This 5×56 stick features quite the decorative display, with very patriotic banding including a footband, a firm even feel and pack with a slightly toothy very oily robust wrapper consisting on mainly a maduro but with a slender striped lighter shade section running up like a barberpole. The aroma is oily hay and barnyard and it shows minimal veins with tight invisible seams beyond the stripes. First light reveals a perfect draw with plenty of thick rich smoke giving medium-full body flavors of a slightly sweet, oily earth with black pepper flavors but no spice. The finish is equally oily and rich, holding a smooth earth and pepper till the next draw. 20 minutes in the burn is a little uneven but not needing a touchup. Draw is still perfect and flavors have added a nice creamy roasted coffee, with the finish getting very parched and short. 40 minutes in at the 1/2 way point flavors shift to a smoother, sweet creamy coffee with a longer finish dropping the earth and pepper. It required one small touchup to even the burn. Ending at 1 hour the last third showed no more transitions, although the burn did continue a slow progression to one side. Thank you very much to viewer Owen Johnson for generously providing this sample for review!
