Cigar:            Villazon #31

Size:             44 x 6.5

Wrapper:   

Binder:          

Filler:          

Body:             Mild/Medium/Full

Origin:           Honduras

Suspected Age:   

Vendor/Price:     Gift from SkyhawkXP ASC

Beverage(s):      Water, Bridgeport IPA

Smoke time:       75 minutes

Date:             2004/06/04

Posted to ASC:

Construction:     Cello is very yellow, and the folded end sticky.  Seems pretty old.  No band.  Cigar is squareish with a dark mottled wrapper that seems a little loose, and a twisted cap.  Seems a little dry.  Perhaps the filler has shrunk.

Prelight:   Aroma is very nice.  Cedary with a bit of sweet liquorice, and maybe some cocoa.  Cut well.  Tight draw.  Flavor is mellow.  Subtle cocoa. 

First third:      First few puffs were sweet, liquorice, and chocolate.  Not a lot of smoke.  Burn got a little off.  Corrected with fire.  Draw eased as cigar warmed.  Continued to burn unevenly.  Massaged the stick.

Second third:     Still sweetish, chocolate has turned to leather, but some liquorice remains.  Burn is still poor.  Cigar does not seem to want to burn along one side.  Nicotine buzz started at about halfway.  Let it go out.  Blew it out; cut it back, and relit.  A little harshness to get it going.  Still some sweet liquorice in the finish.

Third third:      Did not finish it.  The poor burn was too much to deal with and the fussing and farting about was affecting the flavor. 

Overall:    The appearance, aroma, and first third were quite enjoyable and promising, despite the poor smoke volume.  If the rest of the cigar had lived up to the first third this would be a great smoke.   The uneven burn probably adversely affected the flavor.  Luckily, I have another of these and will remove it from the cello and let it sit for a month or so in the humidor.