avantgrade purchased this cigar on 2010-01-12.
It has 1 year of additional aging.
The stick caught the flame very easily, maintaining a sharp burn all the way to the end. Upon lighting, the light notes of cedar and oak, which I felt on the dry draw, took center stage. Coffee tones became almost entirely extinguished and made way for earth.
Initially, the aroma was that of a praised barnyard, which ultimately transformed into very pleasant earthy flavors.
There is plenty of dense, white smoke, leaving behind a sturdy ash of nearly the same color.
Upon retrohale, I pick up some slight white pepper, which is soon replaced by a mixture of cream and cedar on the palate. The resultant finish is faint, but sparks of white pepper begin to emerge by the time you are ready to take the next puff.
The ash is holding on tight - not surprising given the heft of the densely-packed torpedo.
The body of the cigar rests nicely in the medium realm, with no desire to fluctuate in any direction.
Flavors are still fairly consistent, with some citrus notes thrown in right before transitioning into the final 1/3.
I have ashed the cigar a total of 2 times before embarking on the final 1/3. The aroma of the smoke had mellowed out quite a bit, while persistent notes of cedar have warmed up a bit.
What really kept my attention was an emerging combination of dark chocolate and roast nuts. The two flavors combined nicely to finish off the cigar.