Cigar:            La Hoja Selecta Chateau Sovereign (old blend)

Size:             52 x 7.5"

Country:          DR

Wrapper:          CTSH

Binder:           DR/Nic

Filler:           DR/Nic

Flavor Strength:  Mild+

NicotineStength:  Mild

Date Received:    2004-05-21, Beans, ASC (Thanks!)

Suspected Age:    If it is the "old blend" it must be pushing 10 years.

Vendor/Price:     NA

Hype:             I believe the "old blend" may refer to the pre-1998 blend, CTSH wrapper with DR/Nic inside.   The wrapper on this cigar certainly looks more like CTSH rather than ESCU, as it is thin and very lightly colored.  Carrillo reformulated the La Hoja Selecta blend in April 2000 and began to manufacture the cigar for the first time since 1998. The reformulated blend consists of a ECSU wrapper over a CTBL binder and DR/EC/Nic filler.

Beverage(s):      Water

Smoke time:       2:45

Date:             2007-01-01

Posted to ASC:    2007-01-01

Overall score:    3.8/5.0

Sock color:       Baby blue

Hat:              Idaho Sportsman's Club (see website for photo)

Overall:    Very nice mild to medium cigar with hardly any nic kick.  Initially rather ghasty, but give it a half inch or so to settle down, and it becomes more and more pleasant as it progresses.  Bitter and grassy to start it soon settles into a slightly sweet woody flavor profile.  Into the last third the woodiness becomes somewhat cedary, and the aftertaste sweetens nicely.  Good smoke production, and an even burn.  The flakey ash falls short so watch out!  For me, it's too big of a stick for a box purchase.

Ambience:   Late afternoon in the rainroom a half hour before sunset.  Light rain falling from a heavy overcast and it's already getting dark.  I've been waiting for an opportunity to smoke this behemoth for 2-1/2 years.  I'm about to settle in for a few hours of year-end report writing and this seems the perfect opportunity for a gigantic, mild cigar. 

Appearance: Very light colored, thin, medium veined wrapper with some damage.  The damage was repaired earlier in the day with a spot of pectin.  Seems light for its girth and length.  Firm with a long double cap.

Cut & Prelight:   Sharp, spicey, leathery aroma.  Cut well revealing a light colored binder and a dark filler.  Somewhat restrictive draw with a musty, peppered hay draw flavor.

First third:      Initially, sharp, bitter, and grassy.  Size is ungainly in hand and mouth.  Bitterness quickly receeded into the aftertaste leaving grassy in the foretaste.  Not an auspicious beginning.  1/2" in the flavor have muted - still slightly bitter, still somewhat grassy, but more toasted.  Flakey ash fell very short.  It has become quite mild and inoffensive - toasty with a slight edge.  There is a sweetness developing in the aftertaste.  A bit of leather enters. 

Second third:     Patience is rewarded.  A mildly sweet woodiness has evolved from the bitter grassiness. 

Third third:      We are attaining a medium flavor strength.  Other than a bit more intensity the slightly sweet woody profile has not changed.  As  the nub is approached a bit of peppered spice arrives.  After has lengthened, and the woodiness has attained a bit of an aromatic character - a very mild hint of cedar.  No nicotine buzz apparent.  Abandoned at 1".  Finish was very nice.  Sweet cedar with a hint of mint.