Cigar Weekly

matt fury · 05-06-2004, 10:13 AM

Kind of a short review on this one, sorry... My notes "disappeared" and I'm kinda winging it.

XSS-5

Construction:
This is a short size cigar, about robusto sized, maybe a little thinner. Wrapper is a dark brown, not quite "chocolately", but more like rich leather in color. Construction looks to be very good, and it has what appears to be a very well done triple cap. Cutting doesn't happen as cleanly as I'd like, but the resulting cut is without blemish. Prelight draw is good, and reveals an uncommon taste. I don't have a word to describe it, but it is not average.

Smoke:
Lighting goes without issue. Ash burns like a whiter newsprint. Taste is a subdued rough burnt almond. As I smoke, I come to realize that the cigar is probably a bit dry, an idea reinforced by the wrapper, which starts to come apart halfway through. Despite this, the cigar burnt fairly well, requiring a bit of touchup, but went out a bit early at the end. I've been suspecting humidor problems lately, and this cigar only confirms that thought. Construction proved to be good otherwise, and provided for easy draws and lots of billowing smoke. Flavor remained pretty consistent throughout. Ash was fairly solid, but came off in the ashtray easy enough.

Conclusion:
Being that the cigar was a bit dry, my review probably isn't very accurate, so I apologize. That being said, I think there is definite potential to this one, and I'd like to know what it is so I can try it again. If I had to review my probably-dehumidified specimen, I would rate it somewhere around 84, but judging from the construction, I think it can do a lot better.

Thanks for reading!

XSubSailor · 05-06-2004, 01:35 PM

XSS-5 was a RyJ Reserve Maduro #4

I think it's a pleasant smoke w/ plenty of flavor and decent construction, although I probably won't buy any more of them. For the price, I think my Punch Elites are a better value for a corona sized smoke.

That stick probably had close to a year's age on it though....I put it in the pass about 6 mos. ago.

matt fury · 05-06-2004, 05:29 PM

Thanks, you're probably right on the Punch Elite being better, but I'll see if I can find another and post a follow-up for the sake of science.

05-06-2004, 10:13 AM	#1
matt fury Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 738	FSB Blind Review: XSS-5 Kind of a short review on this one, sorry... My notes "disappeared" and I'm kinda winging it. XSS-5 Construction: This is a short size cigar, about robusto sized, maybe a little thinner. Wrapper is a dark brown, not quite "chocolately", but more like rich leather in color. Construction looks to be very good, and it has what appears to be a very well done triple cap. Cutting doesn't happen as cleanly as I'd like, but the resulting cut is without blemish. Prelight draw is good, and reveals an uncommon taste. I don't have a word to describe it, but it is not average. Smoke: Lighting goes without issue. Ash burns like a whiter newsprint. Taste is a subdued rough burnt almond. As I smoke, I come to realize that the cigar is probably a bit dry, an idea reinforced by the wrapper, which starts to come apart halfway through. Despite this, the cigar burnt fairly well, requiring a bit of touchup, but went out a bit early at the end. I've been suspecting humidor problems lately, and this cigar only confirms that thought. Construction proved to be good otherwise, and provided for easy draws and lots of billowing smoke. Flavor remained pretty consistent throughout. Ash was fairly solid, but came off in the ashtray easy enough. Conclusion: Being that the cigar was a bit dry, my review probably isn't very accurate, so I apologize. That being said, I think there is definite potential to this one, and I'd like to know what it is so I can try it again. If I had to review my probably-dehumidified specimen, I would rate it somewhere around 84, but judging from the construction, I think it can do a lot better. Thanks for reading! __________________ MF "I love it when a plan comes together." -Col. Hannibal Smith

05-06-2004, 01:35 PM	#2
XSubSailor Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 522	XSS-5 was a RyJ Reserve Maduro #4 I think it's a pleasant smoke w/ plenty of flavor and decent construction, although I probably won't buy any more of them. For the price, I think my Punch Elites are a better value for a corona sized smoke. That stick probably had close to a year's age on it though....I put it in the pass about 6 mos. ago. __________________ 'down scope!

05-06-2004, 05:29 PM	#3
matt fury Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 738	Thanks, you're probably right on the Punch Elite being better, but I'll see if I can find another and post a follow-up for the sake of science. __________________ MF "I love it when a plan comes together." -Col. Hannibal Smith