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Jumpin’ Railcars and Collectin' Cans
Originally Posted by
JasonBCP
Hey, thanks Defetis, nice job with the pics too. The San Rafael was intended, as you described, as a solid everyday cigar with better flavor than your average stick under $4.
I wasnt aware of the price point. In fact I make it a point when reviewing not to do any research. At $4 a stick these are a steal.
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Lonely Wandering Bum
Glad you enjoyed it! The 5x50 size that I sent you guys as the samples are actually just $3/stick.
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Monster Bum
I've not had the pleasure of trying these BCP cigars yet, but their house brand portfolio has been really good from my experience. Glad to see this first one scored well. I look forward to trying at some point in time.
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Jumpin’ Railcars and Collectin' Cans
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Lonely Wandering Bum
Wow! Thanks for the kind words, D. That's a ringing (or should I say Ringling) endorsement if I ever heard one! Awesome, glad you enjoyed it, and yes - that size (Strongman) comes out to be about $4.50/stick: https://www.bestcigarprices.com/ciga...ongman-228991/
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Jumpin’ Railcars and Collectin' Cans
Last night I smoked the Cirque. This is the one that I've had in the dry box.
Aroma off of the cigar is outstanding. Never smelled a cigar like this, sweet, sweet tobacco smell. Aroma was crisp and inviting.
First third was a very pleasant surprise. I got a lot of nutty and creamy flavors. Strength was low and flavor was high. Great way to get back into smoking after being forced into a break, thanks Flu...
This first third kept impressing. Loads of cream and nutty flavors swirling around with a bit of sweet chocolate coming in. No spice in the first third, cool easy draw. Re-reading my notes, I kept writing: "really, really nice".
Second third: Still a lot of cream, some of the nutty flavor has backed off and a slight spice has popped up in the after taste. More light chocolate has popped in, even a slight citrus flavor on occasion. End of the second third is starting to burn a bit hot, need to slow it down.
Final third: Cream is backing off and starting to get more of a bitter chocolate, sometimes an amaretto flavor slips in and fades quickly. starting to get too hot for my liking with about 1" left, so it's done for me. I'm not someone that usually nubs a cigar, I find they start to get too hot and bitter for me. This cigar lasted longer than usual for me.
Overall: I really, really liked this cigar. Lots of pleasurable nutty cream and chocolate flavors. Draw was near perfect, not too loose or tight. Razor sharp burn throughout entire cigar that required zero touchups or relights. VERY well constructed cigar. This cigar was not overly complex and did not offer a lot of flavor shifts. This is perfectly fine with me as I really enjoyed what flavors this cigar did present.
I would like to give a HUGE thanks to
@JasonBCP
for sending this my way. Very unique and pleasurable cigar. Can't wait to try and review the others!
Sorry for no pics, I forgot to grab my phone...
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Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 4 Likes
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Lonely Wandering Bum
Originally Posted by
Upstatemax
Last night I smoked the Cirque. This is the one that I've had in the dry box.
Aroma off of the cigar is outstanding. Never smelled a cigar like this, sweet, sweet tobacco smell. Aroma was crisp and inviting.
First third was a very pleasant surprise. I got a lot of nutty and creamy flavors. Strength was low and flavor was high. Great way to get back into smoking after being forced into a break, thanks Flu...
This first third kept impressing. Loads of cream and nutty flavors swirling around with a bit of sweet chocolate coming in. No spice in the first third, cool easy draw. Re-reading my notes, I kept writing: "really, really nice".
Second third: Still a lot of cream, some of the nutty flavor has backed off and a slight spice has popped up in the after taste. More light chocolate has popped in, even a slight citrus flavor on occasion. End of the second third is starting to burn a bit hot, need to slow it down.
Final third: Cream is backing off and starting to get more of a bitter chocolate, sometimes an amaretto flavor slips in and fades quickly. starting to get too hot for my liking with about 1" left, so it's done for me. I'm not someone that usually nubs a cigar, I find they start to get too hot and bitter for me. This cigar lasted longer than usual for me.
