Cigar:            Cusano Corojo '97 Robusto

Size:             50 x 5"

Country:          DR

Wrapper:          1997 Corojo, EC

Binder:           DR

Filler:           Mexican/Sumatra

Flavor Strength:  Med-Full

NicotineStength:  Med

Date Received:    2005-03-29

Suspected Age:    new

Vendor/Price:     $3 each / CigarBid 5 pack

Beverage(s):      Water, Dead Guy Ale

Smoke time:       1:15

Date:             2005-03-31

Posted to ASC:    2005-04-01

Overall score:    3.8/5.0

Overall:    Pretty nice cigar OTT.  Basically, a cedary stick with some sweetness that evolved and became fuller tasting over the smoke.  Burned very well with good smoke volume and open draw.  Burned a little hot.  Might benefit from more humidity and/or some age. 

Ambience:   Ol' same place, Daniel's Lounge, Seattle, with a whole newly trained wait crew. 

Construction:     A bit rough with medium veining and a short cap.  Wonderful aroma of sweet musk.  Firm yet slightly yielding, and a bit bumpy.  It may be a little dry OTT.

Cut & Prelight:   Cut very well.  I've taken to licking the cap, and letting it sit for a minute or two, then setting the Xicar on the table top and inverting the head into the cutter and snipping while head and Xicar are on the table.  I've been getting very consistent cuts.  Mostly open draw with a little lip tingle and a woody draw flavor. 

First third:      First few puffs peppery and a little funky.  Voluminous smoke quantity.  Sweet finish.  At just over 1" of ash, very good burn, draw has opened even more, flavor peppery, aromatic wood, with a shortish, sweetish finish.

Second third:     Aromatic wood has evolved to a definite cedar.  Halfway through it has sweetened in the smoke and finish.

Third third:      Burning rather hot, which implies to me that it was a little too dry and perhaps a bit underfilled.  Cedar lasted to the nub.  The long, post-smoke finish was very nice.  Not much nicotine buzz.