cocoa

Cigar Review | Drew Estate Undercrown ShadyXX

May 28, 2020CutLightSmokeReviewsblack licorice, black pepper, cocoa, grassy earth, leather, vanillaLeave a comment

It’s Stog o’Clock, and this time, I check out the Drew Estate Undercrown ShadyXX. This cigar was made with Paul Rosenberg, president of Shady Records, to celebrate the company’s 20^th anniversary. It comes in one size, a 5 x 50 box-pressed Belicoso, and retails for $10.40. A Mexican San Andres wrapper adorns a Connecticut Stalk Cut Habano binder and fillers from Nicaragua and Brazil.

Let’s Get Started

On the cold draw, the Undercrown ShadyXX produces a raisin-dominant dried fruit flavor. The wrapper gives off a rich earthy aroma while I smell much the same out of the foot. Once lit, rich dark cocoa and black pepper appear. Through the nose, sweet cocoa is touched by a hint of black pepper. The finish exudes black pepper, leather, and earth.

First Third

Twenty-five minutes in, the first third comes to a close. On the draw, I pick up cocoa with black pepper and espresso. Through the nose, red pepper blends with oak. The finish gives me grassy earth and black licorice. Strength and body settle in at medium-to-full.

Second Third

The second third ends around fifty minutes. Strong black pepper and bitter cocoa dominate the draw. On the retro-hale, sweet cocoa is tamed but present along with vanilla. There is more black licorice on the finish with leather and grassy earth. Strength and body remain consistent at medium-to-full.

Final Third

An hour and twenty minutes in, the final third sees the end. On the draw, I get more black pepper and cocoa. Through the nose, sweet cocoa and vanilla are topped off with additional black pepper. The finish hits me with more black licorice and even bolder black pepper. Strength and body finish out at medium-to-full.

Overall Thoughts

The Drew Estate Undercrown ShadyXX is a solid cigar. It produces a lot of bold, dark flavors that work well together with a decent amount of complexity. Aside from a brief wavy burn and required touch-up in the final third, construction was on point with huge plumes of smoke.

Price is competitive with other cigars on the market, and I would say this is one of the best blends currently in the Drew Estate portfolio. These cigars are a limited production, so they’re a bit hard to come by. I recommend giving the Undercrown ShadyXX a try if you can find it!

Smoke on!

-Noah (CutLightSmoke)

Cigar Review | Espinosa Laranja Reserva Escuro Corona Gorda

June 10, 2019CutLightSmokePR & Newsblack licorice, black pepper, cinnamon, cocoa, coffee, leatherLeave a comment

It’s Stog o’Clock, and this time, I check out the new Espinosa Laranja Reserva Escuro. For this review, I smoke the Corona Gorda, a 6 x 46 box-pressed stick. It retails for $10. The blend consists of a super dark Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper and all Nicaraguan tobaccos within.

The cold draw on this cigar gives some dried fruit flavor. The rich, dark wrapper produces a potent manure aroma, while I smell a bit of the same out of the foot with dried fruit. The first light produces copious amounts of spice and body.

Twenty-five minutes in, the first third comes to a close. On the draw, I find black pepper spice with coffee and bitter cocoa. Through the nose, a spicy black pepper blends with leather. The finish gives me more bitter cocoa and leather. Strength settles in at medium, while body is extremely full.

The second third gets me to fifty-five minutes. The draw hits me with rich cocoa and dark espresso. On the retro-hale, there is a massive amount of cayenne pepper dominating my sinuses. The finish is a delightful mix of black licorice and black pepper. There is no change to strength or body.

The final third wisps away at one hour and twenty minutes. On the draw, more cocoa blends with cinnamon and coffee. Through the nose, flavors remain consistent. The finish hits me with black pepper, cedar, and leather. Strength finishes out at medium, while body ends at the ceiling.

The Espinosa Laranja Reserva Escuro is an excellent cigar. It displays delicious, bold flavors without being too strong, and complexity is sufficient. Construction is perfect, and the cigar billows with smoke. It’s competitively priced and competes well with similarly priced cigars. You may not like this if you only smoke mild-bodied blends, but for everyone else I highly recommend picking up a bunch of these.

Smoke on!

-Noah (CutLightSmoke)

Cigar Review | Alec Bradley Magic Toast Robusto

May 11, 2019CutLightSmokeReviewsblack pepper, cedar, clove, cocoa, floral, raspberryLeave a comment

It’s Stog o’Clock, and this time, I check out the Alec Bradley Magic Toast in the Robusto size. This 5 x 52 cigar retails for $8.95 and sports an extremely dark wrapper leaf from Honduras. Inside, there are both Nicaraguan and Honduran binders as well as fillers from both of those same countries.

The cold draw is snug with a mossy flavor. The wrapper produces a rich dark cocoa aroma, while I smell chocolate and strawberry out of the foot. The first light hits me with buttery cedar and black pepper. Through the nose, spice kicks up with red pepper and more cedar. The finish gives me cocoa and cinnamon.

Twenty-five minutes in, the first third comes to a close. I pick up cocoa and black pepper on the draw. Through the nose, dried fruit blends with walnut and floral notes. The finish offers up some dark chocolate with raspberry and clove. Strength and body settle in at medium-to-full.

The second third brings me to one hour. I find more black pepper on the draw with the addition of vegetal earth. The retro-hale consists of buttery toast and more floral notes. The finish is delightful with sweet chocolate and marshmallow flavors reminiscent of hot cocoa. There is no change to strength or body.

The final third ends at one hour and thirty minutes. Black pepper and black licorice mix well on the draw. I see no change of flavors through the nose. The finish displays smoky cedar and black pepper. Nearly all elements of sweetness drop off in this final third. Strength and body finish out at medium-to-full.

The Alec Bradley Magic Toast is an excellent cigar. It offers a ton of complexity with many dark, dessert-like flavors. Construction is absolutely perfect with ash stacking like quarters. To top it off, the price is extremely competitive at just a hair under $9. This is one of the best Alec Bradley cigars to date, and I highly recommend giving it a try.

Smoke on!

-Noah (CutLightSmoke)

Cigar Review | Drew Estate Liga Privada Unico Serie Nasty Fritas

April 19, 2019CutLightSmokeReviewsblack pepper, cedar, cocoa, leatherLeave a comment

It’s Stog o’Clock, and this time, I check out the Drew Estate Liga Privada Unico Serie Nasty Fritas. This little cigar is a 4 x 52 short pyramid featuring a Connecticut Broadleaf Oscuro wrapper and Brazilian Mata Fina binder. The fillers consist of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos originating from the trimmings of the Liga Privada No. 9 and T52. The cigar retails for $6.25 and comes packed in boxes of 50 for $325.

Thirty minutes in, the first third comes to a close. On the draw, I pick up a mix of cocoa and leather. Through the nose, I find some mild cedar flavor. The finish offers lingering black pepper spice with a hint of cocoa. Strength and body settle in at medium.

The second third ends at fifty minutes. The draw displays the same flavors with some added pep. On the retro-hale, there is more cedar with the addition of black pepper. The finish is delicious with a hearty blend of bold cocoa, black pepper, and espresso. Strength and body jump slightly to medium-to-full.

The final third wisps away around one hour and fifteen minutes. I see no change to the flavors on the draw. Through the nose, black pepper and cinnamon spice up my sinuses. The finish gives me bombs of black pepper and dark cocoa. There is no change to strength or body.

The Drew Estate Liga Privada Unico Serie Nasty Fritas – what a mouthful – is a solid small cigar. Complexity is on the low end, but the flavors I picked up on this cigar were excellent. Construction is spot on, and it even burns slower than expected. If you enjoy any of the Liga Privada line of cigars, you will enjoy this. It won’t blow your mind, but it’s certainly a tasty little smoke with a good price point. I highly recommend trying it out.

Smoke on!

-Noah (CutLightSmoke)

Cigar Review | Foundation The Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142 Toro

February 2, 2019CutLightSmokeReviewsblack licorice, black pepper, cedar, cocoa, leather, marshmallow, nougatLeave a comment

It’s Stog o’Clock, and this time, I check out Foundation Cigar Company’s newest offering. The Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142 is a follow up to the original Tabernacle release. For this review, I smoke the Toro. This 6 x 52 parejo retails for $11.50. It features a Connecticut Havana Seed CT #142 wrapper concealing a Mexican San Andres binder and fillers from Nicaragua and Honduras.

It should be noted this stick is one of the most perfectly rolled cigars I’ve seen in quite a long time. The silky smooth wrapper produces chocolate and leather while I smell rich tobacco. The cold draw gives me a hint of raisin flavor.

Once lit, there’s an oily earth which I can best describe as olive oil mixed with dirt. Through the nose, I find sweet cocoa and marshmallow. The finish hits me with leather and subtle black pepper.

Thirty minutes in, the first third closes out. On the draw, cocoa blends with black pepper and leather. Through the nose, there is an exceptionally delicious combo of sweet cocoa and marshmallow almost like a hot chocolate. The finish offers black pepper and leather alongside earth. Both strength and body settle in at medium.

One hour passes, and I see the second third wisp away. There’s more cocoa and black pepper on the tongue with the addition of graham cracker. The retro-hale continues to delight with a transition to more of a Snicker’s bar flavor with nougat, cocoa, and nuttiness. The finish gives me a blend of spicy black pepper, cedar, and black licorice. Strength and body both bump up slightly to medium-to-full.

One hour and forty-five minutes in, the final third finishes. I pick up some cocoa, espresso, and leather on the draw. Through the nose, there is another transition with flavors of cocoa, black pepper, and cinnamon. The finish ramps up with bold black pepper, black licorice, and orange peel. This third brought strength and body to a hefty full.

The Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142 by Foundation Cigar Co. is one of the best cigars I’ve smoked in a long time. It’s a phenomenal blend that astonishes the palate with a great deal of complexity and dessert-like flavors. Construction is absolutely perfect, and smoke pours off this gem. It’s a must try and multiple-box worthy cigar I highly recommend.

Smoke on!

-Noah (CutLightSmoke)

Cigar Review | RoMa Craft Tobac CRAFT 2018

May 27, 2018CutLightSmokeReviewsblack pepper, Char, cocoa, earth, grass, leather, ToastLeave a comment

It’s Stog o’Clock, and this time, I check out the RoMa Craft Tobac CRAFT 2018. This new cigar is limited to 2,000 boxes of 10 and is a follow up to the last CRAFT release from a few years ago. It’s a 5 x 60 figurado shaped almost like a baseball bat. Each cigar retails for $15.

There are two wrappers on this cigar – an Ecuadorian Connecticut Dark Candela and a Pennsylvanian Broadleaf. Inside, the blend features an Ecuadorian Habano Ligero binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Pennsylvania.

The box these cigars come packaged in is noteworthy. It’s a solid cedar box with a cedar insert displaying an Ernest Hemmingway quote right on top of all the cigars. The lift-off lid is secured by a custom-made steel wrap of sorts that has the company logo stamped out of it. I’ve seen this steel band turned into some pretty “crafty” stuff (see what I did there?)

Pre-light, the cold draw tastes just like a chocolate bar. The foot produces a grassy aroma, while I smell chocolatey earth off the wrapper. Once lit, I get earthy grass from the closed candela foot, and it quickly transitions to black pepper. Through the nose, nutty toast and pepper make an appearance. The finish gives me grassy earth, chocolate, and vegetal leather.

After forty-five minutes, the first third comes to a close. On the draw, I pick up grassy earth with bombs of black pepper and leather. Through the nose, toast blends with dark cocoa and a hint of sweetness. The finish displays an explosion of black pepper alongside dark cocoa and earth. Strength and body start off very full.

An hour and twenty-five minutes in, the second third ends. I find cocoa, espresso, and earth on the draw. On the retro-hale, black pepper blows through my sinuses with some toast and grassy notes. The finish hits me with even more bombs of black pepper on top of a slightly salty char. Strength and body remain at the full mark.

The final third gets me to two hours. Spicy black pepper and earth take over the draw. Through the nose, a very potent mix of black and red pepper ignite my senses. Spicy black pepper dominates the finish with some more char and hints of leather. Strength and body finish out at the full mark.

The RoMa Craft Tobac CRAFT 2018 is an excellent cigar. It’s got a healthy amount of complexity with very rich, bold flavors. Construction is impressively perfect, and smoke output was satisfying. It’s one of the stronger cigars on the market, so if you prefer a milder smoking experience, you will not likely enjoy this. However, if you can take the heat of a bold cigar, this is an exceptional option that you’ll smoke until your fingers burn. I highly recommend this one. Buy them all up if you can find them!

