Ezra Zion Inception Gran Robusto

Good afternoon smokers and drinkers.

The holidays are getting in full swing, and with my debit card smoldering from running across magnetic readers, I am making time for a pre-work cigar. I am by no means in love with the holidays or my job, so finding some calm in the storm with a top notch stogie and a pot of coffee will allow me to take stock and get perspective for the day.

 Hopefully the Ezra Zion Inception, the Gran Robusto, will give me the strength to fight my natural urges to sucker punch a mall Santa or scream profanities at somebody’s grandmother while trying to troubleshoot technical issues with her computer.  

A nice hefty little cigar, the wrapper a 2007 Cuban seed corjo, is a nice reddish brown color that exhibits some significant veins. Despite a few flaws in its rolling, it is still a pretty looking stogie.

The initial light of this 5.25 inch, 50 ring gauge Nicaraguan parejo is bold, leaning on the full side of the flavor profile. Exhibiting a lot of generic spice, there is just enough nutmeg and cinnamon essence to bring out the sweetness in the tobacco.

Inching into the smoke, an earthy base develops, muting the bright spice and opening and mellowing the cigar’s profile to a more medium full body.  This nice combination of spice and soil stays consistent for the rest of the smoking experience, only developing a very slight metallic ting as the cigar starts to singe the edges of its band.

At this point, perhaps brought on by the sticks strength, my lack of a breakfast, or a little from both columns, the cigar comes to a very enjoyable end for myself.

With the knot that was in the back of my neck evaporated in smoke, I reflect on the quality of the two cigars that I have had the pleasure to enjoy from Ezra Zion. A few years ago if you tried to market a cigar as being Cuban seed I likely would pass you over, as I have not, until this point, found much in them that reminds me anything of the few Cuban cigars I have had the pleasure of enjoying. This fledgling company has offered cigar smokers a pair of wonderful blends that, at least for myself, has whetted my appetite not only  for more from the boys at Cigar Federation and their baby, but for Cuban seed cigars in general.

Happy smoking!

"Reagan: 40th" by Ezra Zion Cigar Review

When you mention the name Ronald Reagan in mixed company you will get a wide range of responses. However, in circles of cigar smokers, who disproportionally are republicans, cigars are enjoyed in his name. While I can attribute qualities of leadership and intelligence to the fortieth Commander in Chief, to be honest, I find more in conflict than in union with his, and his party’s, ideals.  

From the rollers of Ezra Zion, regardless of party affiliation, cigar smokers can enjoy a pair of cigars bearing the President’s name.  A Nicaraguan, Cuban seed cigar, the blend comes in two offerings, the Churchill (54 x 6.75) sized “President,” and the 52 by 6 box pressed “40^th” which I am enjoying today.  

The box press isn’t as exaggerated as other rollers’ interpretations of the vitola, but exhibits subtle squared sides that I enjoy holding in my fingers and between my teeth. The wrapper is expertly placed, camouflaging the edges of the exterior leaf almost flawlessly.  Combined with the oily, reddish brown hue of the tobacco, it is an example of the artistry that is the cigar.

 The talent of the roller acts as the introduction, an aesthetic the bridge to the blender’s complex and delicious crescendo of smoke. An earthy, sweet, prelight draw  is transformed into a peppery drum roll that gets my mustache twirling as smoke plumes out of my nose. A slight metallic backend shows itself around the edges of my palate, but evaporates from the cigar’s profile once about a half inch of ash is formed. 

As the pepper and spice notes temper with a nice leather backend, this medium full cigar remains enjoyable, avoiding any overly earthy or acrid off flavors that I feel sometimes persist in lesser Nicaraguan sticks.

  

This cigar was quite enjoyable, and I can only hope a cigar honoring Carter (perhaps a candela for his mild nature) or Lyndon Johnson can join the ranks of the “Reagan” series of cigars produced by Ezra Zion. 

I won’t hold my breath though. 

Happy smoking, to both sides of the isle! 

