Tatuaje Broadleaf Especial

Notes: Measured at 40 rg instead of 38. Prelight aroma of cocoa with flavors of black coffee, unsweetened cocoa, salt, black and red pepper, and molasses. In the last third that familiar sweet milk chocolate flavor unleashed, body and flavor both went from medium to full. The draw tightened up in the last two inches and it immediately became unenjoyable.

Smoking time: One hour, twenty four minutes

Rating: Four stars

Rodrigo Habano Clasico

Notes: Measured 40 ring instead of 38. Flavors of caramel, citrus, sourdough and white pepper. Complexity wasn't great, but this blend has a nice familiar balance. Burn was very uneven at one point, then it tunneled about one inch near the middle.

Smoking time: One hour, six minutes

Rating: Four stars

Fausto

Notes: Another one with a overly restricted draw. Not terrible, but not what I was hoping for. Non descript sugary pre light aroma. Very firm and heavy, the bunch is obviously too dense. Flavors of oak, dark roast coffee, black pepper and cola sweetness. Though complexity suffered, the combustion surprisingly wasn't affected much until the last third, where the flavors became somewhat bitter and damp.

Smoking time: One hour, twenty four minutes

Rating: Four stars

La Casita Criolla

Notes: Wrapper has a very rustic appearance, both the cold draw and pre light aroma are rich milk chocolate. Flavors of red pepper, espresso, milk chocolate and sweet barbecue. Even though the complexity was only average, this blend is stunningly rich, savory and sweet. Combustion and construction were flawless.

Smoking time: One hour, twenty eight minutes

Rating: Five stars

Lost & Found Iconoclast

Notes: Who knows the actual identity of this cigar, don't really care though. Combustion was fine for the first half and then it needed several relights in the second half. Flavors of earth, mineral/salt, cumin, red pepper, roasted nuts and a mild honey sweetness. Became sour at points, mostly in the second half.

Smoking time: One hour, twenty three minutes

Rating: Three stars

La Riqueza

Notes: Pre light aroma of barnyard. Flavors of milk chocolate, tea leaves, dark fruit and white pepper. Body, flavor and strength were all just under medium. Draw was slightly tighter than I prefer and at points I couldn't get a satisfying mouthful of smoke.

Smoking time: One hour, thirteen minutes

Rating: Four stars

BLTC Deliverance 2017 FoF Exclusive

Notes: Measured 7.125 inches and 36 ring gauge. San Andres wrapper has no visible oil, but otherwise very smooth and even color. Flavors of fruit, espresso, salty peanut, pastry, clove, red and black pepper. There was an odd mineral flavor that appeared in the last third, but only on a few puffs. Great complexity and a very unique overall flavor profile. Construction was perfect aside from the measurements being incorrect.

Smoking time: One hour, fifteen minutes

Rating: Five stars

illusione ~hl~ (Holy Lance Maduro)

Notes: Flavors of milk chocolate, molasses, hickory, vanilla, apple, coriander, clove, and white pepper. Light to medium in body and strength with full flavor. Another perfectly balanced and delicious blend from Dion. Construction and combustion were also flawless.

Smoking time: One hour, twenty five minutes

Rating: Five stars

illusione ~hl~ (Holy Lance)

Notes: Perfect density and draw. Flavors of bread and pastry, cream, almond, cinnamon and a subtle white pepper. Extremely consistent smoke that crescendos from light to medium body and flavor. Even with no noticeable transitions, the complexity and elegance of this blend is simply outrageous.

Smoking time: One hour, forty nine minutes

Rating: Five stars

Tatuaje Cabaiguan Guapos

Notes: Draw is also a bit tight. Flavors of white pepper, cedar, citrus and honey. Balance was excellent.

Smoking time: One hour, sixteen minutes

Rating: Four stars

Tatuaje Havana VI

Notes: Draw is somewhat tight. Flavors of oak, citrus and subtle spice with very little pepper. In the middle third, the citrus changes to a darker fruit, there's an addition of bread, and the spice broadens. Complexity and flavor are excellent till the last third, when a tunnel develops, requiring five relights and flavors go downhill quick. Another I want to revisit.

Smoking time: one hour, twenty minutes

Rating: Three stars

Tatuaje Private Reserve

Notes: Construction was great. Pre light aroma of barnyard and chocolate. Flavors of oak, milk chocolate, cumin, almond, vanilla and a touch of red pepper. Great balance and complexity, medium body, full flavor.

Smoking time: One hour, twenty three minutes

Rating: Five stars

Las Cumbres Senorial

Notes: Good construction, draw resistance is too open. Flavors of cedar, cinnamon and red pepper. Also a floral note that gets mostly lost. Overall too harsh from the quick combustion. I can tell this blend would do well with a proper bunch. I want to revisit this.

Smoking time: Sixty three minutes

Rating: Three stars

Room 101 Daruma Gold

Notes: Great density and draw with prelight aroma of spice and hay. Flavors of cedar, burnt coffee, toast and a full range of baking spices. Delicious blend with nice complexity, but in the last third the draw tightened up and flavors became somewhat bitter.

Smoking time: One hour, twenty one minutes

Rating: Four stars

Saga Golden Age

Notes: The Dominican Corojo wrapper is so light it could easily be mistaken for shade grown CT seed. Also of not is the ugly mottling and bumpiness. Draw and construction are otherwise excellent. Flavors of oak, nuts, white pepper and a delicious caramel sweetness that dissipates by the last third. Complexity was lacking and this blend, though great in the beginning, steadily went downhill.

Smoking time: One hour, thirty minutes

Rating: Three stars

Tatuaje El Triunfador No.6

Notes: Draw is tighter than I would prefer. Flavors of red and black pepper, cedar, citrus, nutmeg and salt. There is a faint sourness that persists through most of the cigar. Complexity was lacking and this blend never achieved a good balance between the spice and earth flavors.

Smoking time: One hour, forty nine minutes

Rating: Three stars

Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real

Notes: Flavors of cedar, grass, cashew, cream, and something vegetal that becomes sour around half way through. Balance is okay and there is almost no complexity, but the construction and combustion were decent.

Smoking time: One hour, forty one minutes

Rating: Three stars

Tatuaje Seleccion de Cazador Especiales

Notes: Draw was just slightly too tight. Flavors of cocoa, oak, earth, walnut, and a minimal red pepper on the retrohale. Last third started to get bitter. Complexity is decent and I feel like previous times I've smoked this cigar, they were even better with a correct draw.

Smoking time: One hour, thirteen minutes

Rating: Four stars

Tatuaje Cabaiguan

Notes: Flavors of cedar, bread, mineral, sweet hay and black pepper. Combustion and construction were perfect, just lacking in complexity.

Smoking time: One hour, three minutes

Rating: Four stars

Caldwell Room 101 Hit & Run

Notes: These were a very limited, event only vitola from summer 2017, and in my opinion, the best of the Hit & Run line. Flawless Ecuador Habano wrapper, medium body and strength with full flavors of cedar, butterscotch and that slightly sour tang that seems common with some Dominican tobaccos. Construction was also flawless and complexity was good.

Smoking time: 61 minutes

Rating: Five stars