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Author
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Cameroon-swoon
Active Member
Registered: April 2007
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 225
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Review Date: Thu February 21, 2008
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Would you recommend this to someone? Yes |
Price you paid? In US$: $4.00
| Rating: 7
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Pros:
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Price, flavor, construction, complexity, ash
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Cons:
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finish / see review
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Well, I tonight I tried the Los Blancos Sumatra, which I picked up at my favorite B&M with a nice sized purchase I did today. I smoked the robusto size.
Wrapper scent: mild - slight tobacco / wet hay, but not very strong at all.
Foot scent: about the same; little bit of spice
Appearance: Very nice construction; light-moderate veins; no blemishes, slight oily-sheen and over all very attractive.
The pre-light draw was very tasty with some woody / nutty notes mixed with a mild tobacco.
The first 1/3 of the cigar was very mild. I would say that this is a very good Saturday morning cigar, pairing well a mild coffee. It produced ample smoke and when I retrohaled the smoke, it was different from what I typically notice. Usually I will get the bite of spice in the upper, rear sinuses or there won't be much of anything at all, depending on the cigar. This stick produced a slight bite at the front portion of my sinuses - feeling as if it were behind the bridge of my nose. However, it was pleasant and did not sting at all.
As I got into the second 1/3, the cigar began developing more body. I could pick up more woody notes and at one point shortly after I got into the second 1/3, I got distinct hickory or maybe mesquite; something that reminded me of grilling or BBQ. This was very nice.
Going into the final 1/3, the stick continued to pick up in body and become more like a mild black coffee. The woody notes were more pronounced, yet behind the coffee. At this point the cigar was starting to get a little bitter.
The cigar held the ash quite well; I tapped off the first time with about an inch and a quarter.
This cigar was very nice and I would recommend for earlier in the day. I got a better price on it than normal, because I purchased several items; the normal price is in the $5.00 - 5.45 range and still worth it in my opinion.
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ER Doc
Senior Member
Registered: July 2007
Location: Overland Park, KS
Posts: 2905
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Review Date: Mon March 10, 2008
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Would you recommend this to someone? Yes |
Price you paid? In US$: $5.35
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Great taste; good value
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Cons:
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The Los Blancos Criollo:
I purchased this cigar at the B&M and cost me $5.35 for the robusto size (5x52).
The scent of the wrapper was a minty tobacco. The only scent I could perceive at the foot was tobacco. The wrapper was veiny, but yet consistent and solid. The feel along the entire stick was firm, but not too firm. There was a small amount of sponginess.
I used a table-top V-cutter (or cat-eye) to cut the head of the cigar. Upon placing the freshly cut head to my tongue, I noticed a slight tingle. The flavor upon drawing on the unlit cigar was a nice plum-raisin – a pleasant surprise.
After several puffs, the body was definitely medium-to-full; the body was, as promised, robust. The taste that I got was pepper & cedar. The draw was what I would call perfect – just slightly less than deliberate.
The cigar gave off a medium smoke that really didn’t have any particular aroma (but being in a shop with 3 other guys smoking cigars made it a little difficult to evaluate the scent of the smoke). It did give off plenty of smoke to allow me to practice blowing smoke rings.
Retrohaling the smoke, surprisingly, was pleasant and provided more appreciation of the peppery spice.
At about the time the 2nd third started, it turned very bold and full. I was also beginning to experience the nicotine.
The burn line was extremely consistent throughout the whole cigar. It kept a beautiful mascara line that stayed perfectly round all around the cigar.
The construction of the cigar was very good; the ash held tight and dropped every inch-and-a-half or so.
The flavor turned bitter and grassy just past the beginning of the final third. I’d smoked the cigar for just over an hour and really enjoyed myself.
Overall, I’d give the cigar an 8 (which corresponds with Excellent on Colin’s evaluation sheet).
I’d recommend picking one up if you get a chance. Also, you could try one of the other 3 offerings in the Los Blancos line – Sumatra, Maduro, and Connecticut Shade.
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"Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'sir' without adding, 'you're making a scene'." - Homer J Simpson
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