Macanudo 1968:Toro:Maduro

So its safe to say that every cigar has a story. With me the Mac' 68' has plenty. A year ago this smoke was introduced not only to the world but to me. You see I happily turned 18 and began my cigar smoking adventures and since then the Mac' 68' followed. This is my favorite smoke and the first cigar I truly enjoyed. But now that I have experienced a whole bunch of sticks and discovered new flavors how does this Mac hold up? Does it still bring fond memories?

SPECS-
Size- Toro 6x54
Wrapper-Honduran San Agustin Havana Seed
Binder-Connecticut Habano
Filler-Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Ometepe
Cost-$10.70
Smoke Time-55 mins
Cut-Punch,Guillotine
Drink-Mcd'S Caramel Iced Coffee

FIRST IMPRESSIONS-The first thing you notice on this cigar is the appearance of the wrapper. The wrapper is very chocolate brown with no veins and slightly figured leaf. The band looks gorgeous on this fragrant leaf, the band is very sophisticated and contrasts well with the brown leaf. Punching the cap was flawless and the cold taste gave off a sweet yet spicy straw taste. This cigar is still as good as I remember.

FIRST THIRD-The cigar catches the flame quite well, what a great intro. to a dark wrapper Macanudo. The cigar first welcomes you with thin wisps of smoke. The initial flavors are a sweet cedar with backdrops of nuts. The finish isn't very strong but leaves a subtle spice on the nose and mocha as the background. A very enjoyable third. The burn line is a little hectic though needing a touch-up every 10 puffs or so. The cigar overall isn't very strong or offencive, it seems like it's very polite. As if it invites you in to a nice and cozy den on a wintry morning. If you can't tell by now I really like this smoke.

SECOND THIRD-Alright enough of the figurative description this is a review and not a poem, its just hard though, not only does this cigar offer flavors to me but every time it presents me with a experience. The second third brings about more of the same flavors but they are more defined. The nuts get toastier and the mocha more chocolaty. The nut flavors is like macadamian nuts and the mocha more like a sweet chocolate that is not all there. A thing about these flavors though, they're not pronounced flavors that linger. Their just short flavors that you recognize and decay rather quickly. The finish is lightly thick, bringing about a caramel flavor, but this might be because of my drink. Burn line is still hectic and I wish for just alittle more bang, this cigar needs a nice umph to bring it along. Its still very relaxing though.

LAST THIRD-The last third gets quieter. The cedar is still semi-present and the nuts don't taste like anything in particular. Gone is the mocha and replaced with leather. The finish is a lot dirtier and darker, this makes for a good finish to a good cigar. The flavor profile is tricky still. You get good flavors in this stick but they're mild flavors. There isn't anything over the top, I mean this is still a Macanudo. But I don't mind smoking this Mac and the last third just like always is very hard to put down.



FINAL IMPRESSIONS-I can still see why I like this stick. This is a real treat cigar. I wouldn't call this an everyday smoke, nor a celebratory smoke. It'll be good on long days that never seem to end, a cigar for when I'm feeling down. I ended up laying down and smoking this stick, after a year of smoking it still smokes beautifully. But not everything is perfect. My palate is more accustomed to stronger and bolder flavors. I spoiled myself with perfect ashes and perfect burn lines, and sadly this stick today didn't have any that. At $10 it's a pricey stick. Most people will think twice before picking up a $10 dollar stick with a Macanudo band. I'll be the first one to admit there are better sticks for the $10; "My Father" for example, but for me I never hesitate. I do apologize if this was more of a poem review, but I'm passionate for this stick and I think for good reason too. So are the ads true about this cigar? Is it"dark,rich, and unexpected? No, this cigar isn't any of that. It's just good.

RATING-89
Buy It Again? Yes, quite simply.
Recommended? For the new smokers wanting to try a Maduro leaf yes, Stronger Maduro lovers though might find the stick lacking, either case though I recommend it.

Oliva V:Figurado:Sun Grown

This Nicaraguan puro is one of the smoothness full-flavored cigars out there, or that's what Oliva's website says. This V is my favorite series that Oliva produces, it also is one of my favorite full flavored smokes. But that whole smoothest cigar out there claim, does it hold true here?

SPECS-
Size-Figurado 6 x 60
Wrapper-Nicaragua
Binder-Nicaragua
Filler-Nicaragua
Smoke Time-1 hour
Price-$8.80
Cut-Guillotine
Touch Ups-2

FIRST IMPRESSIONS-This is a very nicely rolled cigar. Rolling such a cigar is an art, it has the best sun grown wrapper I have seen. It has a really nice heft to it and you can just tell this is going to be something special. The wrapper has very minimal veins and its a very beautiful brown sheen to it. With a sweet wrapper and fragrant wrapper this stick invites you in. The Cold Taste had no particular flavor but it was a nice breezy draw that makes you think this is gunna be a super fine smoke.



FIRST THIRD-The wrapper was slightly dry when I put it on my lips, but the nipple lit up quite well with just one match. As the ash works down the nipple end you get introduced with more volume of smoke and flavor. The first flavor that welcomes you in is a sweet spice, almost like cinnamon or nutmeg. The very subtle flavors of cedar and coffee is really nice. The spice is very easy on the nose, doesn't make you sneeze and with the spice it leaves the coffee and cedar notes on your mouth, its subtle but nice.

SECOND THIRD-The ash is very strong, slightly wavy but strong, another testament to the high class rolling going on at Oliva. Along the transition between thirds a toffee flavor is introduced, you get hints of it along with the cedar and coffee. This cigar doesn't have one main flavor, just a real nice bouquet of taste. The smoothest full flavored cigar ever? Yea, so far it is.








FINAL THIRD- The spiciness moves from being just a nasal spice to more of a tongue spice, almost similar to a pipe tobacco bite. Now the cigar is becoming more leathery and dark. This is my least favorite third of the whole smoke but the ash makes me appreciate the overall smoke. The smoke produced a whole bunch of thick white smoke. Quite nice







FINAL IMPRESSIONS-This stogie puts in good place why this cigar review is called the longest ash. This is a very fabulous smoke with a pretty good smoking time. This cigar its very nice, truly a very smooth full flavored smoke. But the flavors aren't very robust to make this a truly mind-blowing smoke. This cigar is good, I keep it on my rotation, truly one of my favorite full flavored smokes.

Rating-91
Buy It Again-I always do
Reccomeded? Yes