I got a box of these for Father's Day. I used to smoke a lot of Juan Lopez in the old days, but they were real Cuban cigars, not made in Nicaragua like these. The draw was hard to start and the burn was raggy, but eventually the burn went even and the draw improved around mid-smoke. Burn went uneven again toward the end.
It wasn't an unpleasant smoke all things considered, took just under 60 minutes, which I expect from a Robusto (5 x 54), but I've been so spoiled lately with "super premium" cigars that when I have an average "decent" cigar, it's a disappointment. I will end up giving away most of these, no doubt.
Take 2: Draw still hard, burn still uneven. Took 60 minutes to finish because of the hard draw. "Sweet spot" finally appeared about 2/3rds of the way through the smoke. I wouldn't rate these below 70 ("Don't waste your money"), but they're right on the line. Putting these out under the revered Juan Lopez name is kind of shameless.
Torpedo-shaped with a single blue band tastefully at the tip ... dark (maduro) Nicaraguan Habano wrapper, with Nicaraguan binder/filler. Good draw, even burn ... took a little longer to mellow but I've been spoiled of late by these cigars. Very pleasant, though at 70 minutes to smoke (6 x 52) a bit longer than I like to spend. I think I prefer a torpedo-shape, feels a bit more natural in the mouth. I haven't had one bum cigar in this bunch (except for the flukey Alec Bradley Sanctum trouble).
No changes this week.
Torpedo shaped and dark wrapper (Oscuro) ... box pressed, 6 1/8 X 52, not one but two fancy bands and a pretty orange wrapper at the tip. Nicaraguan everything (wrapper, binder, filler), I believe ... smelled nice, spicy, looked good. Easy draw, perfect burn ... only harsh for the briefest moment before mellowing and becoming very nice.
It took me 90! minutes to smoke this and once again a too-long ash caused it to go out and I needed to re-light it. This is a special cigar, Don Pepin Garcia knows what he's doing. If you can find a box, get it, but as a Robusto guy I really hate to spend over an hour on a single cigar ... it's just too decadent.
