Cigar:            Montesino Sun-Grown Belicoso Magnum

Size:             52 x 5.5"

Wrapper:          CT, N

Binder:           DR

Filler:           DR

Flavor Body:      Medium-Full

Stength:          Medium-Full

Country:          DR

Date Received:    2004-07-15

Suspected Age:    6 weeks

Vendor/Price:    

Beverage(s):      Water, Bridgeport IPA

Smoke time:       0:45

Date:             2004-08-28

Posted to ASC:    2004-08-28

Overall:    Wonderful sweet, floral prelight aroma.  Horrible burn.  Harsh, ashy, bitter, with pepper and green almond.  Only smoked half of it.  Seemed strongly nicotinic.  VERY disappointing.

Ambience:   Finally blue skies and sunshine return to the GPNW.  Brisk vairable winds.  70F.  Lots of sails out on the water.

Construction:     Wonderful sweet, floral, perfumed aroma.  Dark wrapper with fine veining and an impressive spiral cap. 

Cut & Prelight:   The torpedo shape cut well.  Open draw.  Slight pepper on lips.  Mild draw flavor. 

First third:      Lots of smoke.  Green almonds, hint of bitter toast and some pepper on palate.  Draw too loose.  Burn onesided.  Horrible burn.  Corrected with flame.  Jammed a toothpick in it.  Massaged it.  Burned off the excess. 

Second third:     Let it go out, knocked off the ash, and cut off the foot.  The internal structure of bunch, binder, and wrapper was clearly evident.  Relit the damned thing.  Nicotine buzz was starting.  Burn continued terribly.  One side of the binder was simply unflammable.  Flavor was harsh, ashy, and bitter.  Why bother?  Abandoned just beyond the half way point.

Third third:      3 hours later, I knocked off the ash, relit, and tried again.  Pepper, ash, and bitter with a hint of toast.  Gave it 4-5 puffs, then ended the experiment.  I have 3 more of these, will try them again in the spring.