Cigar:            Genuine Pre-Embargo Counterfeit Cuban Edicion Limitada Coronas

                  Extra, GPECCEL

Size:             50 x 5 5/8"

Country:          Nic

Wrapper:          Nic, Maduro

Binder:           EcSu

Filler:           Hon/Nic

Flavor Strength:  Med

NicotineStength:  Mild-Med

Date Received:    2005-09-22

Suspected Age:    OTT

Vendor/Price:     JR / $1.95

Beverage(s):      Water, Deschutes Quail Springs IPA

Smoke time:       1:30

Date:             2005-09-23

Posted to ASC:    2005-09-23

Overall score:    3.6/5.0

Overall:    Very attractive maduro.  Initially, peppery leather with a slight harshness.  Over time the peppery harshness faded, evolving to coffee and cocoa and leather with a dry finish.  Coffee faded further leaving lots of cocoa and leather.  Finish remained dry.  As the nub was approached leather came to the forefront.  Burned well with lots of smoke.  At an inch it turned harsh and funky.

Ambience:   Last night in the Ballard house - good riddance.  I go to a far, far, better place.  Sunset tonight is glorious, wispy high clouds glow red in a darkening blue sky fading to turquoise at the silhouetted purple mountained horizon.  A few small orange lenticular clouds cap a couple of the Olympic peaks.  The air is still and the water flat.  

Spent the day packing and moving.  Humped the last 1200 pounds, 75 cases of PrimeTabs out of the bunker and onto a pallet.  Shipper picked it up and off goes the last the world will ever see.  Truely a solution looking for a problem - and better marketing. 

Appearance: Very attractive, shiney, black, small-veined wrapper.  Firm and even along length, though it feels a bit wet. 

Cut & Prelight:   Slightly perfumed cocoa/coffee aroma with leather and barnyard back.  Much different at the open foot with a typical tobacco aroma.  Cut twice to get an acceptable draw.

First third:      Initially rather peppery and harsh with some leathery sweetness in the background.  Leather moving into the foreground.  Coffee and leather, dry finish.  Good smoke volume. 

Second third:     Has settled down nicely to a coffee/cocoa and leather smoke.  Dry finish.  Harshness has faded.  Burn a bit off, but no issue.  Even an occasional hint of something sweet. 

Third third:      Coffee has faded, leaving cocoa and leather.  Kind of like a 90% cocoa chocolate bar smeared on new tanned leather.  Burned evened out well.  At one inch it became funky and harsh - abandoned.