Cigar:            Flor de A. Allones Favorita

Size:             46 x 5.65"

Country:          Hon

Wrapper:          ECSU, E

Binder:           CT

Filler:           Hon

Flavor Strength:  Medium

NicotineStength:  Medium

Date Received:    2004-11-18

Suspected Age:   

Vendor/Price:     JR Cigars, $2.48

Beverage(s):      Water, Bushmills 10 YO single malt

Smoke time:       1:15

Date:             2004-12-02

Posted to ASC:    2004-12-02

Overall score:    3.0/5.0

Overall:    Pleasant Honduran, simple, some nuttiness, a bit of sweetness.  Short finish.  Poor burn, except occasionally.  JR's says this is "full flavored".  I'd say at most medium.  Clearly not worth a box purchase. However, since I have already purchased a box I will periodically test them to see how they age - stay tuned for March 2005.

      Addendum - 2005 - Gave the rest away.

Ambience:   Mom's basement with elevated floor fan pulling smoke out door.  Editing a document.

Construction:     A little rough, bumpy, and uneven.  Some softer spots.  Long irregular cap.  Rich brown wrapper.

Cut & Prelight:   Cut well.  Mild and pleasant aroma, very slight manure.  Good draw with a mildly spicey flavor.

First third:      Lit easily and immediately began to run.  Good smoke volume.  Open draw.  Starts out tasting like green pecan.  Very mild, short, nutty finish.  Ashed itself at 1".  Fussed with burn.

Second third:     Finish sweetened slightly.  Burn settled down nicely for a while then again started to run.  Flavor mellowed to a sweeter toasted nut.  Flavor was overpowered by the whisky. 

Third third:      Suddenly at 2" turned harsh and "funky".  Abandoned it at 2".

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Beverage(s):      Water, later Full Sail IPA

Smoke time:       1:15

Date:       2005-04-15 (5 months in the humidor)

Overall:    Still a basically bitter stick.  Good smoke volume.  Good burn.  Let them rest another few months and try again - say September.

Ambience:   Dining room watching Mariners vs. Chicago White Sox.  Pinero making his 2005 pitching start for the Mariners.  Little woman is away on a quilting weekend.

Construction:     Long cap.  Rich brown wrapper.  Evenly firm.  Small veining.  Band loose.

Cut & Prelight:   Cut well.  Mild, slightly sweet manure aroma.  Somewhat tight draw with some pepper and dry dirt draw flavor.

First third:      First puffs present the familiar Honduran green nuttiness.  Slightly bitter smoke flavor that gets a sweet edge in the dry finish.  White ash with a raised burn ring.  Draw has opened nicely, remaining slightly tight which I prefer.  Good smoke volume.

Second third:     Ash held to over an inch.  Bitterness in the IPA mutes the bitterness in the cigar.  Nice combo.  Still good to have the water around to bring out the slight sweetness too. 

Third third:      Coasting - more of the same.  Abandoned at 1" when it got hot.  Basically a bitter stick.  Almost perfect burn.