The PEZ dispenser
*** This is from my tasting notes that I take just for me while I’m smoking. I just copied and pasted this from my notes. I don’t write these as formal reviews and it kind of veers off for a couple of sentences. It gets back to the point quickly. ***
Dalay Istanbul Principe
4 1/2x46 parejo
56 minute smoke time
Ecuadorian corojo '99 wrapper
Pennsylvania binder
Turkey/Nicaragua/USA fillers
I picked this tonight because it's been resting since I got the box in December. I'd never even heard of this brand before I ordered it but the price was ridiculously low, so I took a chance. I was checking the website from where I purchased it for something else last night and saw that this was on sale for the same ridiculous price and wanted to try one before I pulled the trigger.
Excellent construction, good draw. Dark dark grey ash. Cedar and almond on the first few draws. A couple times during the 1st inch, I swear to god, I tasted cherry PEZ. It was only a few draws but honestly, I kinda liked it.
Some pepper toward the end of the first third and into the second. It was totally absent until then, and the addition was really nice contrast.
I really like the main band. Nice artwork and has kind of a postage stamp perforation look. Very unique. Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the box is very nice. It stands out.
Into the second third got some cocoa and the cherry PEZ came back for a few puffs. Got a little bit of almond again, right before I took off the secondary band. The burn was absolutely perfect. Great ash, which I finally tapped off before removing the band.
Balou finally woke up and has been meowing his ass off at me from the other side of the window. What an asshole.
At the end of the second third, right at the bottom of the main band, I got some vague floral notes. Which is a good thing because the few reviews I could find out there said that this was a very floral-forward cigar, including some rose water notes. I don't mind floral like orange blossom, stuff like that, but you know I can't stand rose water and I haven't picked up any of that. The reviews were for larger vitolas though so that might be part of it.
This is a light to medium body cigar. I only smoke in the evenings for what I call my "cigar meditation," but I can see someone really liking this for a morning smoke. The main band was glued on excessively, but I was able to slide it off the cap end without any damage to the wrapper.
I nubbed this fucker. I guess I'm screwed because I have to buy another box now. At MSRP this is almost $20 a stick. That's really pushing it but at just less than half of that... absolutely yes! Plus, I'm running out of space in the tupperdor where I keep all my boxes!
I think I'm gonna nickname this one the "PEZ dispenser." Very unique occasional cherry flavor but I liked it!