Connecticut

This Connecticut cigar got off to a rough start for me, but fortunately, it redeemed itself as the smoke progressed.

Right after lighting, the wrapper delivered a harsh and somewhat unpleasant taste that honestly had me questioning whether I even wanted to continue smoking it. The opening few minutes felt rough around the edges, with a bitterness that distracted from the experience rather than inviting me into it.

Thankfully, things began to settle down fairly quickly.

Once the initial harshness faded, the cigar transformed into a much more enjoyable smoke. The profile mellowed considerably, revealing a mild-bodied character with soft creamy notes, light wood, and subtle earthy undertones. The smoke itself became smooth and easygoing, making for a relaxed and approachable experience during the remainder of the cigar.

Construction overall was respectable. The draw remained comfortable, the burn stayed fairly even, and the cigar produced enough creamy smoke to keep things enjoyable once it found its footing.

This ended up being one of those cigars where patience paid off. Had I judged it solely on the first few minutes, I probably would have written it off entirely. Instead, it gradually settled into a decent, everyday mild smoke that became far more pleasant than its rough beginning suggested.

At around $4.80 a stick, it ultimately offered reasonable value — not a spectacular cigar by any means, but certainly not a bad one once it got past its shaky start.