This 6×66 soft box pressed stick features a dark chocolate brown mottled wrapper with firm pack, dry satin feel, minimal veins, tight invisible seams, large triple cap, closed foot and musty wood aroma. First light reveals a very loose draw with huge plumes of medium bodied smoke showing notes of a slightly sweet deep earth with a gritty texture and long finish. The first third gets a little bit smoother on the draw, staying on the light side. The tail end of the finish adds a touch of black pepper flavor but no zing or spice. Hitting the 1/2 way point at 40 minutes the construction is excellent, holding chunks of solid ash and the draw is now normal. Flavors shift to a slightly sweet nuttiness on the draw with a bigger black pepper dominating the finish but it’s smooth and light, no zing or spice. Ending at 1:10 where the nub got very hot, the last third showed no further changes.
