phobicsquirrel:

... but also a little confused on why these weren't all that great.

kuzi16:

This cigar has probably passed its peak. It was rolled 11 years ago and the crop the wrapper came out of was probably 15 years ago.

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

4-29-09 been in humi since 11-19-07

5 Vegas Miami Toro (6x48)
Wrapper: Cuban seed Nicaraguan Corojo
Filler Cuban seed Nicaraguan Liegero

The cigar has a bit of red in the medium brown wrapper. There is a small amount of tooth to it but it feels smoother than it looks. The smell unlit is a bit of sweet earth and has a precut taste that is similar but with a hint of spice. The draw has a good resistance; it’s pretty much perfect and has a chocolate tone to it.

The first few draws are sweet and woody with very little aftertaste to it. It does have a bit of the classic corojo taste to it. Once the aftertaste starts to settle in the pulpy, sawdust, Nicaraguan taste shows itself.

This flavor profile continues through the first ash at just over an inch. (and almost 30 minutes in)

By the mid point a few minor burn issues occur. Minor touch up lights.

2/3 of the way through the cigar takes a turn to the woody side. The aftertaste remains the same. Unfortunately, this is the part that I would love to see change.

Near where the band would be (had I left it on) a harsh and bitter taste develops. The cigar decided when I was done. Not me.

Burn time 1h 25min

Burn: 8
Draw: 10
Taste: 9
Aftertaste: 7
Construction: 9
Appearance: 9
Feel: 7

Overall: 8.4

3 smoke rings -- an average cigar

this review took up the least amount of space in my catalog than any other cigar. it wasnt a "bad" cigar, just very uncomplex and and unexciting.

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

kuzi16:

it wasnt a "bad" cigar, just very uncomplex and and unexciting.

That was about my thought on this cigar. I've tried it numerous times in different sizes, and it just never seemed to "pop". Like you said, not a bad cigar, just not all that great.

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"Beliefs are neat. Cherish them, but don't share them like they're the truth" Bill Hicks

im not sure how it got such high marks when it was rated. then again, if i liked the nicaraguan taste better i might like this cigar a lot more. i mean i found the initial taste to be great. but the aftertaste was not that good at all. and the ending to the cigar was a bit strange too. within two puffs it went from good to damnineedtoputthisout. I was smoking this cigar with TheseFilthyHands. he has one to but it was a torp. his ended the same way.

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

I have to say, I've tried one of these before and while I do enjoy the Nicaraguan taste, I did not love this cigar.

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"As I grow to understand life less and less, I learn to love it more and more." - Jules Renard

As usual - Great Review - even though this was a 'light' review!

Never had a 5 Vegas Miami, but I pick up todays Daily deal.

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MOW Badge: Honorable Service recipient 9/21/2010



Work called! They said if you dont come in on Friday, dont bother to come in on Monday! - Whoo hoo four day weekend!

kuzi16:

im not sure how it got such high marks when it was rated. then again, if i liked the nicaraguan taste better i might like this cigar a lot more. i mean i found the initial taste to be great. but the aftertaste was not that good at all. and the ending to the cigar was a bit strange too. within two puffs it went from good to damnineedtoputthisout. I was smoking this cigar with TheseFilthyHands. he has one to but it was a torp. his ended the same way.

I usually like the Nicaraguan taste, and this didn't do it for me...I too experienced some weird aftertaste after an initially promising start. Oh well, even 5 Vegas can't score a home run with all of them.

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"Beliefs are neat. Cherish them, but don't share them like they're the truth" Bill Hicks

bbc020:

I have to say, I've tried one of these before and while I do enjoy the Nicaraguan taste, I did not love this cigar.

that's not what she said you said... =p

I do believe this is the only one from the line I haven't had, and I doubt I'll be purchasing any either. Thanks for the review kuzster.

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bbc020:

I have to say, I've tried one of these before and while I do enjoy the Nicaraguan taste, I did not love this cigar.

what was it about this that you dindt like?

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

kuzi16:

bbc020:

I have to say, I've tried one of these before and while I do enjoy the Nicaraguan taste, I did not love this cigar.

what was it about this that you didnt like?

