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Author
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Steve D
Active Member
Registered: April 2007
Location: Newnan, GA
Posts: 213
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Review Date: Tue April 10, 2007
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Would you recommend this to someone? Yes |
Price you paid? In US$: $5.50
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Great construction, great aroma
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Cons:
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Maybe a little too mellow with age - missing something
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Lets kick this La Aroma de Cuba thing off. Over the past couple weeks I smoked 2 of the Monarchs. The first was from the original release, the second I received in a trade maybe a year or two later.
Construction was great for both, firm with no soft spots or sponginess. Wrapper was between a red-brown and a milk chocolate brown. Had some small veins but nothing obtrusive.
Both lit well and burned relatively evenly - the first was smoked outside when there was a breeze blowing so a bit of unevenness wasn't unexpected.
Both started out with a leathery base. Its rare that I can pick out individual flavors and I really didn't notice anything beyond the base flavors with these two sticks. Between the 1/3 and 1/2 way points the base flavor changed to what I would describe as earthy.
At the half way point the first stick seemed to become a bit harsh - could have been I was smoking it a bit fast or might have been that the unevenness caused by the breeze was throwing off the flavors. Although it got to be a tad harsh it still wasn't bad.
Both sticks seemed to be medium in body with a fairly quick, somewhat dry finish and both left a pleasant aftertaste.
These used to be one of my favorite sticks when they first came out. The ones I smokes had a little bit of age on them and may have lost some of something that I was expecting - they seemed to have a different, somewhat more appealing flavor and aroma when they were younger - or maybe my palate has changed.
All in all, they're still a good smoke. Maybe I'll pick up a few fresh sticks to try soon.
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xxwaldoxx
Cigar Press Member
Registered: March 2007
Location: Reading
Posts: 1166
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Review Date: Thu April 12, 2007
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Would you recommend this to someone? Yes |
Price you paid? In US$: $3.50
| Rating: 7
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Pros:
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Good value
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Cons:
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Loose ash, Falls after less than 1 inch.
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Tonight I had the spare time to finally sit down and smoke my La Aroma de Cuba for the Cigar Live Tasting Panel #2
Right out of the cello the cigar is very attractive with its old Cuban Style band and satin sheen. This cigar had what I refer to as a "Coarse Wrap" being that the seam spiraling down the wrapper leaf is very apparent and easy to notice.
When pinched the stick very fairly firm with a light spring to it. The wrapper had a few fairly heavy veins but nothing startling. The cap was about average, being that it was a double cap with the most outer leaf barely rolling over the shoulder of the cigar.
Clipping, toasting, and lighting were all quick and easy producing a decent draw with mild woody tones on the pre light.Once lit, the volume of smoke was a little on the light side and required a little rolling of the cigar to loosen up the head enough to allow more smoke to pass. Once this was done the cigar produced much more smoke that was both thick and flavorful.
The first third delivers nice woody flavors with a sort of vegetal aftertaste. The finish is about average, lasting a minute or two on the palate after each puff. The burn rate is slow as well as even, at this point making for a decent smoke.
The second third of the cigar builds a little and the body slowly moves up a little higher within the medium spectrum. The base flavor is still woody (mostly cedar at this point) while the vegetal flavor fades a bit and is replaced by mild leathery tones. The ash is light grey and loose. The downside at this point is that the ash falls before reaching the one inch mark.
The final third makes way for heavier flavors, which are mainly leather, cedar, and pepper while the finish gets longer and lasts for several minutes. The burn is nice and even while the draw is still decent.
Towards the middle of the cigar it began to develop a heavy oily spot on the open head. I'm not sure what causes this as I've only had this happen to me 3 times on various cigars. When this oil touches the tip of your tounge it creates a peppery/burning sensation that is very unenjoyable.
Overall I think that the 3.50 I paid for this cigar is a good price for the quality of the cigar. I would recommend picking one up the next time you stop in at your local cigar shop.
Stogie,
Here are those pictures I told you about.
Size:
Band:
Pre light:
1 inch in:
1/3:
3/3:
Nub:
Burn Line #1:
Burn Line #2:
Oil Collecting at the head #1
Oil collecting at the head #2:
Oil collecting at the head #3:
Oil blotted on paper towel:
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Walt White
Co-Founder: Stogie Review
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The Bruce
Active Member
Registered: March 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 290
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Review Date: Mon April 16, 2007
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Would you recommend this to someone? No |
Price you paid? In US$: $5.50
| Rating: 3
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Pros:
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Well Constructed. Nice looking wrapper.
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Cons:
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A twangy taste.
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I smoked the robusto. It looked real nice, and had good construction. It was a little strange that the cigar got harder as you approched the cap.
The first third: The cigar lit easily and it had a nice draw. It's smoke is quite light. It's ash is nice and while. I am getting a taste that I don't care like.
