Cigar:            Consuegra #9 Maduro redux (first, 2004-05-23)

Size:             50 x 4.5"

Country:          Hon

Wrapper:          Hon, Maduro

Binder:           Hon

Filler:           Hon/Nic/DR

Flavor Strength:  Medium

NicotineStength:  Mild

Date Received:    2004-09-01

Suspected Age:    At least 22 months

Vendor/Price:     Gift, part of NSF endowment

Hype:       "Age at least a year!"

JRs says: This brand is the Holy Grail for those serious cigar smokers who appreciate a full, rich-tasting cigar and want it at a serious discount. They are the bundled segundos and production overruns made at the famed Villazon factory in Honduras - the makers of Punch, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur, El Rey del Mundo, JR Ultimates, etc. These are wildly popular with our customers - and with good cause.

Beverage(s):      Water, Deschutes Black Butte Porter

Smoke time:       0:32

Date:             2006-06-21

Posted to ASC:    2006-06-21

Overall score:    2.5 / 5.0

Overall:    Too short for thirds so reviewed in halves.  Head exploded when cut.  See text for details and remedy.  Good smoke volume and excellent burn.  Predominately a bitter coffee stick with a leather back.  Got just beyond halfway and abandoned it due to bitterness.  Pleasant leathery finish. 

Ambience:   The recent ASC acrimonious thread, "My Final Word On Connies", now running 110 posts (apparently LOTS of last words) prompted me to dig this out of the cooler.  This cigar was received 2004-09-01 as part of one of the last ASC NSF Endowments (Alt.Smokers.Cigars Newbie Scholarship Fund).  In my case this fund was made up of cigars donated by many ASC participants and coordinated by Joe LaVigne.  I have had it in my possession for 22 months, but do not know how long Joe stored it and how long the original patron had it before donation.  In any case its minimum verified age fulfills a commonly held belief, Connies suck unless they have a year of age on them.  I have smoked and reviewed two other Connies, another #9 Maduro on 2004-05-23 from SkyhawkXP which had 16 months on it, and a #30 natural on 2004-09-06 from JP which had 6 months on it.  I rated both 3.0/5.0  Courtesy of The Makule Guy (#84) and Garry Nold (#9, Natural) I have a few other Consuegras to try at a later date. 

Appearance: Almost veinless, dark mottled wrapper with some tooth, an oil sheen, and a crude double cap. 

Cut & Prelight:   Nice sweet leather aroma.  Head exploded when cut, splitting an inch and a half down the length, through the wrapper, the binder, and into the filler.  Remainder of the cap fell off and the wrapper end became loose.  A few turns of light, cotton string, a half inch from the cut end held the thing together nicely.  I wish I could do that to my truck windshield.  Fair bit of lip tingle.  Draw flavor slightly musty grass. 

First half: Lit easily with a wide-open somewhat leaky draw.  High smoke volume.  Initially bitter with a peppery aftertaste.  Bitterness has resolved to coffee grounds - somewhat bitter, somewhat tannic, somewhat pleasant.  After a few draws the pepper vanished.  Nice lined, white ash.  The dark cigar is quite attractive with an inch of white ash at the foot and 3 rounds of white string at the head.  Good even burn.  Bitterness is fading, coffee (bitter ristretto) and leather in the aftertaste.  Ashed at 1+". 

Second half:      Just beyond the halfway point, though the bitterness was waning, it became tiresome, and the cigar was abandoned at 2".  Pleasant leathery finish.