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SPONSORS
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Pete Johnson & crew were at it again.
Introducing the next project from L'Atelier cigars, Surrogates. Blended by Pete Johnson, and crafted in Don Pepin's My Father factory in Nicaragua, each Surrogate was masterfully created to serve up four unique and completely different experiences. This time around, their goal was simple. To create a new series of cigars, limited-edition in nature, that would be readily available to the consumer without breaking the bank. A winning combination if you ask me. Here's the bottom line: Surrogates deliver the goods as promised.
Each blend is easily distinguished by its....errr....'one of a kind' names and bands. I don't know where they came up with these, but they sure make for a good conversation.
Crystal Baller – Medium to full-bodied. Notes of natural sweetness, spice, cocoa, cedar, and a toasty finish. Featuring: Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan long-fillers, and box-pressed finish.
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Length:
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5.75
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Ring Gauge:
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54
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Country Manufactured:
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Nicaragua
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Filler:
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Nicaragua
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Binder:
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Nicaragua
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Wrapper:
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Ecuador
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Color:
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Colorado Maduro
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Strength:
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Medium-Full
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Shape:
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Toro
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| This cigar was enjoyed with Green Tea
Pre-Light: 18 Points of 20 Possible
Box pressed with a vein that ran for the length of the cigar. Foot looked a little under filled. Felt a little loose/springy for the first half of the stick. Smelled like sweet tobacco and hopefully foreshadowed a wonderful smoking experience.
Light & Burn: 13 Points of 15 Possible
I like to V-Cut all my cigars and for the size I think it was the ideal cut. The Pre-draw had notes of sweet tobacco and dry prunes. I found the notes of dry prunes odd as I usually get that from dark maduro wrappers. I was very excited to light up this stick because of that. I had dry boxed this the day before and after toasting and lighting it with a soft flame a big cloud of thick creamy smoke billowed out of the foot. Razor sharp burn throughout the entire experience with no need for a re-lite or touch up. Ash was a light grey and would of held on longer if I didn't drop the stick into the ashtray.
Construction: 23 Points of 30 Possible
It was a beautifully constructed cigar. One that you want to pick up at a B&M just based on looks, smell and even the cigar band. At 5.75 x 56 its a manly looking cigar. This cigar lost points because it was under filled and a wind tunnel. It was a very airy draw so lots of the subtle smoking note were lost because of the construction.
Flavor: 30 Points of 35 Possible
1\3rd Notes of sweet tobacco and very subtle black pepper spice. The draw was very open so there wasn't much in any other notes. Mild to mild medium in strength. Lots of smoke billowing out of the cigar.
2/3rd Not much has changed from the first third. Strength maintains as mild to mild medium but I blame the wind tunnel draw from the stick.
last 3rd. The draw is tighter and now the true colors are showing. Notes of sweetness is still there and salty. The savory notes making this stick shine. There is a more pronounced black pepper spice/heat towards the back of the tongue. Its not overpowering but noticeable. Just before getting to the cap of the cigar were notes of bread. The bolder notes have made the cigar a more medium to medium-full. There was no bitter notes nor was harsh at any point.
Summary
Overall the last 3rd of the cigar made a good impression on me. It was unfortunate that 2\3 of the stick was a wind tunnel so most of the notes, flavors, strength or any complexities was lost because of the construction. The last 3rd was very enjoyable and going by the last 3rd I would smoke this cigar again. It is on the bigger ring gauge side for myself but it didn't have a bad mouth feel. I tend to stay under the 52 ring gauge but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to others that are like myself. If I had to compare this stick to some others I've smoked in the past, DE undercrown Sungrown, Perla del mar or AF Casa Fuente ( The bread notes at the end reminded me of this). Not a blind box stick but a blind 5er foresure.
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