Cigar Weekly

clone-k · 04-12-2002, 09:45 PM

Here goes round two of the Clone K review saga. As a huge fan of the Maduro line this is the next step in my CAO evolution. I was really looking forward to this smoke, and here are my impressions.

Construction:

This baby was put together well. A perfect beautiful specimen with no flaws. Deep brown wrapper and a good smell. It was a little tight to the feel, but had a nearly perfect draw, not to easy, not to hard. Produced ample smoke for a corona, but nothing outrageous. Stayed lit all the way down, even when I walked away for five minutes to take a phone call. Ash was thick and sturdy as a board. I was curious as to how long I could have let the ash go, but always knocked it off after an inch and a half or so. It was still solid at that distance, wowsa. So far its gravy for Clone K

9.5 Of 10 Nearly perfect. More CAO mastery here.

Taste:

Here is where things went south for me. This taste profile is not one that appeals to me. It was a fairly complex medium strength cigar. It was intensely spicy at some points, but for the most part had a slightly spicy taste that was the mainstay. It also had a slightly pepper taste at points, and I mean jalapeno pepper taste. It was unique in that I had never had that experience before, but to my buds, it was jalapeno. Also encountered a lot of earthy flavor and leathery tones. If I only enjoyed these flavors, I would have been in heaven. But to me this was one smoke I could have done without.

7 of 10 I hate to go that low, because I know to someone this is the flavor they would love. For that reason alone I didn't give it a 5. Trying to objective here.

Price:

I'll admit I got off easy on these guys. Got a five pack off cigar bid for around $3.50 a pop. I have seen theme in the cigar shop for $7-10 dollar range, and stayed away for that reason. If you can bid em cheap, and you enjoy the profile I described I'd say go for it. If you have the same prices at your shop as I do, I say stay away.

6 of 10 I wouldn't pay that much for them, but the quality is there if you like this flavor.

Final Conclusions:

This is sadly a cigar I just don't like. To be objective, I did this review with a cringe on my face. I can't say this cigar is really Extreme in any way, but hype sells. Having never had a Cameroon version of this line, this may be extreme in comparison. The quality is definitely there. I read a quickie review in the DB that foretold a spicy sweet taste, but I tasted nothing even remotely sweet. Maduro lovers will want to stay ten miles away from this guy. I will not be smoking another one of these guys, and somebody out there will be getting some Extreme's coming their way. Despite my high marks.

22.5 of 30 That’s all folks…

Your Pal,
Clone K

Bacon flavored cigars... Now there's an idea.

scott1966 · 04-12-2002, 10:34 PM

Good review. I tried that same size and didn't find it that spicey or peppery. I agree with you in that I don't like my cigars spicey or peppery.

HockeySR2 · 04-13-2002, 12:03 AM

Nice review! I've always found these to be an above average cigar.

Cheers,

Shawn

spiridon · 04-14-2002, 11:23 AM

Great review clone-K. Even though you didn't like it......after reading your review, I am looking forward to trying the one I have sitting in the 'Dor. You made it sound like an interesting smoke, something I'll probably like.

£ Who tagged BigO's wiener?? £

jchamb · 04-14-2002, 03:09 PM

Great job on the review! Thanks.

bigbear · 04-14-2002, 04:00 PM

Thanks for your review.

04-14-2002, 08:46 PM

First of all let me say that I feel that I am still a novice (smoking since Dec '01), so if my thinking is incorrect I apologize in advance. By reading the title of this post I thought that the review was of a CAO eXtreme but I kept seeing the word "maduro" mentioned, and your description of the flavor is what I have come to expect from the extreme line but not the maduro. Although the wrapper of the eXtreme line is pretty dark, it is nowhere near the almost black color of the CAO L'Anniversaire Maduro, which has a red band. So I am curious, did you smoke an eXtreme with a brown band or a maduro with a red band?

