Duran Signature Santo Cardenas Edition Cigar Review

EDIT: Yes I know the camera quality was poor here – first try with it – working on it! This 7.25×57 salomon stick features a dark tan oily soft wrapper with small veins, tight seams, a slightly soft even light pack with a sweet cocoa and hay aroma.  First light reveals a perfect draw with plentiful rick medium-full bodied smoke bringing flavors of a sweet bright cedar, touch of cocoa and a long smooth finish adding just a hint of pepper.  The first third changes completely as we get in to the 57rg section.  Draw is loose, flavors fall to a mild-medium, the sweetness almost disappears and the finish is very short.  The lighter bright wood notes are heavier towards an oak while a big pepper greets you if you retrohale.  Hitting the 1/2 way point at 35 minutes flavors ramped back up to a medium-full with the same deep woody core while the finish gets longer and earthy with a bit of strength joining in. Ending at 1:20 the draw flavors are joined by a creamy note, the finish goes longer and it got very hot shifting to just a hot nutty note where I chose to end it with over an inch remaining.  Thank you to Duran Cigars for sending this for review!