Don Fernando’s cigarblog

This Costa Rican puro, size Churchill, by the old Dutch brand G. de Graaff has a pretty light colored smooth wrapper and it feels just has firm everywhere, no weak spots in the construction. The predraw is somewhat tough and gives hints of pepper and raisin. I could taste the pepper on my lips. Too bad that the band is way too simple; a nicer band would make it more appealing in the presentation. The aroma is full, manure combined with hay.

After lighting the cigar I can taste pepper with some light leather on the background. While the pepper disappears the leather grows in strength. The pepper doesn’t disappear completely and is slightly noticeable on the background. The leather reminds me a lot of the leather that is so typical for Cuban cigars.

After about an inch and a half there is the aroma of chocolate with something spicy, an inch later its pepper with some leather. There cigar doesn’t grow in strength though. Halfway it is leather with some chocolate, a bit creamy. The cream has a warm feeling to it and grows in strength. The grand finale is a salty flavor.

The draw is good; it surprised me as the predraw was a bit tough. The smoke is full & white, the ash is white too and the burn is even and the cigar doesn’t die quickly.

Would I buy this cigar again? Maybe someday, won’t be a regular in my collection even though it is a good cigar

Construction: 16 / 20
Draw: 16 / 20
Appearance: 14 / 20
Smoke & ash: 8 / 10
Burn: 16 / 20
Aroma (first part) 7 / 10
Aroma (middle part) 6 / 10
Aroma (last part) 7 / 10

A beautiful bold cigar, 6.9 inch long with a ring of 47, the wrapper has a light brown wrapper, almost like milky chocolate with lots of small veins. The aroma is quite mild, a bit dry hay. The predraw is a bit tough.

This is definitely a Cuban cigar as the first flavor is clearly the typical Cuban leather, which stands out from all other countries. The flavors are a bit too mild for my taste, it isn’t the right choice for the time of the day (close to midnight), maybe it would be a better pick as a morning smoke or an after (light) lunch smoke, the smooth cognac that I was drinking overpowered the cigar completely. Halfway the cigar grows a bit in strength and I could discover some cedar with the leather. A bit later the leather is gone and the cedar is the only thing I can discover.

The cigar is probably rolled too tight because the draw is hard and the amount of smoke is way beyond what it should be.

Would I buy this cigar again?  Probably another one to try, to give it a second chance

Construction: 14 / 20
Draw: 11 / 20
Appearance: 13 / 20
Smoke && ash: 5 / 10
Burn: 7 / 20
Aroma (foot) 6 / 10
Aroma (body) 6 / 10
Aroma (head) 6 / 10

A friend send me this Casa Fuente Churchill as I was really curious about it, I heard so many great stories about the Casa Fuente line and Mark aka Conch Republican made it possible for me to finally try one.

The cigar looks good, small veins on the wrapper, nice color, pretty band and a sweet aroma of chocolate and wood.

The first flavor is a sweet aroma, a bit like honey, but it fades soon and is replaced by some wood notes but the sweetness is still available on the background. After about 2 inch there is a light coffee flavor noticeable with some chocolate on the background, but the cedar remains consistent. Halfway I could taste some pepper, but again, with sweetness on the background. The closer I get to the end of the cigar, the sweeter it gets but it is a nice sweetness, not a heavy overpowering one.

I had absolutely no problems with the burn, the smoke is full and there is lots of it, the ash is firm and close to white.

Would I buy this cigar again? I will bring extra cash when I go to Las Vegas

Construction: 18 / 20
Draw: 18 / 20
Appearance: 16 / 20
Smoke & ash: 8 / 10
Burn: 18 / 20
Aroma (foot) 8 / 10
Aroma (body) 8 / 10
Aroma (head) 8 / 10