I smoked the dry boxed San Rafael today.

I hope you guys wanted an honest and forward review:

Aroma off this cigar is a heavy and excellent barnyard aroma. Very sweet and inviting. I did notice however that this cigar has a very disappointing flaw in its appearance, glue is all over the wrapper. I'll comment more on this later.



The wrapper has a nice tooth to it and pleasant "rough" feel to it. Seams appear tight and pack feels solid.



First third: This cigar starts very well. Nice spice and black pepper heat mixed with a nutty and creamy flavor profile. So far this cigar is off to a great start. As I go through the first third the flavors shift around a bit to a dense woodsy and black coffee with that wonderful pepper and heat on the aftertaste that lingers for a good long time.



Second third: This is where the cigar starts to turn south for me. Into the second third, pretty much all flavors fall off and I'm left with a dry, burnt tobacco, ash flavor. I wonder if I let it get too hot. I let it cool down and I slow my draw. Same flavors, pretty big let down. I power through and keep it going. nearing the end of the second third I start to develop a weird burn and it requires a touch up. No big deal, it happens to some of the best cigars I have ever smoked. Flavor remains an ashy let down. At about the end of the second third the ashy flavor starts to fade and it starts to get some of the creamy, nutty flavor back. Not a lot, but it's hidden in there...

Second third: It keeps a very slight creamy flavor, but overall bland profile. at about an inch it starts to get hot and happily let it go out.

After the Cirque, I might have had too high expectations of this cigar. It was a very confusing cigar for me. It started SOOO well! A lot of flavor and it looked like an awesome follow up to the Cirque. But the highlights of this cigar started and ended in the first third. After that it almost became a chore to smoke. Honestly, the ONLY reason I did not put it out halfway through the second third is because this cigar was sent for me to review. I felt obligated to keep it going.

I might be a bit harsh on this cigar, and it might have a lot to do with the Cirque. The Cirque was such a damn good cigar that I feel like it set this San Rafael up for failure...

I was REALLY let down to see glue all over the wrapper. It just screams "I don't care". Once the cigar started so well, I was actually angrier about the glue, it's something that makes people pass on a good product. But by the time the second third hit me, I realized it was just the way this cigar was meant to be...

Again, I'm sorry if it seems like I'm being harsh on this cigar, but I feel like I should be honest. On the bright side, I do have another one sitting in the main humidor that I'm hoping does FAR better with more moisture. I really, really hope this one was just a dud. I had such a great smoke in the Cirque that I REALLY want it to carry over.

Once again, thank you for sending this over to review. I hope everyone sees this review for what it is, honest feedback. I would want the same if I were in your position. I will approach the second San Rafael with an open mind and treat it as if it was it's own cigar and I look forward to smoking it.

I paired this cigar with Michters US-1 Small Batch bourbon.