I have myself fallen in love with the looks of the CAO line, but have been disappointed with the flavor of the "eXtreme" series. This is definitely a great cigar, but not what I would consider "eXtreme", it seems more "medium" to me. On the other hand, the CAO maduro's that I have tried have been much more full flavored. The Brazilia line is also tasty, and IMHO a bit more complex than the "eXtreme".

Thank you for your review no matter what the case happens to be. 8)

tbateman · 04-14-2002, 08:53 PM

branas, welcome to CW and I agree, the eXtreme's just don seem to be. While a very nice smoke as are all the CAO's they just don't knock my socks off with strength.

Tom
--
"I am a meat popsicle." -- Korben Dallas

clone-k · 04-14-2002, 11:04 PM

Sorry if there was confussion. It was an Extreme. The two references at the beginning and end are dealing with my personnal preference of Maduro cigars. If you take a peek back a few posts you will catch my review of a CAO L'Anniversaire Maduro. I have many CAO L' Maduro's in various shapes and sizes and would never mix it up with the Extreme. Something from the Brazilia line is next on slate of CAO, but I can't decide on a size.

Your Pal,
Clone K

Bacon flavored cigars... Now there's an idea.

04-15-2002, 06:51 AM

clone-k,

I can see now that I read your post incorrectly. As for the Brazilia line, I have tried the Samba and the Gol. The Samba seemed to have more pronounced flavors IMHO, but I suppose part of my favoritism could be attributed to the fact that I prefer a smoke to be about the size of the Samba in the first place.

04-12-2002, 09:45 PM	#1
clone-k Starting Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Jefferson City, Missouri USA Posts: 80	Here goes round two of the Clone K review saga. As a huge fan of the Maduro line this is the next step in my CAO evolution. I was really looking forward to this smoke, and here are my impressions. Construction: This baby was put together well. A perfect beautiful specimen with no flaws. Deep brown wrapper and a good smell. It was a little tight to the feel, but had a nearly perfect draw, not to easy, not to hard. Produced ample smoke for a corona, but nothing outrageous. Stayed lit all the way down, even when I walked away for five minutes to take a phone call. Ash was thick and sturdy as a board. I was curious as to how long I could have let the ash go, but always knocked it off after an inch and a half or so. It was still solid at that distance, wowsa. So far its gravy for Clone K 9.5 Of 10 Nearly perfect. More CAO mastery here. Taste: Here is where things went south for me. This taste profile is not one that appeals to me. It was a fairly complex medium strength cigar. It was intensely spicy at some points, but for the most part had a slightly spicy taste that was the mainstay. It also had a slightly pepper taste at points, and I mean jalapeno pepper taste. It was unique in that I had never had that experience before, but to my buds, it was jalapeno. Also encountered a lot of earthy flavor and leathery tones. If I only enjoyed these flavors, I would have been in heaven. But to me this was one smoke I could have done without. 7 of 10 I hate to go that low, because I know to someone this is the flavor they would love. For that reason alone I didn't give it a 5. Trying to objective here. Price: I'll admit I got off easy on these guys. Got a five pack off cigar bid for around $3.50 a pop. I have seen theme in the cigar shop for $7-10 dollar range, and stayed away for that reason. If you can bid em cheap, and you enjoy the profile I described I'd say go for it. If you have the same prices at your shop as I do, I say stay away. 6 of 10 I wouldn't pay that much for them, but the quality is there if you like this flavor. Final Conclusions: This is sadly a cigar I just don't like. To be objective, I did this review with a cringe on my face. I can't say this cigar is really Extreme in any way, but hype sells. Having never had a Cameroon version of this line, this may be extreme in comparison. The quality is definitely there. I read a quickie review in the DB that foretold a spicy sweet taste, but I tasted nothing even remotely sweet. Maduro lovers will want to stay ten miles away from this guy. I will not be smoking another one of these guys, and somebody out there will be getting some Extreme's coming their way. Despite my high marks. 22.5 of 30 That’s all folks… Your Pal, Clone K Bacon flavored cigars... Now there's an idea. __________________ Surgeon General Clone K's Warning: Cigar smoking is probably bad for you, even if you don't inhale. Please send all of yours and any you encounter immediately to me, so I can dispose of them in an orderly fashion. Vote Clone K for Mooch of the Month!!