Overall: I really, really liked this cigar. Lots of pleasurable nutty cream and chocolate flavors. Draw was near perfect, not too loose or tight. Razor sharp burn throughout entire cigar that required zero touchups or relights. VERY well constructed cigar. This cigar was not overly complex and did not offer a lot of flavor shifts. This is perfectly fine with me as I really enjoyed what flavors this cigar did present.
I would like to give a HUGE thanks to
@
JasonBCP
for sending this my way. Very unique and pleasurable cigar. Can't wait to try and review the others!
Sorry for no pics, I forgot to grab my phone...
Thanks, Frank! Glad you enjoyed it. I'd be interested in hearing how the non-dry box stick compares in terms of flavor. Again, I appreciate you taking the time to review these.
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Jumpin’ Railcars and Collectin' Cans
I smoked the dry boxed San Rafael today.
I hope you guys wanted an honest and forward review:
Aroma off this cigar is a heavy and excellent barnyard aroma. Very sweet and inviting. I did notice however that this cigar has a very disappointing flaw in its appearance, glue is all over the wrapper. I'll comment more on this later.
The wrapper has a nice tooth to it and pleasant "rough" feel to it. Seams appear tight and pack feels solid.
First third: This cigar starts very well. Nice spice and black pepper heat mixed with a nutty and creamy flavor profile. So far this cigar is off to a great start. As I go through the first third the flavors shift around a bit to a dense woodsy and black coffee with that wonderful pepper and heat on the aftertaste that lingers for a good long time.
Second third: This is where the cigar starts to turn south for me. Into the second third, pretty much all flavors fall off and I'm left with a dry, burnt tobacco, ash flavor. I wonder if I let it get too hot. I let it cool down and I slow my draw. Same flavors, pretty big let down. I power through and keep it going. nearing the end of the second third I start to develop a weird burn and it requires a touch up. No big deal, it happens to some of the best cigars I have ever smoked. Flavor remains an ashy let down. At about the end of the second third the ashy flavor starts to fade and it starts to get some of the creamy, nutty flavor back. Not a lot, but it's hidden in there...
Second third: It keeps a very slight creamy flavor, but overall bland profile. at about an inch it starts to get hot and happily let it go out.
After the Cirque, I might have had too high expectations of this cigar. It was a very confusing cigar for me. It started SOOO well! A lot of flavor and it looked like an awesome follow up to the Cirque. But the highlights of this cigar started and ended in the first third. After that it almost became a chore to smoke. Honestly, the ONLY reason I did not put it out halfway through the second third is because this cigar was sent for me to review. I felt obligated to keep it going.
I might be a bit harsh on this cigar, and it might have a lot to do with the Cirque. The Cirque was such a damn good cigar that I feel like it set this San Rafael up for failure...
I was REALLY let down to see glue all over the wrapper. It just screams "I don't care". Once the cigar started so well, I was actually angrier about the glue, it's something that makes people pass on a good product. But by the time the second third hit me, I realized it was just the way this cigar was meant to be...
Again, I'm sorry if it seems like I'm being harsh on this cigar, but I feel like I should be honest. On the bright side, I do have another one sitting in the main humidor that I'm hoping does FAR better with more moisture. I really, really hope this one was just a dud. I had such a great smoke in the Cirque that I REALLY want it to carry over.
Once again, thank you for sending this over to review. I hope everyone sees this review for what it is, honest feedback. I would want the same if I were in your position. I will approach the second San Rafael with an open mind and treat it as if it was it's own cigar and I look forward to smoking it.
I paired this cigar with Michters US-1 Small Batch bourbon.
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Lonely Wandering Bum
Frank, thank you for your honest evaluation. I'm curious to see if other reviewers also note the glue issue, as I hadn't seen that before on these particular cigars. I hope your 2nd experience with San Rafael proves to be a more positive one, as we intended for it to be a budget-priced cigar with character that exceeds its price point. Again, I appreciate you taking the time to weigh in on it!
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Bummin' Around
Amateur reviewer. I'm in. Oops, too late I guess. Congrats to the winners.
Last edited by GrouchoM; 03-17-2016 at 12:42 PM.