Cigar:            GPECC Gourmet Figurado

Size:             50 x 4.75"

Wrapper:          ESCU, E

Binder:           ESCU

Filler:           Hon/Nic

Flavor Body:      Medium-Full

Stength:          Full?

Country:          Nic

Date Received:    2004-08-23

Suspected Age:    14 months

Vendor/Price:     Gifted by SkyhawkXP, ASC - Thanks!

Beverage(s):      Homebrewed ESB, water

Smoke time:       1:00

Date:             2004-08-26

Posted to ASC:    2004-08-27

Overall score:    3.7/5.0

Overall:    Nice smoke.  Spicey with a toasted note that slowly sweetened, and a long sweet finish.  Strong nicotine buzz. 

Very similar to the epicure I smoked a couple of days ago, though that was on a stomach full of porterhouse, a beer, wine (Cristom Pinot Noir), and a few rounds of bourbon (Woodford).  Didn't notice a nic buzz that night :-)  Have a half-wheel of corona majors in the freezer that I'm looking forward to trying. 

Ambience:   Weather has sucked for almost 2 weeks.  This evening, mostly cloudy, about 65F, very, very light whispering breezes.  Water flat at slack high tide and little boat traffic.  Clearing from the north and west.  Some rain squalls are drifting south down the channel.  Walked into the front yard about half way through the smoke to be greeted by a bright triple rainbow in the east.  The sea lions have returned to the marina below and their guttering, braying, barking, and belching can be heard clearly.  We often hear them in the middle of the night in bed.  Speaking of the little woman, she left today on a 3 week girl's vacation.

Construction:     Wrapper is rich brown with oily sheen, tiny veins.  Minor dings.  Double cap, a little short.  Nice mild aroma with a bit of cocoa and/or coffee.

Cut & Prelight:   Tight draw, though could be due to the nippled foot.  Pepper on lips, but not much draw flavor.  Firm with some harder spots near the head. 

First third:      Nipple lit well with a virgin Z-Plus equipped 1955 Dumont Zippo lighter - was my Dad's.  Spicey, peppery, with a sweet finish.  Good smoke volume.  Undertone of toast.  As the foot burned to its full width and the stick heated the draw became a little loose.  Ashed itself at 1".

Second third:     Burn needed some flame correction and some other attention, but never got out of hand.  Spice has faded and the sweet toast has come forward some.  Finish is still sweet and long.  Nicotine buzz is evident - smoking too fast. 

Third third:      Some of the spice returned.  Nicotine buzz grew until I had to abandon it with 1" left.  Got up and the whirlies hit, plopped back down and almost puked :-)  Sat still and sweated for 15 minutes before daring to move again.  Took about an hour to recover.  This is an hour and half smoke or more, that was so good I rushed it and almost lost my cookies.  Shit, what am going to do with cubans?