a new thread going on the forum blend to get everyone's opinion on them. If you've gotten your cigars and smoked one, post your review here. If you already reviewed them somewhere else, please copy and paste here to make it official.

Today I smoked my first forum blend and I chose the Sumatra because that was my first wrapper choice and I was stoked that my vote made it. Now, keep in mind that I just got these cigars in yesterday, so this one was fairly fresh when I smoked it.

The construction was beautiful with no prominent veins, cap applied evenly and no lumps, hard spots or soft spots. Dead on. The initial smell was a little off but I didn't let that sway me. One thing I've learned is that you can go into a cigar shop and smell until your heart's content, but you don't know how good that cigar is gonna be until you light up. I opened it up with a punch and the draw was just right.

Upon lighting, there was a sweetness with some wood and cocoa undertones. This sweetness eventually faded to an underlying sweet, almost sugar cane note that persisted throughout the cigar. The wood and cocoa notes continued throughout along with occasional spice and young tobacco. There was a slight burn at the back of the throat every once in a while which made me think the tobacco or cigar itself may be a bit young and need some aging. The burn line was perfectly even throughout the entirety of the smoke and the cigar gave off volumes of smoke and flavor. I'd put it in the medium category as I had it in the morning on an empty stomach and about 2/3s of the way through, I started getting a slight buzz.

Bottom line: This was a great cigar and I was very impressed, though not too surprised (the guys at c.com offer quality products). At the price point Alex gave us, give these babies a little rest (I wanna say 6 months or better) and they'll be incredible smokes. Would I have another? Hell yeah, I'll probably have 8 or 9 more, depending on whether or not I'm generous enough to give any away. Would I recommend them? Highly. Sorry to anyone on here who didn't get any. See if someone will trade you for one.

I smoked one of each the day I got them.

The sumatra had an underlying sweetness on the palate with a cinnamon like spicyness through the nose. About halfway through almost all of the spice disappeared and the sweetness took over. The draw and burn were perfect throughout and the stick last about 90 minutes.

The maduro had similer characteristics but the overall experiance was different than the sumatra. Right after the light my palate was hit with sweetness that was almost too much but it tapered off pretty quickly. The sweetness stayed throughout the stick and a little spice poked its head in every once in a while. Like the sumatra the draw and burn were perfect and it lasted about 90 minutes.

I definatly would like to get more of these.

CK

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"To defy the laws of tradition is a crusade only of the brave."--Les Claypool
We reap just what we sow.

Well I'm liking this so far. Yesterday I lit up the Sumatra. First I gave it a thorough inspection and found excellent construction with a firm fill and no soft spots, a neatly applied cap and, after taking my Xikar cutter to it, a perfect draw that offered just enough resistance to keep the cigar from smoking itself. The light was easy and complete, the burn was spot on until about halfway when a minor touch-up was needed to a section of wrapper that had stopped burning. The flavor was very favorable to me, I picked up on some light pepper that was neither understated nor overwhelming, a slight sweetness that complimented the pepper and some nice nutty notes that worked well overall.

Today I had the maduro, same results as to the inspection. The burn on this one was a bit more uneven but it did not suffer any major defects. I would have to smoke one of each simultaneously to give a breakdown, but the maduro seemed very similar to the Sumatra in most regards except for the flavors inparted by the maduro wrapper.

If I had to state a preference, I would give a slight nod to the Sumatra as I think the blend works a little better with that wrapper. Both, however, were pretty good and I could definitely get behind this cigar were it to be put into production.

Nicely done guys, and thanks Alex for making this happen.

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When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

Thomas Jefferson

Nervously wrings hands waiting for the Big Brown Truck ...

I had one of my forum blend sticks tonight, I just couldn't wait any longer. I went for the Natural.

As has been said the cigar is absolutely beautiful. That EcSu wrapper has such an inviting luster. The cut, draw, light, burn were all flawless. I wish all cigars were made this well.

The first impression I got was a thick, lingering sweetness that held to my palatte like molasses with a long finish. Eventually the finish became shorter and it wasn't too long before I got a little spice. That stayed for a while and then the sweetness returned but not as much as before. It mellowed for a while and maintained an easy sweetness with occasional spice and something else that might have been a flavor I couldn't identify or maybe tobacco.

It was pretty smooth but certainly could use a little more smoothing out. It was easy to tell it needs a little resting time to really show off but still you can get a real good grasp for what's in there and I think they will be real tasty soon. Overall I'd say sweet that mellows as you progress and underlying spice that comes to the front now and then.

I enjoyed it quite a bit and it was a real treat to smoke a cigar I had a hand in developing. I think I'll smoke at least 9 more of these.

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humidor inventory is in my bio

I had to burn one tonite. Did the maduro and loved it ...especially for what they let these go for. Plenty of smoke , very very good meaty peppery flavor . On a side note , my wife , who doesn't smoke, took two puffs off this one. First I couldn't believe she volunteered to do this!!! Second she liked it !!! What the ...are you kidding me !!! She said it had a very good pepper flavor and she thought it smelled great . Now I've got to count my cigars and start watching her a little more closely hahaha ...

gmill880:

I had to burn one tonite. Did the maduro and loved it ...especially for what they let these go for. Plenty of smoke , very very good meaty peppery flavor . On a side note , my wife , who doesn't smoke, took two puffs off this one. First I couldn't believe she volunteered to do this!!! Second she liked it !!! What the ...are you kidding me !!! She said it had a very good pepper flavor and she thought it smelled great . Now I've got to count my cigars and start watching her a little more closely hahaha ...