I think it was a lack of compliment flavors. I remember it having a spice to it, but the lack of a balancing sweetness or woodiness wasn't there for me.

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"As I grow to understand life less and less, I learn to love it more and more." - Jules Renard

AVO Domaine # 60 (5x43)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian sun grown Connecticut seed.
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic.

This cigar is a medium light brown in hue. It feels smooth and silky in the hand. The simple dark brown band compliments the wrapper well.

The smell is earthy, classic tobacco, and a bit of barnyard. The lick on the cap is smooth and oily with a taste that is very classic tobacco and cream.

Cut with my punch. The draw test yields a slightly loose draw but it doesn’t seem that it will be problematic. The pre-light taste is, again, creamy and with a touch of leather.

Lit with my Xikar executive lighter. The aroma before the first puff has a woody note to it.

The first puffs are a creamy sweet with an earthy wood finish. As the cigar settles from the light the wood tapers off a bit. The ease of draw in conjunction with the small ring gauge makes this cigar easy to turn bitter.

The nuances in this cigar are very subtle. Only a half an inch in, this cigar is best described as contemplative. It makes you think about what you are tasting.

Once a good smoking pace is developed (to offset the easy draw and small ring) the taste of each puff from start to finish is as follows:
Draw: sweet, cinnamon, cream
Holding/swishing the smoke: cinnamon comes on stronger, cream.
Release the smoke: earth, then lingering leather.

Very complex in nature, yet very subtle at the same time. These flavors will not jump out at you. TheseFilthyHands and I always joke about how all cigar reviews should say “tastes like bits of burning tobacco.” Well, this one does… but with the above mentioned subtleties. I like it.

The first ash is about 1 ¾in into it. The burn is damn near perfect.

Nearing the midpoint a nutty taste develops in the “hold the smoke” range. I’m finding that the leather lingers a bit longer than I would like to and at times has a very mild bitter taste to it.

The last third of it retains much of the same flavors. The smoke is a tiny bit warmer than before but it still retains its flavor profile.

The last few puffs really bring out the cinnamon flavor. At this point I can feel the full bodied nature of this cigar.

Burn to the burn.
Burn time: 1h 25min

Burn: 9
Draw: 9
Taste: 10
Aftertaste: 9
Construction: 10
Appearance: 9
Feel: 9

Overall: 9.3

5 of 6 smoke rings -- an exceptionally good cigar

Recommended to:
Those with a more refined Palate.
Those who don’t mind the earthy/leather of Davidoff.
Those who can set a good smoking pace to bring out the nuances of the blend

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

Great Review Kuz, these are excellent sticks IMO and you summed up the experience very well.

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"As I grow to understand life less and less, I learn to love it more and more." - Jules Renard

Yeah, that about sums up the Avo Domaine..Always an exceptional experience.

Havn't had one yet :( ...wasn't that one "Bino liked so much?

5-22-09 been in humi since 7-17-08

Cohiba Red Dot corona (5.1x42)
Wrapper: West African Cameroon
Binder: Dominican –grown Piloto Cubano
Filler: Dominican-grown Piloto Cubano

The cellophane has a slight bit of yellow to it. The wrapper is a medium brown with a few veins in it. The lick on the cap is very barnyard with a tiny hint of sourness to it. the sour is probably a bit overstated.

When punched, the cap cracked a little. The draw is a bit on the hard side but not enough to put it down.

The cigar opens with a distinctly Cameroon flavor of sweet leather with a slightly “sharp” taste to it.

As the cigar begins to develop, a slight white pepper taste comes out. The finish is short, mild and with a bit of nut to it. the body is medium-full but the flavor is medium at best.

The fist ash was at an inch and a half.

Half way through, and the flavor is unchanged. The cigar burns well, draws decently, tastes ok and is generally constructed well. The problem is that nothing jumps out as amazing. There is little to no “wow” factor.

The rest of the cigar is the same decent but unimpressive note.

Burn: 9
Draw: 8
Taste: 9
Aftertaste: 9
Construction: 10
Appearance: 9
Feel: 8

Overall: 8.8
4 smoke rings -- an above average cigar (only because of the construction)

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate