Casa Cuevas Cigars La Mandarria Oscuro in Review

BRAND: Casa Cuevas
BLEND: La Mandarria Oscuro

WRAPPER: Mexican San Andres
BINDER: Ecuadorian Habano
FILLER: Nicaraguan, Pennsylvanian, Dominican

FORMAT: Toro (652) Shaggy-foot
ORIGIN: Dominican Republic
INTENSITY: Medium/Medium-full
SPICE: 2/5

NOTES:
Kasha | Worcestershire sauce | Black licorice

A rather distinct profile. The shaggy-foot'd onset is a smell-taste of Kasha Varnishkes. Once the wrapper hits, it does-so in a leathery manner, a hide dipped in somewhat diluted Worcestershire. Buckwheat, not kasha then. Ah, the old threat of assimilation. Black licorice underneath over-top compost. Cumin.

Black pepper sprinkled about and around. Smoked paprika. Peeks at marzipan. Much umami. Draws well, a barely 1/2-tick unevenly here and there. Burns nicely. Thin mascara line, slightest of slow self-corrrecting wobbles there. The burn rate slows and evens-out after that shaggy start. Ash is white and dense.

Smoke out-put is moderate and aroma is darkly old-world sweet. Maybe a Black Forest Cake pulled from an oven three houses down. Rolled tight and stays tight insofar as seams and cap. A crimped vein distracts the eye, not the burn. It's all oddly somehow medieval. Wrought iron boundaries. Stone. Rising smokiness.

TASTE: A
DRAW: A-
BURN: B+
BUILD: B+

FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very ::: 

Statesman Cigars The Statesman in Review

BRAND: Statesman
BLEND: Statesman

WRAPPER: Connecticut Shade
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: 5 3/8 x 52 Figurado
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
INTENSITY: Mild
SPICE: 0.5/5

NOTES:
White chocolate | Flaky pastry | Butter

An attainable Solomon that'd well-pair with a cerveza. Gulping draw. Nice ash, erratic-ish line. Cream and cardamom. Pie crust. Lightly floral. Kaolin clay. Velvety, toasty.

TASTE: B
DRAW: B+
BURN: B
BUILD: B+

FINAL GRADE: B
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very ::: 

Alec Bradley Cigars Black Market Filthy Hooligan in Review

BRAND: Alec Bradley
BLEND: Filthy Hooligan

WRAPPER: Honduran Candela | Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro
BINDER: Ecuadorian Sumatra
FILLER: Honduran, Panamanian

FORMAT: Toro (650) barber-pole
ORIGIN: Honduras
INTENSITY: Mild-medium/Medium
SPICE: 1.5/5

NOTES:
White pepper | Dandelion | Clay

(I'm still confused. This is May now?)

Grassy and brassy.
Dairy and airy.
Malty and salty.
Earthy and mirthy.
Faith and Begorrah!

In all seriousness, this and the Shamrock are a pair of well-done and fun smokes that hit the intended nail on the head in terms of both show and go.

TASTE: B+
DRAW: B
BURN: B+
BUILD: B+

FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very ::: 

Alec Bradley Cigars Filthy Hooligan Shamrock in Review

BRAND: Alec Bradley
BLEND: Filthy Hooligan Shamrock

WRAPPER: Honduran Candela, Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro & Claro
BINDER: Ecuadorian
FILLER: Honduran, Panamanian

FORMAT: Toro (650) three-tone barber-pole
ORIGIN: Honduras
INTENSITY: Medium
SPICE: 2/5

NOTES:
Clotted cream | White peppercorn | Suede

Pair with a too-on-the-nose Milk Punch and an umpteenth The Quiet Man viewing. "Sir, sir. Here's a good stick to beat the lovely lady." A scene that aged like milk on a window sill. Tea, wildflowers, hops. A curbed-in blend made affable but retaining an eye-twinkle. What month is this?

TASTE: B+
DRAW: B
BURN: B +
BUILD: B+

FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very ::: 

If I may, I'd like to take a moment to remind you: "Your cigar and/or pipe smoking questions would be greatly appreciated. I am currently gathering fodder for a chapbook of responsa." - Me. Find out more via the following link: The Texture of Smoke | Kaplowitz Media. Responsa. thx.