CAO La Traviata Devino

CAO La Travata Devino

5 x 50 Robusto

Made in Mexico          
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Cameroon

Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican

Drink: Diet Pepsi with Jack Daniels

I have the Radiante (Toro) sitting in my humidor, but was gifted this Devino (Robusto), and thought I would try this one first, as I find cigars with a Cameroon binder to be on the strong side.  Adding to the strength it's supposed to have two different ligero fillers, one from Nicarauaga and Dominican Republic

It has a nice barnyard pre-light aroma.  The wrapper is very oily, and shiny.  This cigar 'looks' good, but I have been fooled by that many times.

Right off the bat, I'm pummeled by pepper.  Caused a few sneezing attacks.  Less then an inch in the pepper settles down, and I get a predominant nutty flavour which is delicious.  Every now and then I get some strong leather added in.  I like leather in my sticks, but in this case I wish it wasn't.  The nutty flavour is that good.

The flavour is consistent from start to finish.  On the whole I found the cigar quite dry, despite reviews of it having a creaminess.  Usually when I have Jack Daniels with a cigar it enhances any creamy flavours, but it just wasn't there for me.  I also did get some ammonia from it, but not enough to take away from my overall enjoyment.

The ash was also very flaky, not taking much to jar the ash off, or chunks to flake off.

It's labeled as strong in strength, and I would agree.  By the half way point I was feeling it, and really took my time on the second half.  I would have liked to nub it, but was feeling overwhelmed.  Glad I didn't reach for the larger Radiante stick.

A very good cigar, that I would recommend, but maybe not for someone new, unless you're prepared to not smoke the whole thing.

Cusano Habano Sun Grown LXI Robusto

Cusano Habano Sun Grown LXI

5 x 50 Robusto

Made in Domincan Republic

Wrapper: Dominican Sun Grown Ecuadorian Habano

Binder:  Dominican Sun Grown Ecuadorian Habano

Filler:  Dominican Ligero

Paid: $12 CDN from Cigar Studio

The first third I get a creamy sweet floral, with slight wood flavour.  Not bad, but certainly nothing special.  I think the wood is what detracts from it.

I saw some reviews that also noted cherry, and I usually call BS when I hear flavours like that.  By the second third the wood disappears, but at the end of the exhale I do get a cherry flavour in there now.  Quite a surprise.   The aroma also has a very sweet vanilla.  This is turning out to be a really good smoke.

This cigar did leave an acidic aftertaste on the tongue, that wasn't overpowering, and bordered on pleasent for some reason.  I usually don't like that taste.

The ash was pure white, but flaked off very easy, and never held for more then a half inch.  The smoke is really thick, and white. It's pretty strong, on the medium to full power end, and definitely full bodied.  I found the best way to smoke this, and get all the flavour was to NOT to retrohale.  As I exhaled, I would slightly breath the smoke in the nose, and would get the vanilla added.

If you read the above, you would think I'm going to conclude this was a great smoke, and highly recommend it.  Not the case.  I had huge burn issues.  This thing went out constantly.  The last half was brutal.  It went out almost every few puffs.  I walked away from the last inch, because I was so annoyed, despite enjoying the flavours.

Almost every review I read, I think every review I read, notes similar burn issues.  It's not a case of it being too wet either.  This thing spent a few months in my desktop humidor which sits at 58-60% RH.  

I would say try this cigar, and hope you don't get the burn issues, and enjoy what this stick has to offer, but I would not buy a box.  I might get a few, I they could be had for a couple of dollars.