Smoked: Highclere Castle Victorian

Smoked at: West Chester, Ohio

Highclere Castle Victorian features Nicaraguan filler, a Brazilian Mata Fina binder and an oily Ecuador Habano wrapper with some nice veins. It’s hard to describe the feel – somewhat smooth, somewhat toothy, fairly oily. Whatevs! I care more about the taste than the feel. Let’s torch this bad boy!

Pepper is the immediate dominant flavor followed by earth, mixed roasted nuts and chocolate. There are also notes of cedar and oak, dark roast coffee, honey and a spicy sweetness. This cigar could use more balance in the flavor profile. For my taste, it’s too wood and pepper-driven. It was a harsh tasting cigar by the finish. The retrohale is strong on the pepper with some hints of wood. It’s full bodied and has some strength to it.

Give the Victorian devil it’s due - decent smoke output, excellent draw, fairly burn line and light grey ash that held on for dear life and tapped off when commanded.

Don’t think the Highclere Castle Victorian lives up to its hype nor its price tag. I prefer the Edwardian. But that’s just one man’s opinion.