Aug. 10, 2011,
I smoked one of these about 10 days ago – right after I unpacked them – and while I was intrigued, I had some issues with it. In all fairness, I know better than to smoke something that has just arrived on my doorstep via the Post Office, UPS or any other shipping company. I know better but I did it anyway.
Today I decided pull another Panacea Green Broadleaf out of the cooler where it’s been resting and give this cigar another try. The appearance is of course the same, reddish brown, light oily sheen and veiny. The main difference initially is that it has benefitted from sitting at 65% RH for a while. Let’s just say it’s considerably firmer than the first one I had (right out of the shipping box). It still has a sort of rough appearance and looks a little veiny but this doesn’t subtract from the smoking experience. I think it has some character, visually than many premium hand rolls lack, and this is definitely hand-rolled.
The pre-light aroma is light barnyard, sort of the smell you get standing upwind from the barn – it’s there, but not overpowering.. The draw, while easy is not too loose and is tighter than the first one. The pre-light taste has a mild sweetness,with leather and spice being more pronounced than before and and the peppery aftertaste seems to linger. I also do not pick up the “mint” flavor that I had before. There is something else there, something almost floral or herbal, but I can’t name it yet.
There is a nice amount of gray smoke. It looks to be burning fairly straight and the ash is a dark gray with black tinges. About two inches in and I bumped the arm on my chair and the ash fell off. I am also starting to pick up some woodsy notes that compliments the leather. I’m finding the strength to be a solid medium.
About halfway through and while the flavor profile hasn’t changed that much I am picking up some hints of coffee and chocolate. The strength hasn’t changed, the draw is still easy, and yet it’s not burning hot. It’s burning straight and I haven’t had to do a touch up – something I was expecting with the veins in the wrapper
After about 1 hour 15 minutes into the smoke and I am down to the last third. I sat it down for a few minutes (bathroom break) and had to relight when I came back. That was the first time I’ve had to do anything with it. I’m impressed by this. The strength has picked up considerable and it is stronger now with more spice and dark chocolate notes. And, it is still not burning hot. I really like this as it tells me that this is a well constructed cigar.
Bottom line is that I will buy more of the Panacea Green Broadleaf and would not hesitate to recommend or share it with a fellow cigar smoker.
