Today I have some chicken coop cleaning to do first, then work on the tractor. We recently got six peeps because one of our hens was broody. We snuck the peep under her when she was sitting on some eggs, and she has been mother of year ever since. As for the tractor, I have been having some overheating problems, and just blew a hydraulic hose. So I need to clean the radiator and check the coolant levels, then pull the bad hydraulic hose.
For today’s work I grabbed a Pichardo Reserva Familiar Connecticut Toro. I have been looking forward to this cigar because nearly everything I have smoked from Tabacalera Pichardo has been great. I am really curious to see what they can do with a Connecticut Shade wrapper. I had a feeling this would be a lengthy smoke, which is why I have been saving it for a day that I will be out for a bit. Let’s dig in!
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera Pichardo
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 x 52 Toro
Price: $12.00 MSRP
Release Date: Summer 2019
Company Website: www.aceprime.com
I absolutely love the band on this cigar. The design is simple, yet elegant, and the color combination really stands out to me against the light tan wrapper. The cigar is fairly firm and pretty heavy. It smells nutty, peppery, and chocolatey. The cold draw is very fruity, sweet, and nutty. Pulling the foot band off reveals a slightly exposed foot. First light brings medium-full bodied smoke with full flavors of brown sugar, earth, roasted nuts, and some baking spices building in the finish. The first puff after the burn hits the wrapper shows the brown sugar becoming more like cane sugar. Another couple puffs in there is some creaminess and a very faint grassiness. About an inch in the flavor is down to medium. The draw is primarily toast, nuts, and a bit of creamy earth. The retrohale has some cream, spices, and sugary sweetness. The performance has been perfect. Hitting the halfway point there’s some pepper flavor, but not any heat. There’s a bit of a metallic note as well. The retrohale is still the same but with a bit of the pepper flavor as well. Closing out the second third the draw has some grassiness and a bit of earth now, and the finish is a creamy sugar and baking spice combination. Into the primary band I have to do a small touch up to the wrapper due to a bit of a canoe. The flavor and body are both up to full. There’s some more pepper and earth, but still some cream and spice. Coming to an end at 2 hours and 10 minutes, the only flavor change is an increase in the pepper. There’s also a touch of strength present, peaking around medium.
Overall Experience
Overall this was a very well done cigar. The performance was great besides one small touch up, which is impressive given the long burn time. The profile was also quite interesting as it had a few transitions throughout, each one being pretty noticeable. I really enjoyed the moments of cream, sweetness, and spice, however, the more full, earthy, peppery flavors near the end were a nice change of pace. It also is a cigar that I would not have guessed had a Connecticut shade wrapper if I was blindfolded. I think this would be a great cigar for someone that typically avoids Connecticut shade cigars to try because it offers something different. For that reason, it’s also fitting for a Connecticut shade smoker as it offers a different expression without going too far out on a limb.
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