Disclaimer (Spoiler Alert!) - this review is one man's opinion of a single example of this cigar. It is always possible that I picked up a bad one. If anyone has tried these cigars and disagrees with my observations, please reply to this thread and give your input.
There is a B&M across town from me that carries the Kauai Cigar Company line of cigars. Apparently there are not many stores on the Mainland carrying these sticks. I think I know why.
The Luana Iki Dark is a little cigar (4.5" x 46) with a hefty price point -over $10.00. Incidentally, the 46 RG seems a little generous - you can see a bit of space all the way around the circumference of the cigar when you set it in the 46-ring. When set in the 44-ring, the line of the ring shows all the way around.
According to the Kauai Cigar Company web site, the filler is grown in Hawaii, then shipped to Nicaragua for construction. The Dark version uses a Nicaraguan wrapper. No mention of binder.
I just had to try one. Clerk at the B&M advised me I was in for a treat. So, when I sat down last evening to give it a go, I was anticipating something really interesting, if not great.
Appearance - the best word I can use to describe this cigar is cute. Not the best start. It is small, slender, and has a little curly head, like the stem of a small pepper. Just looks cute. A gentle squeeze showed it to be rather soft all over. Another not-so-good sign.
Cut and draw - I cut the little curl away and lit the remaining twig (not really big enough to be a stick). The draw was roughly equivalent to pulling air through a 46 (or 44)-gauge hollow tube. No resistance whatever. This, along with the overall softness of the cigar convinces me that I did not receive much tobacco for my $10.00 investment.
Burn - Over its short 4.5-inch length, this cigar produced no fewer than 3 canoes - may even have been 4, but I remember 3 for sure. As soon as one corrected, another formed. It also burned pretty quickly - yet another tribute, I think, to its loosely-rolled pittance of tobacco.
Flavor - Leather. Pretty much nothing but leather on the draw, with a harsh, unappealing aftertaste. After the first third I caught an occasional fleeting note of florals, and further along I encountered a trace of chocolate. Otherwise it was nothing but leather, and the strongest leathery flavor I have ever experienced - not that my experience is all that broad. I didn't mind the flavor, but for a tiny stick, with very little tobacco, and carrying a premium price tag, I expected at least a little complexity. On a positive note, the smoke smelled very nice in the air, and there was actually a fair amount of it.
My early impressions were that this was probably the worst cigar I have ever smoked. In retrospect, I can't really swear that I liked the flavor any less than some others of my non-favorite cigars. The aftertaste, yes, but not the flavor. I can say without reservation that this was the most disappointing cigar I have ever smoked. Between the price paid, the somewhat exotic heritage, and the recommendation of the store clerk, I had high hopes, none of which bore fruit.
Note to Stogie - if anyone reaches expert status on Kauai Cigar Company cigars, the award logo has to include a medal for bravery above and beyond the call of duty. I can't feature anyone smoking five of these for any reason other than a bet, a dare, or a reward.
Again, this review is just one man's opinion! I wish I had a better report. I really enjoy writing positive reviews, and tend not to review cigars I really don't like. This one was just too disappointing to leave alone.
There is a B&M across town from me that carries the Kauai Cigar Company line of cigars. Apparently there are not many stores on the Mainland carrying these sticks. I think I know why.
The Luana Iki Dark is a little cigar (4.5" x 46) with a hefty price point -over $10.00. Incidentally, the 46 RG seems a little generous - you can see a bit of space all the way around the circumference of the cigar when you set it in the 46-ring. When set in the 44-ring, the line of the ring shows all the way around.
According to the Kauai Cigar Company web site, the filler is grown in Hawaii, then shipped to Nicaragua for construction. The Dark version uses a Nicaraguan wrapper. No mention of binder.
I just had to try one. Clerk at the B&M advised me I was in for a treat. So, when I sat down last evening to give it a go, I was anticipating something really interesting, if not great.
Appearance - the best word I can use to describe this cigar is cute. Not the best start. It is small, slender, and has a little curly head, like the stem of a small pepper. Just looks cute. A gentle squeeze showed it to be rather soft all over. Another not-so-good sign.
Cut and draw - I cut the little curl away and lit the remaining twig (not really big enough to be a stick). The draw was roughly equivalent to pulling air through a 46 (or 44)-gauge hollow tube. No resistance whatever. This, along with the overall softness of the cigar convinces me that I did not receive much tobacco for my $10.00 investment.
Burn - Over its short 4.5-inch length, this cigar produced no fewer than 3 canoes - may even have been 4, but I remember 3 for sure. As soon as one corrected, another formed. It also burned pretty quickly - yet another tribute, I think, to its loosely-rolled pittance of tobacco.
Flavor - Leather. Pretty much nothing but leather on the draw, with a harsh, unappealing aftertaste. After the first third I caught an occasional fleeting note of florals, and further along I encountered a trace of chocolate. Otherwise it was nothing but leather, and the strongest leathery flavor I have ever experienced - not that my experience is all that broad. I didn't mind the flavor, but for a tiny stick, with very little tobacco, and carrying a premium price tag, I expected at least a little complexity. On a positive note, the smoke smelled very nice in the air, and there was actually a fair amount of it.
My early impressions were that this was probably the worst cigar I have ever smoked. In retrospect, I can't really swear that I liked the flavor any less than some others of my non-favorite cigars. The aftertaste, yes, but not the flavor. I can say without reservation that this was the most disappointing cigar I have ever smoked. Between the price paid, the somewhat exotic heritage, and the recommendation of the store clerk, I had high hopes, none of which bore fruit.
Note to Stogie - if anyone reaches expert status on Kauai Cigar Company cigars, the award logo has to include a medal for bravery above and beyond the call of duty. I can't feature anyone smoking five of these for any reason other than a bet, a dare, or a reward.
Again, this review is just one man's opinion! I wish I had a better report. I really enjoy writing positive reviews, and tend not to review cigars I really don't like. This one was just too disappointing to leave alone.