04-13-2002, 12:03 AM	#3
HockeySR2 Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 215	Nice review! I've always found these to be an above average cigar. Cheers, Shawn __________________ Don't blame me, I voted for Kim Jong Il

04-14-2002, 11:23 AM	#4
spiridon Herf God Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Daphne, Al. USA Posts: 10,874	Great review clone-K. Even though you didn't like it......after reading your review, I am looking forward to trying the one I have sitting in the 'Dor. You made it sound like an interesting smoke, something I'll probably like. £ Who tagged BigO's wiener?? £ __________________ When you're ready to get in shape, click Here!!

04-14-2002, 03:09 PM	#5
jchamb Club Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Arlington, TX Cuba Posts: 3,942	Great job on the review! Thanks. __________________ "That cigar STINKS!" - Mrs. jchamb

04-14-2002, 04:00 PM	#6
bigbear Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 777	Thanks for your review. __________________ -- Jeff www.bigbearworks.com "I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members." -- Groucho Marx

04-12-2002, 10:34 PM	#2
scott1966 Herf Meister Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: USA Posts: 6,377	Good review. I tried that same size and didn't find it that spicey or peppery. I agree with you in that I don't like my cigars spicey or peppery.

04-14-2002, 08:46 PM	#7
Guest Posts: n/a	First of all let me say that I feel that I am still a novice (smoking since Dec '01), so if my thinking is incorrect I apologize in advance. By reading the title of this post I thought that the review was of a CAO eXtreme but I kept seeing the word "maduro" mentioned, and your description of the flavor is what I have come to expect from the extreme line but not the maduro. Although the wrapper of the eXtreme line is pretty dark, it is nowhere near the almost black color of the CAO L'Anniversaire Maduro, which has a red band. So I am curious, did you smoke an eXtreme with a brown band or a maduro with a red band? I have myself fallen in love with the looks of the CAO line, but have been disappointed with the flavor of the "eXtreme" series. This is definitely a great cigar, but not what I would consider "eXtreme", it seems more "medium" to me. On the other hand, the CAO maduro's that I have tried have been much more full flavored. The Brazilia line is also tasty, and IMHO a bit more complex than the "eXtreme". Thank you for your review no matter what the case happens to be. 8)

04-14-2002, 08:53 PM	#8
tbateman Herf Meister Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Rock Ridge Posts: 8,899	branas, welcome to CW and I agree, the eXtreme's just don seem to be. While a very nice smoke as are all the CAO's they just don't knock my socks off with strength. Tom -- "I am a meat popsicle." -- Korben Dallas __________________ Mongo only pawn... in game of life. Mongoyim - JLOH #007

04-14-2002, 11:04 PM	#9
clone-k Starting Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Jefferson City, Missouri USA Posts: 80	Sorry if there was confussion. It was an Extreme. The two references at the beginning and end are dealing with my personnal preference of Maduro cigars. If you take a peek back a few posts you will catch my review of a CAO L'Anniversaire Maduro. I have many CAO L' Maduro's in various shapes and sizes and would never mix it up with the Extreme. Something from the Brazilia line is next on slate of CAO, but I can't decide on a size. Your Pal, Clone K Bacon flavored cigars... Now there's an idea. __________________ Surgeon General Clone K's Warning: Cigar smoking is probably bad for you, even if you don't inhale. Please send all of yours and any you encounter immediately to me, so I can dispose of them in an orderly fashion. Vote Clone K for Mooch of the Month!!

04-15-2002, 06:51 AM	#10
Guest Posts: n/a	clone-k, I can see now that I read your post incorrectly. As for the Brazilia line, I have tried the Samba and the Gol. The Samba seemed to have more pronounced flavors IMHO, but I suppose part of my favoritism could be attributed to the fact that I prefer a smoke to be about the size of the Samba in the first place.