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Here’s the results for your Blind Sticks, Lee

1. Ashton Symmetry (premium; bought for 20 at a B&M shop, so idk how long it’s been aging)
2. La Aurora Preferidos Cameroon (mid; bought for 6.50 in Nov. 2023)
3. Fugazi COTY compare to EPC Encore Majestic (yard; bought for 3 bucks in Nov. 2023)

Results from the envelope:

1) Montecristo white series (the “risto” evidence is damning. Although in my defense, I thought montecristos were considered mid-tier)
2) Padron Damaso
3) MF Connecticut

While I’m sad that I cannot justify buying the Padron Damaso (until I graduate and make the big bucks), I am happy to find that Marcus sent me an MF Connecticut so I can revisit that stick soon.

Thanks for the blind sticks, Tiver. It was a blast!

Good job, Huzza.

I batted .000


I would not have guessed that first cigar was a Symmetry. That's really interesting. I have some Symmetry romustos, and I'm gonna have to pay attention and see if they seem as linear to me when I know what they are.

That La Aurora didn't seem like a 54rg cigar to me.

Where were they on sale?

Way to go Huzza!!

You win !!! Or something like that.

My commentary is that all of your descriptions are SPOT ON !!

MF pepper spice - even in the connie

Some complexity in the Padron, even though when they came out with the connie they weren't all that well received, your description fits most of the basics of those who really like them

The Monte is really a yard 'gar even though it does get similar dollars to the MF on a lot of sites. It's fairly plain and mild. Not offensive. Maybe a good early day/coffee smoke or one to pass out to the homies who wouldn't want anything more interesting.


A+++ man. Great reviews

That Black Honey was a real treat. Not sure about the scorpion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yzO-1MJZSM&t=6s

Let's saddle up Earl the horse

Earl is 'bout 56 x 6.5 with a medium brown wrapper. There is a triple cap. The wrapper drapes over the foot and is not cut, giving it a slightly unfinished appearance

Overall construction is good with tight seems. A generally firm roll has some slight soft spots in a couple areas, mainly toward the foot.

Barnyard is the predominant smell from head to foot with a slight bbq sauce smell near the head

There is a 1" split at the foot

Straight cut reveals a cold draw of gentle earthy tobacco

Toast and light starts out with a dry, gritty and earthy flavor. Within the first couple minutes the smoke has a coating mouth feel with a pepper zing that's not overpowering.

Smoke production is slightly impeded at first due to the small split, but this is overcome as the cigar burns past it. As the smoke increases, so does a strong oak flavor.

As the cigar burns, the flavors of oak and tobacco are about what I get. The wrapper is not wanting to keep up with the cherry and I do several touch ups as I proceed. At the end of the first 3rd, things have improved and the burn straightens out.

Trying to figure out the cigar, I end up with a double puff for the the remainder. Smaller puff immediately followed by a full draw. This seems to be the way the cigar wants to smoke and when done so provides ample smoke. A little curious to me because the cigar isn't going out, but without the double puff the smoke production is kind of lacking. Fortunately, this method doesn't cause any heat issues.

Occasional retrohale throughout the burn delivered a mild/medium pepper blast that quickly dissipated

The strength is about medium plus. The flavor is full, but fairly basic. Water throughout the smoke session keeps things in check.


Compare -

I thought Earl the horse had a similar character to Big Grey the dog with a bit more refinement and overall better construction. Neither had significant flavor transitions on my nOOb palate.

Fred the bull had some of the flavor characteristics of the other two with added complexity, most notably a seared meat flavor, along with a noticeably sweeter tobacco component. The construction and burn were both spot on.

My conclusions:

Big Grey - yard
Earl - mid tier
Fred - primo

Tiver, your reviews were terrific. You and I got to try some new smokes and play a fun game. I’ve had the Romeo and I think it is fantastic.

Well from a identification perspective, I guess I won't be looking to be called up to the majors for a while yet.

Thanks Jake, I really appreciate the fine smokes you sent. I enjoyed playing along bigly.

Ashton never wowed me cept the vsg and the ESG
ESG is too expensive though but fantastic

Jake - Your trickery was a success!

The Tat was def a better cigar than the Warped (IMO). Both were woody Oakey and were pretty much devoid of any sweet subtlety, which I guess is what I found engaging with the AJ Romeo.

I could see the Tat maturing into a better smoke down the road and opening up some additional complexity. I am reaching a bit here. I don't rightly have the experience to make that prediction, but I'll go with it.

Like Jake said, Ashton has never really impressed me outside of the VSG/ESG.

Preferidos are often on sale at tenski. I believe they were even in the $17.50/fiver sale recently. Just gotta keep your eye open, they'll be back on sale again. I wouldn't pay more than $5per, they can be had for less than that.