La Flor Dominicana Double Claro #50

It’s Black Friday, and Thanksgiving is just a fuzzy memory of a number of adult beverages, one dangerously warm raw turkey, an exploded Pyrex dish, and a cornbread stuffing that was accidently augmented by the addition of yellow cake mix. I am now trading in the crowds taking advantage of retail sales for a pot of coffee and a cigar.

Since I hope to enjoy another cigar this afternoon, and don’t want to obliterate my taste buds with a palate killer, nor do I want to make my empty stomach sick with a monstrous amount of nicotine, I select the lone candela in my humidor, a La Flor Dominicana (LFD) Double Claro #50. 

The green robusto, 50 by 5 inches, is free of any flaws or thick veins. Removing it from its cellophane, it has an enticing scent of sweet, grassy, fermenting tobacco. The cap comes off cleanly as I am forced to use a knife, as I cannot find a cutter or a punch to do the deed.  A prelight draw undermines the mild nature of the candela wrapper, exhibiting a base leaning towards spice rather than vegetation as anticipated.

The initial light offers the only detracting experience of the entire smoking experience, having a slight paper like flavor that quickly dissipates as the foot is toasted and begins to glow. Once the cigar gets revved up and burning like a champ, though, a full-flavored, delightfully spicy body graces the tongue, and leaves with a warm roasted nut backend.

As the cigar progresses, it becomes increasingly more mild, but retains the basic profile till it starts to singe my walrus like whiskers.  While little change occurs through the stogie, a complex blend of pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg offers enough interest to make this one of the best cigars I have smoked in quite a while.  With none of the metallic or acrid flavors that can develop in even the best non-Cuban cigar, this is a must try for the serious mild cigar smoker, and a must have for my humidor.

Happy smoking, and happy holidays!

Trinidad Paradox Churchill Review

Happy Election Day my fellow smokers and drinkers!

I know it’s been a while since the last time I posted any new content here on Intoxico as life showed its not so pretty head around the corner just as things started to pick up. I will avoid going into great detail, but my mother had some persistent health issues escalate after a relative defrauded her of a nice sum of money. This has required a bit of additional assistance and vigilance from my brother and me, as well as our spouses.

Thankfully, things are settling down, and slowly my new space is getting squared away, so I have taken the day off to build some shelves from IKEA and do a touch of cleaning, as well as light up a cigar while results from the Obama and Romney dance are being tallied.

 The cigar du jour is a Trinidad Paradox Churchill. Wrapped in a a Cuban seed Crillo wrapper grown in Mexico that is an oh so nice reddish brown, Dominican binder, Nicaraguan filler, and with dimensions of 54 by 7, this boxed pressed stogie is heavy, even for its not so small size.

 Taking a prelight draw to avoid trying to light a plugged cigar, the raw tobacco offers a slightly earthy body accented by gingerbread notes.

First light has a dry finish with a slight acridity, and offers a mild spice and generic, woodsy body.

At an inch and a half the acridity dies down considerably, and the spiciness becomes more medium full in body, with notes of oak and cedar balancing the smoke. A slight burning issue started, but without any aid from myself corrected itself beautifully.

Half way through the smoke the cigar maintains its medium full profile, with wood and earth notes pulling ahead of the generic spice, accented by a slight nutmeg aspect. A nice, natural tobacco sweetness begins to round out the finish, adding a little something extra to the experience.

With the ring of glowing red tinder inching closer towards the band, the nicotine of the cigar is starting to throw a few jabs, and landing them squarely on my stomach and noggin.

Putting the cigar to rest, I must say that the cigar was enjoyable, albeit not an earth-shaking smoke. I would recommend it to anyone with the inkling to try this solid stick, and I might buy another on a whim, but I am not persuaded to stockpile the Trinidad Paradox by the box.

Well, a nice pork tenderloin is in the oven, my wife is waiting for me to join her as we watch the returns, and I have drinks to partake in. Regardless of the outcome of this election I hope that whoever wins will be honest and diligent in leading this country, and I hope that we all can continue to imbibe as Americans across party lines.

Happy Smoking!