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This is Cigar Aficionado's cigar of the year 2017, this time I didn't have to wait 11 months to get my hands on one.
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As you can see it is very box pressed and there is a lot of baccy in there
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This is what they had to say about it: 'In addition to the range of baking spices and citrus notes found in most Don Carlos cigars, each puff communicates additional layers of complexity, kind of like a bonus track to a favorite album or an unexpected epilogue at the end of a classic novel. More intonations of nuts and leather unfold before a warm, lingering finish of cedar and cider.'
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Here is what I thought. As you'd expect from an Arturo Fuente this is a well made cigar. The Don Carlos range is a step down from the Opus X and a lot of smokers think they are its equal or better. I took 1/4" off the tip and the draw although lighter than a typical Cuban was not the wind tunnel you get from some NCs. The cold draw tasted of salted caramel with a light tingle of pepper on the lips. Talking of lips the shape of the band touches your lips when you smoke, not an issue in the States where most smokers remove the band before lighting but it was a tad annoying. This is a long smoke, well over two hours so be warned if you get one. Unlike the Opus I smoked yesterday I smoked this one inside with no ill effects from nicotine.
The flavour was mostly just pleasant slightly sweet tobacco with no discernible flavour notes at all.
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Initially it was a very slow burn, this is an hour in and then it went out! The ash was holding well and when dropped off was light and flaky and fell apart completely in my ashtray.
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Once tapped off and relit it really opened up and the flavour grew richer but no transition.
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Into the final third and the flavour was much cleaner and fresher, no build up of tar or end of stick bitterness at all. Despite that initial tingle there was no spice in this smoke at all. Sorry CA but I found no complexity, nuts or cider! I find it hard to believe this was voted as the best cigar of the year although it was a very pleasant smoke.
IMG_2579.jpg
As you can see it is very box pressed and there is a lot of baccy in there
IMG_2580.jpg
This is what they had to say about it: 'In addition to the range of baking spices and citrus notes found in most Don Carlos cigars, each puff communicates additional layers of complexity, kind of like a bonus track to a favorite album or an unexpected epilogue at the end of a classic novel. More intonations of nuts and leather unfold before a warm, lingering finish of cedar and cider.'
IMG_2582.jpg
Here is what I thought. As you'd expect from an Arturo Fuente this is a well made cigar. The Don Carlos range is a step down from the Opus X and a lot of smokers think they are its equal or better. I took 1/4" off the tip and the draw although lighter than a typical Cuban was not the wind tunnel you get from some NCs. The cold draw tasted of salted caramel with a light tingle of pepper on the lips. Talking of lips the shape of the band touches your lips when you smoke, not an issue in the States where most smokers remove the band before lighting but it was a tad annoying. This is a long smoke, well over two hours so be warned if you get one. Unlike the Opus I smoked yesterday I smoked this one inside with no ill effects from nicotine.
The flavour was mostly just pleasant slightly sweet tobacco with no discernible flavour notes at all.
IMG_2583.jpg
Initially it was a very slow burn, this is an hour in and then it went out! The ash was holding well and when dropped off was light and flaky and fell apart completely in my ashtray.
IMG_2586.jpg
Once tapped off and relit it really opened up and the flavour grew richer but no transition.
IMG_2587.jpg
Into the final third and the flavour was much cleaner and fresher, no build up of tar or end of stick bitterness at all. Despite that initial tingle there was no spice in this smoke at all. Sorry CA but I found no complexity, nuts or cider! I find it hard to believe this was voted as the best cigar of the year although it was a very pleasant smoke.
don TJ and the 
Coros
TJ used to say: ?Different smokes for different folks.?
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