I will get off my ass and post the San Rafael review, promise. I apologize to all for my delay
I will get off my ass and post the San Rafael review, promise. I apologize to all for my delay
"I intend to smoke a good cigar to the glory of God before I go to bed tonight." - C.H. Spurgeon
San Rafael aggregate review
Smoked on 3/13 and 3/14 (YOWZA, I'm LATE!!!)
Apologies for the lack of pics, I'm transcribing my own audio recordings from smoking and driving.
Wrapper smells slightly spicy, with aromas of tobacco and earth. Foot gives tobacco, earth, and a fruity, possibly raisin note. Wrapper is slightly veiny, with a sandy feel. Cold draw is black pepper and tobacco, with a little bit of oak, and hints of that fruit note.
1st third) Aromas are of a smoky cedar (nice!) and spice. Tastes are toast and tobacco, cedar, that fruity note is here, too. I want to call it raisin, and I like it, but it is elusive to define.
2nd third) Minor touchups to the burn line. Tastes are cedar, spice, toast and a smoky note, now separate from the cedar. Aromas are smokiness, cedar, slight fruity, and tobacco. It is overall, a very pleasant medium.
Final third) Strength now builds to medium/full. Tastes are same, with the toasty note departing as the strength built. Aromas of cedar and smoky mingled again, enough to suggest hickory instead, and I'm digging it. Hickory, spice and a toasty aroma
Final thoughts: No construction issues noted here. I did see a couple of glue spots on one of the sticks, nothing ugly or major. It's a close tie as to which of these blends I liked more. Needless to say, BCP has gotten a couple of great new blends, and priced well. Again, put me down to split with somebody for a 5er! Once again, a big thanks to @JasonBCP for his generosity in putting this on
"I intend to smoke a good cigar to the glory of God before I go to bed tonight." - C.H. Spurgeon
San Rafael Review.
Sorry it has taken me a while to get this posted. I smoked the second one the other night and wrote down my thoughts on it, so here we go.
I am happy to report that I did not notice any of the glue issues on the wrapper so hopefully that was simply a single example of a small oversight.
1st Third
As soon as you light it you know that this one is different than the Cirque. The San Rafael is more of a spicy cigar, with some wood and leather flavors in the beginning. Mostly you just get a tobacco flavor (I know that sounds silly but its true).
2nd Third
Not much change. Still a woody pepper flavor. I talk about pepper and spice but this really isn't a spice bomb. It is there and on the retrohale it is very prevelant, but overall it is a pleasant amount.
Last Third
I hate to sound like a broken record but the main flavor is still tobacco and leather. The spice dies down a bit in the last third however. This cigar is consistent without any noticeable (to me) flavor shifts. If you like the flavor of wood, leather and spice in your cigars you would probably like this one. There is nothing wrong with a consistent stick if you like the flavors that are there.
Construction was spot on. Burn was even all the way down and didn't require any touch ups. Draw was good with just the right amount of resistance.
To me, I would pass on the San Rafael but I would definitely purchase the Cirque. This is simply a flavor preference. I lean towards creamy and naturally sweet cigars.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to enjoy and review these cigars. At the prices you mentioned earlier in the thread, you certainly shouldn't have any trouble selling them.
Check out my Youtube channel, Razorback Piper Guy if you like that sort of thing.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDM...i44pRZ4AP-_1OA
If heaven has no cigars, I shall not go there. - Mark Twain
It has been my experience that folks who have no vices, have very few virtues. - Abraham Lincoln
Thanks again, Mr. Breeze. I'm thinking of doing another round of testers with our 601 Pennsylvania Edition cigars. Maybe I'll get that together this week.
I remembered reading about these reviews and picked up a box of Cirque recently from bestcigarprices. They arrived today. Based on others experiences I'm looking forward to smoking these @JasonBCP !
Got a box of these and 10 of the (apparently) discontinued Alec Bradley Maxx Connecticut. I love cigars!
https://www.bestcigarprices.com/sales/EXCLUSIVE/
There is a link to the current sale. With shipping I got a box of the Cirque for $50! What a deal!