Jordan at The Wharf handed me another of Steven Ysidron's Epicurean samples today.  This one is the vintage 2008 Azul.  After the killer smoke that the Vintage 2007 provided, I was excited beyond words.  I will admit that I wasn't expecting it to be as good as the 2007.  So, how did it compare?  Let's see....

Construction: The Azul is another well presented cigar.  Wrapped in cedar with a black ribbon at the foot and a silver version of the AG label, this cigar begs to be looked at as well as to be smoked.  The wrapper is dark brown with light colored veins and a slightly dry appearance which makes it feel rustic.

Pre-light Aroma and Draw: Out of the cellophane and cedar, I get whiffs of cedar (obviously), cocoa, and something that reminds me of red wine.  The draw is perfect and a cold pull gives off a nice raisin flavor with a touch of peat.  Being a scotch drinker, I find that exciting.

Light and Burn: As you can imagine, lighting is a snap and the burn is almost laser perfect from start to finish.  The ash is white and quite clingy too.  No laptop ash this time either - always a good thing.

Tasting: Starting off, the Azul is powerful with black, white, and red pepper.  I like a cigar that announces what you are getting into and this one is a wake-up call.

The first third keeps loads of pepper from the start and adds cocoa and a nice creamy smooth floral flavor that smacks of a nice mint tea.

The middle third drops off the black pepper a notch and adds leather and earth with a hint of black cherry.  It is a very well balanced and expertly blended cigar.  The strength is quite powerful in the middle too.  I picked up a huge taste of something like burnt earth that reminded me of a toasted bagel,  It's a little more raw than the 2007 AG, but that is not something I can fault it one iota. 

The final third is a bit more mellow but the flavors are still superb.  As the cigar finishes to a nub, I get the added flavor of milk chocolate.  Totally delicious.

Value: At around $9 or $10 the Azul is well priced for something so good.

Final Thoughts: Yet again, Steven Ysidron shows his prodigious skill as a cigar maker and Gary Griffith shows that he knows top quality cigars to add to his stables.  The AG series is masterful.  I would smoke these any time if I had a box.  While both cigars in the lineup are amazing, I think the Azul would be my normal pick given the choice.  I enjoyed every second during the smoke and look forward to the next Emilio order at The Wharf to hopefully include these amazing cigars.  Highly recommended!

Wrapper: Sun grown habano
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Nicaraguan

Strength: Full

Size: 6 x 50

The silver band has a nice old school feel....something like art deco or art nouveau

The sunlight gleam off of that band looks awesome....just as good as the cigar itself.