This is my first review, it is what it is.
This cigar was a John Bull Bulldog.
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Pre-drink was a Bells best brown ale.
Drink during smoke: Ice water.
Pleasant prelight smell.
Cigar was firm to the squeeze.
A few visible stems on the wrapper, with a minor pinhole that didn't seem to affect the smoke at all. Foot looked very uniform. Punch hole revealed a couple small stems that extracted easily.
1/3:
First pull loose and sweet.
Sweetness quickly fades into a mellow, smooth light earthy tobacco flavor.
About the middle of the first 1/3 a couple chemical flavors appear (not enjoyable).
Very even burn so far.
Very nice light grey ash, hold very stable and consistent.
Cigar is pulling heat up about 1.5 inches toward the head.
Approaching the second third it has turned to a woody flavor, still very mild with the chemical taste now gone.
It is producing an abundant amount of light grey smoke.
No problem with a minute rest between draws.
No significant changes in flavors.
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2/3:
First ash fell naturally at this point.
Seems to be burning hot, don't see it making it much paste the label.
Still a good burn with nice ash.
No construction issues. Not much complexity in the flavors, still a light woody taste in line with the end of the first 1/3, just a bit stronger now.
no threat of burning out in between draws. 1 slow draw is all it takes, however I continue to do 2 out of habbit, this may account for the excess heat traveling up towards the head.
Picking up a very light pepper approaching the end of 2/3.
Lips have a small chemical taste left behind. Still a small amount of pepper lingers occasionally.
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3/3:
Well I didn't see it going this far however the heat seems to have faded enough to continue.
I didn't make it much further than the beginning of the 3/3 as darkness fell and I felt an occasional mosquito attack. This cigar is not worth being eaten alive to carry on.
In closing:
First 2/3 lasted about 45 minutes.
Overall I would say it fills a need as a cheap cigar, fairly mild with a bit of kick occasionally. It is very un-complex. Leaves my mouth dry wanting water. I could see this as a decent cigar you might smoke while distracted with yard work, not being able to pay much attention to it. I found myself always hoping the next draw would deliver a variance in flavor to surprise me, but it never came.
I don't see myself purchasing anymore unless it improves after aging, but really is it worth the aging space in my humidor?
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