This is my first cigar review.  Consider my palate rather

uneducated. 

Cigar:            Cigar Factory New Orleans Belicoso

Size:             52 x 6

Wrapper:          Cameroon

Binder, Filler:   Dominican, Honduran, Nicaraguan

Beverage:         Water, Knob Creek

Smoke time:       90 minutes

Date:             2004-05-19

Overall score:    3.5/5.0

Seems well constructed.  Head is rather pointed.  No large veins. 

Wrapper is well sealed and smooth.  Cap is good.  The first 1.5"

of foot is softer than the rest.  No hard or soft spots on the

rest of the length.

Prelight aroma is wonderful.  Aromatic cedar or sandalwood. 

Cuts cleanly.  Draw seems loose.  Perhaps I should have cut it

closer to the tip to reduce the draw.  Unlighted puffs have nice

cedar/sandalwood with a bit of pepper on the tip of the tongue.

Lights easily.  First few puffs are peppery and aromatic.  Draw

is a little too loose.  The first third is somewhat floral with

some sweetness.  Again more cedar/sandalwood.  Burn starts even,

then goes askew.  Notice the start of a nicotine buzz.  Ash

is white and firm, but falls off after 1.5"

Second third, flavor deepens and the aromatics diminish.  Some

occasional harshness, and occasional sweetness.  Leather?

Paper?  Very occasionally nutty.  Burn takes some fussing to

keep from getting too out of whack.  Could be the wind?  Quite

a nicotine buzz.

Third third gets harsher.  Seems to be very soft.  Smoke is

warmer.  The buzz and the harshness get to me and I let it go

out with 2" left. 

To this inexperienced smoker it seems that the roll was too loose.

This caused the burn to be too hot which cooked the flavor out of

the smoke and when the unburnt tobacco could no longer supply

flavor and cooling the smoke became harsh.

The other 4 of these I have smoked were similarly loose, though

the others burned evenly.  I suppose that the wind can affect

the burn.  I paid more attention to the flavor of this smoke. 

The unlit aroma and the first third were really quite nice.