Smokin' joe purchased this cigar on 2009-01-01.
It has 7 year aged tobacco of additional aging.
Certainly a cigar that grabs your attention from the beginning, even with the peppery pre-light flavor. The pepperiness continues when you light it and it has an added spiciness to it - very strong & powerful.
The burn rate is superbly slow - some cigars you turn your back for a few seconds and it has burned through - not this one! It is obviously a very well constructed cigar and the draw is easy and smooth. The initial peppery spice dominates the first third.
The peppery spice gives way to a smoother taste with more woody flavors and a hint of honey sweetness to it - a really nice contrast to that strong initial pepper kick. You can feel the power building ever so slightly as you head towards the final third.
The final third is really dominated by those woodsy flavors - almost an oaky taste to it - really nice cigar - one of my favorites. At 5 bucks a pop it is not something I smoke regularly, but I certainly like to keep a few in the humidor for those special occasions. It is certainly worth every penny and better than some more expensive cigars that I have smoked. Well worth a try if you haven't had one yet.