Wrapper: House Secret
Binder: House Secret
Filler: House Secret
Factory: Tabacalera Real
Production: Regular
Purchase Link: Refusion
Felipe Gregorio Refusion REVIEW - OREGON
Summary: Blind reviewing this week took a more subtle approach in the profile. The light to medium brown cigar smelled like hay and caramel and gave the impression of sweetness from the oily, smooth wrapper. The foot had barnyard scents and a faint sweetness as well. Clipping just the end of the cap opened up the perfect resistance in the cold draw. Hay, mild spices and some sweetness combined to hint at possible complexity in light flavors. Initially, generic wood flavors, a mild cinnamon spice and some sweetness were the only players.
Retrohaling the smoke was creamy and smooth with just a bit of black pepper to keep a guy honest. Later on, caramel, sugar cookie, cedar and mild pepper notes made a delicious, interesting combination. Moving towards the end of the stick some natural tobacco flavors combined with more caramel and slightly over baked sugar cookies....like when sugar begins to carmelize. The ash on this stick didn’t fall until I hit the halfway mark. Also, the burn, while wavy, was maintenance free.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: If you like this then you probably like those holiday butter cookies.
Pairing Suggestion: Pair this with a morning latte, midday cream soda or evening Baileys on the rocks.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: This was a boxworthy cigar for me.
Felipe Gregorio Refusion REVIEW - CALIFORNIA
Summary: Half an inch in and all I’m getting is a sort of stale, nutty wood. Maybe I wasn’t puffing on it as much because the flavors haven’t ramped up yet but it just went out on me. Burn is getting weird toward the end of the first third. Tastes like a rose bush after it rains. And some faint chocolate.
Starting the second third. Floral notes are picking up a bit. But just a bit. Construction is top notch now so that’s a plus. Chex. Not the mix, just the cereal.
Final third is bringing some sweet cream to the table. Construction and ash remain stellar to the end. The flavors were just too subtle for my liking.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Sitting in wooden rocking chairs.
Pairing Suggestion: Long Island Iced Tea.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
Felipe Gregorio Refusion REVIEW - WISCONSIN
Summary: This cigar lit up with buttery, woody, nutty flavors. They were soon joined by popcorn and a metallic taste. The metal note faded, though it reared its ugly head again several times throughout the cigar. There was a consistent sour note to it, and portions tasted heavily of lemon.
Throughout, the cigar kept its woody, nutty core. The lemon was a nice addition; the metal less so.
I didn't find much in this cigar to hold onto my interest. If I hadn't been reviewing it, I would have put it out quite a bit earlier.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: If you're all about dat citrus.
Pairing Suggestion: Cream soda would help it along.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single. I'm left wondering if this particular sample wasn't what the blender intended.
Participants in this blind review were completely unaware of the cigar they were evaluating until all submissions were received and processed. Each participant was asked to answer a summary paragraph, an if/than statement, a pairing suggestion, and a purchase suggestion. Cigars were provided by Small Batch with only the expectations of candid responses. All pictures, information, and formatting were completed by a Coordinator outside of the reviewing process.
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