Cigar #1
from Jgraz - but you probably knew that already

Appearance:
Mebbe toro, Mebbe romusto. Tormusto!
Wrapper had a very toothy feel. Lot of veins and a larger stem
Completely flat cap. Gives me instant ID suspicions
Very firm smoke

The Burn:
Draw was tighter than a duck's azz. Major surgery required to pull some air through it
Burned decent for about a 3rd, then persisted on going a little wonky. Took a couple touchups
Ash solid at the start. Little flaky through the rest of the smoke

The Flavah:
There was definitely pepper. Led to a lot of harshness throughout the smoke
I figured out if I smoked slowly, it wasn't as bad and I could pick up on a few things.
Had some cedar, coffee, some sweetness underneath. Kind of a burnt marshmallow flavor
2nd half had some nuttiness in the background. Almonds maybe
Things don't remain balanced. The harshness is killing my vibe, and stays strong to the end

The WAG:
Should've started with this. My least favorite of the 3. Going off the experience, I'd say it's the yard gar. However, I believe the intent was to be the mid. Yeah, I know I have two mid guesses now. Clarity is forthcoming

Sunnie, you nailed it! And even called out the brand and blend on the primo..Latin honors my brother

Nice job, Dan! You nailed that Liga.

Nicely done SOB.

Someone has to be the last one outta the pool. May as well be ZRX

^ Thoughtful of him to wait for us to get out of the pool before he emptied his bladder 🥸

Blind Cigar #4

Boy was I wrong…I think #2 and #3 were the same size.

5 1/2 (?) by 46 medium brown wrapper, absolutely zero seams, triple cap, beautiful bunching, not much smell at all on the nose. Cut and man is the bunching tight at the head like a CC and the right draw to match. Tastes like musty raisins.

1/3 ~ delicious cedar and toasted marshmallow with very light floral and soapy notes. Burning like a roll of dimes. I may have poured too much EC

2/3 ~ toasted marshmallow is gone now and now the floral and cedar have ramped up a touch. I’m really enjoying this one, it’s like a unicorn experience after #3. I did have to touch it up to correct the burn not out of necessity but just to ensure an even burn and to not let it get worse.

3/3. ~ same notes but now I’m getting just a faint hint of earthiness and sweetness (separate if that makes sense). This is the way to finish this. I’m going to be selfish now and nub the rest in peace, thanks Dan!



Final guesses?

#1 very intriguing cigar, guess? I just can’t as to brand but I’d say it’s a VERY strong mid/to upper tier range. Maybe a newer brand that I haven’t tried but should. This was the most engaging experience of the 4.

#2 mid at best make unknown as it’s not a profile I look for.

#3 a house brand bulk cigar? Make? An evil company that hates me.

#4 I’m guessing is the premium. Make? I’ve never had the marshmallow and floral in the same cigar…started like an H Upmann then 2/3 to 3/3 was much more like a RyJ but I’ve NEVER gotten toasted marshmallow out of a RyJ. So I will guess a brand I never smoked much of HdM Epicure #1. I feel much more confident venturing a guess on a profile I’m more familiar with.


Thank you Dan for the blind ride sir!

Very interesting.

The great weird Al Yankovic sang everything you know is wrong.

You got two yard gars. They were your favorites.

I've told many people how good they are and few will listen. On Reddit the suggestion got laughed at and downvoted when I posted on a few occasions.

1.) BDL Maduro. Yard gar due to price, but I don't use em as yard gars. Bundle smoke usually around $3.50 per. I fear these will be like the OR Genesis where it was good but subsequent batches were less than good. I've only purchased one bundle, scared to buy another but spose I'll have to in order to know if they're consistent.

2.) United Cigars Abuelo. All Eiroa tobacco, I believe rolled by them as well. I absolutely loved the one I had from a trade and went and paid full price for a fiver. Midrange around $11per IIRC. I thought you'd enjoy this based off your suggestions in the Aladino thread I posted back in January.

3.) La Aurora 120th anniversary was the premium. I have not tried one yet, I knew it was a brand you like or at least said you liked in the past. I hope when I get around to trying them that my experience is better. Blind bought a box for $11per with a coupon but MSRP is $17.50 and usual price is around $14-15

4.) Fugazi COTY - Compare to Fuente Opus Fuente Fuente another $3 yard gar that I really enjoy.

I figured the real Opus was a double premium to make up for the double yard gars.

Well, that's a wrap on the 2024 Spring blind reviews with a twist. Thank you everyone for playing along. I think everyone had fun, and we learned some things along the way. See you next year!

Good times danm

The Fugazi Cuban cohiba behike is one of my faves. Can’t beat it for 2.50per. Although I still have a Fugazi Opus sitting in storage, might break it out soon after this review.

Thanks, Danm! It was fun, I’ll look forward to it next year!

Big thanks to Danm for starting and keeping things organized.

Truly interesting commentary from everyone who played along.


Looking back at all the exchanges, it's quite the melting pot of cigar variety. I don't recall anyone getting the same cigar as another?

Interesting observation. That’s a lot of variety. Do we get DEI points for this?

Also that BDL did not taste at all like SA wrapper.