5 Vegas Miami

After having a 5 Vegas Limitada fall apart in my mouth a couple of weeks ago, I needed something to renew my faith in the brand.  This Nicaraguan beauty was exactly what the doctor ordered...

I got this 5 Vegas Miami (Toro: 6" x 48) as part of welcome aboard mailboxicide package from shuckins (aka Ron) at BotL.org.  I have owned several of these, actually, but I've given or traded away all but this one, and I'm very glad I kept one for myself.

First, the construction: no flaws anywhere that I can see.  The Corojo wrapper is smooth and oily and richly colored; it's well-packed and evenly firm from head to foot.  The triple cap cuts cleanly and yields an easy draw.  Toasted and lit, it gave up a surprising amount of flavor right away, and thick, sweet smoke.  The flavors were typically 5-Vegasian:  leather and black pepper, predominantly, but with other, sweeter spice in there, too.  Almost a ginger, or nutmeg maybe.  Delicious, whatever the hell it was.

The leather and pepper changed strengths as the cigar burned, one waxing while the other waned, but always maintaining an excellent balance as the sweeter spice seemed to come and go.  I would describe it as full-bodied, but quite smooth - probably the smoothest non-mild 5 Vegas I've had yet.  Don Pepin Garcia's influence, perhaps.  The burn was cool and sharp and even and the draw stayed consistent all the way through.  A pleasure to smoke.  I suddenly find myself wishing I hadn't given away all the others...

Appearance and Construction:  15/15

Flavor:  21/25

Smoking Characteristics:  22/25

Overall Impression:  32/35

Total:  90/100

5 Vegas Limitada 2010

In case you missed it, yesterday was World No Tobacco Day.  I celebrated this momentous occasion like I celebrate most other momentous occasions - I lit up a cigar.

As you can tell from my previous reviews, I have generally enjoyed most 5 Vegas cigars that I have tried.  I'd had this 5 Vegas Limitada 2010 (Belicoso: 6" x 52) in the humi for quite a while now and I thought it would be perfect for such an auspicious occasion.  I was wrong.  I can't recall a 5 Vegas product I've enjoyed less.

Before I lit it up, I notice that the cap was torn.  No problem - I was going to cut that part off anyway.  But then I noticed that the foot was torn, too.  On closer inspection, the wrapper looked very thin and dry and, well... shoddy, like it hadn't been applied correctly.  It was loose in several places, and I could have easily peeled it.  There were noticeable lumps, but no soft spots.

The looks improved when I clipped off the broken cap, and the draw was good.  It already tasted like a typical 5 Vegas, leather and black pepper.  Once lit, it was more of the same: leather and pepper, medium-full bodied, fairly smooth.  Good, in a word.  The prototypical 5 Vegas taste.  After the first half-inch or so, I began getting some dark cocoa notes, which is always a welcome addition for me.

But the construction issues kept me from enjoying it.  The ash was annoyingly flaky - I had it all over me before I was done.  There was plenty of smoke, but the burn was uneven.  I had to touch it up twice with my lighter to keep it from canoeing.  By the two-thirds point, the head was unraveling and the draw became so loose I was having trouble keeping the thing lit.  After the second time it went out I didn't even bother relighting it.  Very disappointing, especially for a cigar with such hype behind it.

Appearance and Construction:  7/15

Flavor:  21/25

Smoking Characteristics:  10/25

Overall Impression:  20/35

Total:  58/100