This cigar has a very attractive medium dark Corojo wrapper with a slightly oily touch. According to one of the clerks at a local shop, this is the best of the Validation Series. We will see. The cold draw is perfect. Tonight’s beverage is a Lakewood Salted Caramel Imperial Stout.

The initial flavors are a very dominant oak and toasted tobacco with light notes of toasted tobacco and a light ginger note. The early ash looks fairly solid and the burn is even.

In the first third the predominant flavor is a very pleasant oak note over the toasted tobacco note. There is another flavor lurking that I can’t put my finger on yet. The ash is still solid and the burn is perfect.

During the second third an almost cake-like feel develops in the coffee notes. This is a very nice medium to full bodied smoke. The ale is not affecting the flavor of the cigar; a very good pairing. The ash drops in the ashtray, but not every time I put it down. The burn remains very even.

Approaching the final inch the flavor profile remains very good. The ash continues to drop in the ashtray and the burn remains very even. The late retrohale is very smooth.

Overall, a very good cigar with a flavor profile that develops without any major changes. Oak, coffee and very rich tobacco notes remain predominant. Word of mouth is that this is the best of the Validation Series, but I have yet to try the Habano. 9.7/10, Joe Bob says check it out.