Saint Luis Rey Serie G Rothchilde

Excellent appearance and construction. Draw was slightly tough at first but became easier. Taste was excellent, don't let the dark wrapper fool you because this smoke is mild to mild-strong and full of flavor. No burn issues and no touch-ups. This cannot be beat for the price.

This cigar was another great looking cigar. Smoked this one after my final exam today in Econ... great way to wind down a long quarter of college. The draw was a little tight and I had to touch up the burn, but it then evened out for me and the draw opened up to produce a lot more smoke. Flavors of chocolate, wood and earth/dry tones. Nice smooth finish. The dark chocolate colored wrapper was packed full of flavor. A good smoke to wind down with.

The pre-light scent is earthy and redolent of good old fermented tobacco leaf. The smoke seems a little thin bodied to start out with, but it gradually grows to about medium at smoke’s end. What it lacks in body it makes up for in smoothness though. The flavor is woody and when combined with the sweet char coming from the wrapper the overall impression I get is that it’s like being next to a warm camp fire on a crisp autumn night. The last third adds a heartier earthy component to the mix until it slowly declines and signals its demise with a final dash of tar. A really good double maddie. Not a whole lot of complexity, just a good old cigar.

The robusto is good, the rothchilde better (like an 8.5 of 10, so very good)... but try the toro - the added ring gauge allows for more complexity and better blending/ marrying of flavor. Don't get me wrong, the smaller ones are still mighty fine! But if you can put up with a *slightly* loose draw, the Toro size is FAR richer and smoother. Just my opinion, of course, so take it or leave it. I will say, regardless of size, the burn of these is impeccable, the tastes are those of somewhat sweet-spice (licorice? nutmeg?) and dark chocolate. and the bite is minimal. Note that they get MUCH better with age, but they're so good I can hardly resist smoking them before 3 months or so... yeah, they're that good.

This smoke had excellent construction and an appealing very dark maduro wrapper. Burned even with a firm mottled gray ash. Classic maduro flavors of chocolate and earth. But with the all-Nicaraguan filler, it had a nice extra oomph. I would call it on the full side of medium. One of the better smokes in this price range I have tried in some time. If you like the Edge maduro I think this will be right up your alley.

My second Series G and it is just good, but not a first tier smoke. Full of flavor and solid construction. Paid $4.50. This needs a lot of time in the humi. We will see in a year.

I have enjoyed SLR's in the past, so when I saw this gorgeous robusto in the humidor of my local cigar shop, I just had to try one. The maduro broadleaf wrapper is a rich milk chocolate brown with just the right amount of bumpiness. They were sans cellophane so took the liberty of running one under my nose and it never left my hand. The aroma was very similar to that of the Pinar 3000 Maduro: mature and complex. I could tell right away that this one was going to be smooth and delicious. After I enjoyed it that evening, I returned the very next day and bought a handful. The constuction is very firm but the draw was perfect. The very first puff was velvety and flavorful without even so much as a hint of spice. At first, the flavor was subtle, but after a few draws, the flavors began to build on one another. Toasted nuts and cocoa, then a hint of coffee, carried along by a faint leather undertone. All the while keeping it's velvety smoothness. Never once did the burn misbehave and the ash was white as the snow at my feet. The true pleasure of this stick made me wish it was an August afternoon instead of a December evening. As the wind picked up, and I was forced to retreat indoors, I had to leave the last half in the ashtray -- a tear was shed. I'm sure a few months in the humi will only make these better. I can't wait for August.