Oh watch out man! Thats dangerous territory! I screwed up because a buddy of mine was over one night and we were smoking some Tatuaje's. He was smoking a Reserva SW and I was having an El Truifador and she decided they smelled good and she wanted to take a puff of each to try them out. Now she is hooked on Pete's smokes! She doesn't smoke often at all, but I had to go get her a couple of the Reserva's and a couple of the houseblends at my local shop.

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Jason
You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.

PuroFreak:

gmill880:

I had to burn one tonite. Did the maduro and loved it ...especially for what they let these go for. Plenty of smoke , very very good meaty peppery flavor . On a side note , my wife , who doesn't smoke, took two puffs off this one. First I couldn't believe she volunteered to do this!!! Second she liked it !!! What the ...are you kidding me !!! She said it had a very good pepper flavor and she thought it smelled great . Now I've got to count my cigars and start watching her a little more closely hahaha ...

Oh watch out man! Thats dangerous territory! I screwed up because a buddy of mine was over one night and we were smoking some Tatuaje's. He was smoking a Reserva SW and I was having an El Truifador and she decided they smelled good and she wanted to take a puff of each to try them out. Now she is hooked on Pete's smokes! She doesn't smoke often at all, but I had to go get her a couple of the Reserva's and a couple of the houseblends at my local shop.

Dangerous indeed Puro my man ...dangerous indeed ...

i have a lock on my humidor. i keep the keys on me at all times.

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

kuzi16:

i have a lock on my humidor. i keep the keys on me at all times.

And Puro has a gun... She's just a girl...

Or you could tell her "i stay out of your purse, you stay out of my Humidor".

I do feel your pain tho Puro... even tho it's your own fault...if you hadn't let her try "Pete's stick" well maybe she wouldn't have loved it...DUH.
LMAO

Sorry bro' I just had to. I mean you laid it out there, and it was just hanging, and nobody seemed like they were gonna, so I just had to spike that puppy. :)

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laker1963:

kuzi16:

i have a lock on my humidor. i keep the keys on me at all times.

And Puro has a gun... She's just a girl...

Or you could tell her "i stay out of your purse, you stay out of my Humidor".

I do feel your pain tho Puro... even tho it's your own fault...if you hadn't let her try "Pete's stick" well maybe she wouldn't have loved it...DUH.
LMAO

Sorry bro' I just had to. I mean you laid it out there, and it was just hanging, and nobody seemed like they were gonna, so I just had to spike that puppy. :)

HAHA Yea, I saw that coming and was just WAITING for it. Nice play!

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Jason
You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.

I've been able to try one of each. Both were good. I enjoyed the natural one alot more. Will let the remaining 8 rest. Overall, I'd say the natural could probably find its way into my regular rotation if it were to become regularly available.

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<insert something witty or relevant here/>

My friend Mark smoked one last night. He really enjoyed it. He is going to smoke the maduro today.

Just got done with the Maduro. I have to say I am very suprised at how well it smoked considering it only sat in my humidor for a day and a half. Here's my attempt at a review:

The cigar looks perfect, very dark with a sheen to it and perfect construction. It has a nice heft to it and feels very solid. Upon lighting, it is instantly sweet and smooth, with a nice finish. The draw is perfect for me, just enough resistance so it isn't like sucking through a straw but in no way inhibits the smoke. I picked up some brown sugar and even a little caramel on it throughout the cigar, but especially so in the first half. There is also a distinct flavor of roasted nuts on the finish, a very pleasant taste. The burn was a little uneven to begin with, but by about a third of the way in, it had corrected itself and never required any touch-ups or re-lights. It produces volumes of thick smoke, and has a nice, chewy texture. The ash is very firm and held for a little over an inch. Just over halfway in, the flavors seem to level out a bit and although are still very sweet, the caramel and brown sugar isn't as prominent now. It still has an excellent flavor, but its a little harder to discern the little nuances. I smoked it down to the nub, and throughout it was very smooth and at no point harsh. It may get better with some age, but honestly I enjoyed it quite a bit as is. I would definately purchase a box of these, no doubt about it.

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alienmisprint:

Just got done with the Maduro. I have to say I am very suprised at how well it smoked considering it only sat in my humidor for a day and a half. Here's my attempt at a review:

The cigar looks perfect, very dark with a sheen to it and perfect construction. It has a nice heft to it and feels very solid. Upon lighting, it is instantly sweet and smooth, with a nice finish. The draw is perfect for me, just enough resistance so it isn't like sucking through a straw but in no way inhibits the smoke. I picked up some brown sugar and even a little caramel on it throughout the cigar, but especially so in the first half. There is also a distinct flavor of roasted nuts on the finish, a very pleasant taste. The burn was a little uneven to begin with, but by about a third of the way in, it had corrected itself and never required any touch-ups or re-lights. It produces volumes of thick smoke, and has a nice, chewy texture. The ash is very firm and held for a little over an inch. Just over halfway in, the flavors seem to level out a bit and although are still very sweet, the caramel and brown sugar isn't as prominent now. It still has an excellent flavor, but its a little harder to discern the little nuances. I smoked it down to the nub, and throughout it was very smooth and at no point harsh. It may get better with some age, but honestly I enjoyed it quite a bit as is. I would definately purchase a box of these, no doubt about it.

Great review of the maduro alien and if I had any kind of talent for a review, that's about what my assessment of it would have been. I'm about a half-inch into the ecusuma and I dare say I think by the end I'll be liking it even better than the maduro. Of course this has a week on it, and the maduro I smoked had a few hours.