What is not to over here? A dark oily clean Maduro wrapper. Perfectly rolled and wrapped up in a crude piece of tobacco leaf. This screams buy me and smoke me. So I did.
STATS:
Brand: Oscar
Cigar: Leaf (Maduro)
Profile: Medium / Full
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Jalapa
Filler: Honduras
Binder: Honduras
Length: 6 inches
Gauge: 52
Shape: Torpedo
Origin: Honduras
Pricing: (Box of 10) - $89.95
(per stick) - $8.99
First Impression:
It's all about the presentation. A crude piece of tobacco leaf is what houses this gem of a cigar. The look, aroma, and feel of this cigar is excellent. It overall all is a very impressive display before getting into the actual cigar itself.
Pre-Smoke Ritual:
I always like to inspect the cigar before smoking. I was stuck on the leaf covering for a minute though. Simple, but beautiful idea. After my admiring session I gave it a good sniff to enjoy the pleasant aroma. I made my cut and was ready to light it up.
Lighting, Draw, and Burn:
Don't get put off by the crude leaf wrapper. Underneath is an amazing cigar. This is an effortless light. The draw is flawless. Lots of smoke with each puff. The burn was slightly off the entire time, but not enough to need a touch-up. It is not an issue, but worth noting.
Flavor:
I had seen in the description they used the word oozing and I had no intention of using it. I have to say it was spot on. The first third is literally oozing with the flavors of coffee bean and chocolate. This is a favorite combination for me. There are notes of pepper, cedar, and vanilla. As I got into the second third the coffee and chocolate remained the star of the show. The vanilla got stronger and a sweetness moved in to the picture. The cedar had faded and the pepper remained just strong enough to let you know it was there. The final third had the weirdest but most pleasant transition. All the flavors seemed to mix almost evenly with the exception of the pepper which stayed in the background. This cigar went to amazing and creamy to finish.
My Preference:
This cigar stayed in the humidor for 3 days. They were perfect on arrival though. I made my cut with a Les Fines Lames cigar knife. My source of fire was a NUB Jetline duel jet lighter.
Final Thoughts:
I waited a while before purchasing this cigar and I am kicking myself for doing that. This was a great smoke and a great price. Definitely could be an everyday cigar, but I prefer it for desert. This is a no hesitation purchase for me moving forward.