I stopped at a local smoke shop to pick up a couple of sticks for the weekend. To my surprise, General Cigar was having a special where you receive a free Excalibur cigar with the purchase of any other two cigars in the General line up.
My initial thought was expected: how good can it be if it is free? I decide to try this smoke first before the other two purchased, knowing that I had those other smokes as something good to fall back on. The pre-light inspection reveals a decent cigar, with minimal veins, good coloring, and no overly hard or soft spots. The cut goes well, with the construction of the cigar holding up.
After toasting the stick, I light it and take a few draws. The cigar produces a wonderful amount of smoke, but initially seems to be lacking in flavor. This mild start is not a bad thing, and in fact was a surprise. I had assumed that this would be a bitter and harsh smoke, and quite the opposite rang true.
The draw is quite easy on the stick, and as I progress from the first 3rd to the second 3rd the flavor begins to build a bit more. The smoke remains mild, but a bit more complexity is revealed and the blend of wood and leather begins to arrive. There is a slight underlying sweetness, and as the cigar progresses a bit of spice laces through the complexity. The spice remains understated, which is keeping in line with the tame manners of the cigar overall.
An hour from beginning to end, this smoke was a pleasant experience. The mild strength of the cigar was fitting for the time spent smoking. This is a cigar that will find itself in my humidor, and is a good choice any time of the day.
No comments:
Post a Comment