I had to get emissions the other day, so I went early and thought I should have a cigar. Since it was only about 10:00 AM and I had not really eaten, I though I would go with a milder cigar and decided on a 5 Vegas Gold.
I was a little worried that it may be too moist. My humidor was running 76% when I got the stick out. Well anyway I go to the emissions place and passed so I lit up the stogie, and it lit like a charm. Things started out well, it seemed to start out with more of a toasty taste than a woodsy taste.
The draw was firm but not too hard to draw. The first third, I must have been smoking too fast because it was getting a decently pronounced cone. I felt like I was smoking slow but decided to smoke a little slower. The nutty taste started to come out a lot after I slowed down even more.
This cigar would have been a great herfing cigar because you could talk a lot between smokes. The nutty taste came to the fore front around the first and second thirds of the cigar. Rather than the normal nutty which is hazelnut and general nut flavor, I swear I could taste almond. The last part of the smoke took on a more spicy peppery and woodsy tones that came up to meet the nutty flavor.
The smoke was white and had a pleasant aroma but nothing too special. The ash was solid and was more grey than white. The cigar burned straight, like someone drew or cut the ash line in there. Other than a ten pack of Puros Indios, where the whole ten pack did that I have never seen anything burn that straight. About halfway through the cigar, the draw went from firmer to easier but never got too easy.
The size was a Toro and took about 2 hours to smoke through. One time I set it down for 3 minutes then picked it up and it was still lit, I did not need to re-light but it burned very little of the stick.
On the overall I was very happy with this. I was shocked for a brand that is known for it’s mildness I did not expect the flavors to be so strong. The straight burn was great and even though I am not a fan of the toast/burnt toast type flavor, the nutty flavor kept the wood and toast in the background and made this very enjoyable.
Note
I had a very similar experience with a 5 Vegas Gold Robusto.
Because Jon did not have the opportunity to take pictures and write
a rating sheet, I have added the pictures of the Robusto that i smoked.
Walt
Nice review Jon! I hope you continue to submit reviews!
I thought I knew every occasion to have a cigar, but an emissions test? Why not? Waiting for the government to coercively “check†the pollutants on your vehicle sounds like another great opportunity!
Jon,
Nice review. I liked you going into how to purge a cigar. Very helpful for this cigar nOOb. I’ll have to try that. Just getting a sampler with 5 Vegas Gold cigars and this may be a good time to practice this heh.
Thanks,
Dave
Walt,
My bad, I should learn to read. New to the site so just learning all your names.
Love your video’s, keep it up.
Dave
Hey Jon,
Once again thanks for the video review. I do video blog entries as well, but not for cigars my site has a completely different focus.
I totally agree with your review on this cigar. I love the Series “A” from 5 Vegas though. I’ll have to check out your review on that one.
Keep up the great work (if you can all smoking cigars work, that is).
Keep on truck’n and smoke’n,
Cal
Hi Walt,
Glad I watched your video review on this, I think I really would not have enjoyed the big sampler of these I nearly bought.
Another thing, the purging method you used in this video: Is that something you do very often? I’ve heard about the purging process, but haven’t been too successful with it. (That is probably due the fact that I didn’t incorporate the lighter with the blow-through.)
I don’t recall if you guys have covered this in the Y.Q.M.A. videos or not. If you haven’t, it might make for an interesting little segment.
Thanks!
Brian,
I purge my cigars on occasion, but I try to avoid it unless I think it absolutely has to be done for me to keep enjoying the cigar.
The thing with purging is that not only do you loose some of the bad flavors but you loose some of the good as well.
Once tried a 5-Vegas Gold Churchill size and had the same surprisingly good experience as described above. It burned for over two hours and was quite complex in flavor for a light cigar.
It’s the only light cigar I would ever smoke again. Beats established light brands like Macanudo Hyde Park (double yuck!) Excaliber, Montecristo White, etc.
Just smoked one of these bad boys tonight. A toro size cigar that I rushed through a little too fast. It was 50 degrees and raining so not the best circumstances to be smoking a cigar under. No smoking in the house as a lot of you are familiar with.
I wrote my review before I read or watched yours. All in all I would agree with most of your comments. When I purge a cigar I do not use a lighter, I just blow through the cigar for about 30 to 40 seconds. this lightens up the cigar without over heating it. Then again what do i know I’m just a beginner.
For some additional pictures check out this link.
http://web.mac.com/james.j.nelson/The_View_From_Earlville/Cigars/Entries/2007/10/11_5_Vegas_Gold.html
I just cracked open a batch of these that I got from cigarbid. I have to say that I did not have as pleasant an experience (probably my fault for smoking one right after pulling it ou of my door from DHL) so I’m going to le them simmer in the humidor for a few weeks before trying anoher one. From he fire this thing tasted like I pulled I out of someones behind and it tunnelled he entire time. When it got down to about the half way point it became a tad more nutty and enjoyable so I decided to keep it going but I really wanted to chuck the thing and it didn’t help knowing I had a Peterson on deck for my next smoke. I’m not going to let this experience lower my expectations for the next time I try one after it simmers in the box a few more weeks.
Hey walt, nice reviews. I think you are my favorite reviewer on the site.
Anyways, I have had only positive things to say about this cigar. I buy these babies by the box. Like you, I only generally smoke full bodied cigars.
I’m into the VSG’s, Camacho corojo/coyolar, Felipe G. Powers, etc.
But on the rare occasion i go mild, I go with the vegas gold! I think they are some of the most consistent smokes out there!
to each his own i guess!
One of the few that likes these
Just bought a sampler pack and this came with it. i”ve heard of them but have never tried one. For my taste this was a very good cigar. I’ve been smoking cigars for about 10 years and for a mild cigar this had lots of flavor.