The second third: The ash has come off. It's an interesting specimen. It is nice and firm, but the outside layer is super powdery. The draw is still nice and the burn is even. The flavor has turned twangy and musty. I don't much care for it.
The third third: The flavor is not very good, but I am impressed on the construction. The burn is straight and consistent.
I did not like the twangy/musty/sour taste. I've tasted this flavor before so it must be the type of the tobacco.
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--
Erik The Bruce
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DirkT
Active Member
Registered: March 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 101
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Review Date: Sun April 22, 2007
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Would you recommend this to someone? Yes |
Price you paid? In US$: $5.50
| Rating: 6
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Pros:
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Good solid construction and good smoke aroma
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Cons:
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Burn issues
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I smoked the Robusto size of the La Aroma de Cuba
Pre light: Sturdy cigar. Clipped the cap without a problem. Remainder of the cap help on tight! I've notice lately that some of my cigars have had the cap pull off after clipping causing some annoyance. Not with this one though!
First third: Easy light. Easy draw. LOTS of good smelling and good tasting smoke. The cigar was burning slowly and evenly
Second third: Started having burn issues. Had to correct a couple of times. Towards the end of the second third the cigar started to go out on me. Still good taste and good smoke volume.
Final third: Cigar started going out on me if I left it for more than 20 seconds. Had to relight 2 times. Was no longer pleasurable for most of the rest of the smoke. While the cigar stayed lit it tasted great. But it quickly went out on me. The band was glued really well  Fortunately the glue was confined to the band only so the wrapper did NOT tear from excess glue!
Overall: I enjoyed the hour and half I spent with the cigar. I just wish that I didn't spend so much effort keeping it going. For the price of a single stick... I don't know if I'd regularly seek this one. But I would not look away if it was in my humidor nor would I be offended if someone offered it to me.
I would have scored it higher if I didn't have the burn issues. For my own curiosity I may revisit this cigar again in the future.
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tekeeladude
Forum Moderator
Registered: March 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 2043
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Review Date: Sun April 22, 2007
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Would you recommend this to someone? Yes |
Price you paid? In US$: None indicated
| Rating: 4
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Pros:
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Nice price, good construction and appearance
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Cons:
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Inconsistent burn issues
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Robust size
Appearance: I pulled this one out of my humidor and one of the first things I noticed was the cello was a little yellow. When I removed the stick from the cello I also noticed it had a light dusting of plume. I'm not sure if this one was gifted to me, or if it came this way from the shop...it hasn't been in my humidor very long (month or so?). Very nice looking cigar with a reddish color. A few large veins, but no visible construction issues.
Cut/Prelight: Nice firmness from head to foot with no soft or hard spots. Cut perfectly with no issues with the cap. Rich sweet tobacco smell/taste. Very good draw.
Burn: This cigar lit very easily and produced a decent amount of smoke. Nice tobacco, woody cedar tones. After the first third of the cigar I began to experience a lot of burn issues. There was big decrease in the amount of smoke produced. The taste changed a lot (in a bad way) and I had some spiciness. I had to re-light this stick once and make a couple of touchup. For the sake of review, I continued to smoke this cigar. Normally I would have put it out at this point. I got down to the last third and miraculously the cigar began smoking much better. The volume of smoke increased and the taste really picked up. I was getting some more spice and some woody and a nice toasty flavor.
Overall, this was an OK smoke. If I wouldn’t have had burn problems I would rate this one higher. After I smoked this one I began searching for other reviews of this cigar. I found that others experienced similar burn issues with this particular size. Maybe there is a production issue with this particular size.
I'm going to smoke the rest of the robustos I have and see if the burn problems are consistent. I have smoked the Monarch size before and I enjoyed this smoke and did not have the burn issues.
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We're the last of the radio-free, piss and vinegar, American independents! ~ Roger Clyne
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GoinFerSmoke
Forum Moderator
Registered: March 2007
Location: Salem
Posts: 4981
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Review Date: Sat May 5, 2007
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Would you recommend this to someone? Yes |
Price you paid? In US$: None indicated
| Rating: 6
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Pros:
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Easy Draw, it was free
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Cons:
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Had two rather large veins
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My cigar was the monarch:
Cigar construction was not bad I had read that this cigar had construction problems. It did have two rather prominent veins in the wrapper.
The cigar started off burning a little unevenly but evened out towards the middle. The draw was very easy and cigar was firm overall.
Had a very light spiciness to it, woody but not as full-flavored as I was expecting. While it was enjoyable I would not say there was anything extraordinary about it that would make me go out of my way to purchase it.
Would I pay the going price for one? No... but as a gift as I received it, then the price was right.
I did enjoy it but was not something I would rave about.
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Get all the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything. - Frank Dane
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;)
;)
