ZH-6552 6.5 x 52
Interesting Cigar from the start. Not only is it a torpedo, it is a box-pressed torpedo, something which I don't see too often. Indeed, its the first box pressed blendlab I have had.
Right of the bat, wondering about the construction. There was a bit of unraveling at the head/tip but it was right at the end so was about to be cut off anyway. More concerning was the fact that there was a "band-aid" made out of tobacco pasted on the stick halfway between the band and the foot. I did peel up the edge of this patch just enough to see that there was a pretty big gap in the wrapper that the patch was covering up.
Had this been a full-price name brand kind of purchase, I probably would have sent it back, but I am reviewing them how they are and, heck, it was only $2 anyway.
Flavor was much milder than I was expecting, but it was very nice. Roasted nuts, wood, earthy, all that was there (no "coffee" as the blurbs suggest). About hallway in it developed a very very mild salty taste that made it, what I always call, "savory." After that just a mild bit of spice - maybe white pepper - but not a lot. Lots of creamy smoke. In all nice flavor with obvious quality control issues on the construction.
I was wondering what would happen when the burn got to the tobacco "patch" but it burned right past it with no issues. It did start to get uneven in the last third but no problem after one touch up.
I have a couple more I will try after letting them rest for a while.