Time to finish up my last smoke of this blind fiver. Had a lot of fun so far...
This one is #4, I'd guess in the 6x56 range. V cut yields a bit of a tough draw, but the PD makes it passable. Pre-light, I'm already getting red pepper, but it's not as forward once lit. Wood, leather, mineral take the lead over the spice initially. I'm already getting the sense I'm liking this one, it's a medium-full profile, but not an expresso/spice bomb. Last blind pass I was in, I found a similar cigar, and swore it was MF brand. Turned out I was smoking my first Oliva V. I'm back to that same feeling, good Nicaraguan like MF. About 3/4" in, I notice a split running about 1" up. Hope I can smoke through it and it doesnt progress. Ash is white and well formed other than a flake or two at the split. Burn line is perfect.
As I approach 2/3, the smoke in getting thin for what it should be, suggesting the split is continuing, and sure enough, its keeping ahead of the burn line by an inch. In the dark now, and the phone is dying, so no flash on the camera... Ash still hanging in there until 2", and as @adamartinct described, like a stack of quarters. Profile picking up a slight coffee note, but not overpowering. Keeping a woody, oak note, leather fading, still some mineral. I spilled my water, but I'm not really wanting it. Not a cigar that dries you out.
In 3/3, a bitterness takes over. Not surprising, since I've struggled to get good smoke with the split. That usually leads to smoking too fast, searching for that good draw of smoke. Damn, this was a very good one to me.
On the construction, it was great. Like I said, ash very solid, white, burn line perfect. The humidity here was not ideal for smoking at 90%+, but I'd hoped the humidor conditions in low 60s RH was enough to get a good smoke out of this. I assume the split is humidity related...
Head inside to plug in the phone and the reveal. Like I said in the beginning, I'm confident this is a quality Nicaraguan stick. I'd bet MF, based on the flavor and construction, but will officially say Oliva V, since the MF line is generally above the price point we targeted for this pass. Part of me hopes it is something else entirely, as I'd like to have another great smoke to add to my collection. Definitely buy another, probably a fiver, and keep some on hand at all times. It's funny the profiles I find I enjoy most... the MF/Oliva medium-full and the nutty mediums are my favorites.
Reveal...
Cool. I've seen a lot of splits going on with the '19. Might have to grab some, and track down the '18s as well.
Many thanks,
@Redneck_toy . This has been a great learning experience, and I appreciate the range of smokes you provided. I feel like I'm getting in the ballpark on these more consistently, but my lack of experience smoking multiples of any given stick hampered my ID ability. I've been bombed into oblivion at this point, and always am smoking NHIE singles working my way through the bombs. And thanks
@Dran for putting this together. Smoking blind is a blast. Next one that comes along, count me in! Time to toast the completion of my part in this pass. Cheers!