Smoke on!
-Noah (CutLightSmoke)

Cigar Review | Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Muestra de Saka Unicorn

February 6, 2018CutLightSmokeReviewsblack licorice, black pepper, cocoa, coffee, cranberry, espresso, raisinLeave a comment

Is any cigar truly worth $100? It’s Stog o’Clock, and this time, I check out the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Muestra de Saka Unicorn. This is the big one! It’s a cigar that carries a hefty $100 MSRP and comes in only one size – a 6 ¼ x 60 double perfecto.

The blend features an absolutely gorgeous Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper concealing what we believe to be all Nicaraguan tobaccos inside. The blend details within are not confirmed at this time. I will say, this is the smoothest, oiliest Broadleaf I’ve ever seen. It’s almost a shame to light it on fire.

Steve Saka, the owner of DT&T, originally teased this cigar on Facebook as a project set out to create a cigar with absolutely no expense spared. He hand-sorted 6,000 pounds of the best Broadleaf to select only the top 1% to be used for the wrappers on this blend. He also bought a lathe and created the mold for the cigar himself.

Each cigar was made by a pair of rollers in the Joya de Nicaragua factory, and only 1,000 cigars were made. After everything, Steve set an MSRP of $100 on this stick, a number he, himself, said was unreasonable for any cigar. The cigars were then given to the company’s Select Purveyors as a thank you to do with as they pleased.

Luckily, I was able to obtain two of these cigars prior to release through a Children’s Hospital charity in the Hoochly Cigar Shack Facebook group. I paid far more than the $100 retail price per cigar, but it was my good deed for the year, and I’m happy to know it went to kids in need. I then let the cigars sit for about three to four weeks before review – a very necessary step to truly give a cigar a fair shake in a review.

Upon the pre-light inspection, the cold draw gives me raisin flavor. The wrapper produces a barnyard aroma. Once lit, I pick up refined cocoa flavor with black pepper spice. Through the nose, cocoa carries through with more black pepper and coffee. The finish gives me red pepper, earth, and cocoa.

After thirty-five minutes, the first third comes to a close. On the draw, I pick up cocoa with dried cranberry and coffee notes. Through the nose, I find creamy coffee alongside red pepper. The finish hits me with additional cocoa on top of raisin and hints of black licorice. The strength and body settle in at medium-to-full.

One hour and fifteen minutes pass, and the second third turns to ash. There are huge bombs of cocoa on the draw blended with espresso and a nice buttery sweetness. On the retro-hale, I pick up black pepper with cocoa and some leather. The finish sees black licorice up front with even more cocoa and some char notes. Strength and body remain at a steady medium-to-full.

The final third burns all the way to two hours and ten minutes. I almost cry as this high-dollar beauty wisps away. On the draw, cocoa mixes with raisin and tons of spicy black pepper. There are no changes to the flavors through the nose. Buttery cocoa treats me on the finish alongside more raisin and black licorice with a hint of toast. Strength and body both jump to a hefty full.

The Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Muestra de Saka Unicorn is a phenomenal cigar. It lived up to the high expectations I had for it, but one must take price into account. There are two ways to look at this cigar. On one side – price aside – you have one of the best Broadleaf blends ever created that will blow your mind with excellent flavor and construction. After all, a cigar is truly about the experience you get from it, and in many cases, I can personally forget about the money (low or high) depending on the experience. On the other side, the cigar does cost $100, so it may be unrealistic for many people to purchase.

If $100 will break your bank, or you are just more of a budget conscious cigar smoker, I would not advise buying this as you will likely be disappointed. If you have money to spare and go into this experience with the understanding that this cigar was intentionally created as more of an art project to create the best cigar possible with no regard whatsoever on price, I’d highly recommend trying to find at least one of these to smoke.

The Unicorn would make for a fantastic celebration cigar. It’s an experience many cigar smokers would appreciate but also an experience many will never get or care to pay for. If you can get your hands on this and don’t care about burning a Benjamin in two hours, by all means, step up to bat – you’ll quickly hit your home run. At any rate, this cigar will knock your socks off with flavor, and it’s an experience I truly cherished. This is a “sample of Saka” I’ll never forget!

Smoke on!
-Noah (CutLightSmoke)