avantgrade purchased this cigar on 2010-02-10.
It has 1.5 months of additional aging.
The cigar sparked up with ease and immediately started its razor-sharp burn. The palate is immediately greeted with plumes of woody smoke, with a nice, sweet cedar aftertaste. The inherent maduro creaminess is carrying the woody flavors very nicely, with smoke to boot.
Going through the first 1/3 of the cigar, I never once have to touch up the burn line: it is burning picture perfect. The woody flavors are complemented by the creaminess of the smoke, and notes of espresso and cocoa in the background. As I reach into the second 1/3, the ash is holding strong, the burn flawless, and the draw effortless.
Cocoa and espresso flavors make an appearance, after playing around in the first 1/3 for a bit. The spice is really starting to come through, but in never become overpowering. Since the ash is holding strong, the smoke is staying cool, providing a pleasant combination of "relief" to the spiciness. It really is a nice interplay, and the true burn of the cigar, along with the tight ash, are able to compliment the more intense flavors.
The body is picking up from the medium realm into the medium-full. I motivated the ash to fall, and the espresso spiciness abounds (the ash did help cool the smoke, as I mentioned before).
Not many changes in flavors happening into the final 1/3, all the way down to the nub. The woodiness from the first 1/3 comes back, and interplays with dark espresso notes. Cocoa begins to take the back seat, as the more spicy notes are making a continuously bolder statement.
...and the burn: absolutely beautiful. I only had to ash the cigar 3 times during the experience, and the tight white ash held extremely well.
I cannot put this cigar into the 90 ratings simply because of the mediocre complexity of flavors. The exceptional burn and "mechanical" qualities help make this cigar what it is.