Cigar Czars

 

Review of Blue Mountain El ThreeSome Cigar

By: Gary Manelski

The Blue Mountain El ThreeSome is one of the most unique cigars that I have ever smoked. This cigar is actually three cigars in one, as each section is made with a different wrapper and a different blend of filler tobaccos. The El ThreeSome cigar measures six inches long with a ring gauge of 60, and a single stick is priced at about $8. They are also available online in bundles of 25 for $159, which works out to an average price of $6.36 per stick.

The first section at the foot of the cigar measures approximately 1˝ inches long, and is made with a Connecticut wrapper and a blend of Honduran filler tobaccos bunched inside a Nicaraguan binder. This was may favorite section of the cigar, having a very pleasant and naturally sweet tobacco flavor right from the start. After a few puffs, a bit of spice joined the mix, and the smoke was in the medium bodied range. I rate the flavor with a stellar 4.5 points on a 5-point scale. The cigar burned evenly and had a very good draw, but a quick booster light was needed after 20 minutes to keep the cigar from going out. The first section took 30 minutes to smoke before reaching the middle section, and the cigar was still holding onto a nice firm ash.

There was a seamless transition to the second section of the cigar as it continued to burn evenly. The second/middle section measures approximately two inches in length, and is made with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. As you might expect, there was a rapid (but not immediate) transformation in flavor after reaching the middle section. The cigar became medium-to-full bodied as a leather flavor emerged. There were still hints of sweetness and spice, but they were gradually fading. I ashed the cigar for the first time about 40 minutes after lighting up, which was about 10 minutes into the second section. A couple of minor touch-up lights were applied to keep the burn even during the 40 minutes that it took to smoke through the middle part of the cigar. I rate this section with a very good 4 points on a 5-point scale.

There was also a seamless transition from the second to the third and last section of the cigar, which is made with a Mata Fina Maduro wrapper and an undisclosed blend of filler tobaccos. Although the third section measures about 2˝ inches long, only about half an inch was smoked, since the cigar was burned down to two inches remaining. I smoked the third/last section for about 15 minutes, when the flavor became more spicy and leathery as the smoke entered into the full bodied range. I rate this section with 3.5 points on a 5-point scale. Fortunately, the least enjoyable section of the cigar was also the least time consuming.

Overall, it took me 85 minutes to smoke the entire cigar down to two inches remaining. Besides its unique characteristics, the Blue Mountain El ThreeSome is mostly a very good tasting cigar that deserves an overall superior rating of 4.25 points. I enjoyed this cigar much more than the Blue Mountain Anniversary Cigar, which is made with “only” two different wrappers. I have smoked and reviewed the El ThreeSome cigar previously for About.com, and enjoyed it a bit more this second time around. These cigars are definitely worth a try.


El ThreeSome Cigar

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