Cigar: Zino Platinum Scepter Series Pudge
Binder: Connecticut
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Tobacco: Peru/Dominican
Length: 5 1/2
Ring Gauge: 52

While I do love cigars, I try my best to dodge the pretentiousness that sometimes comes with cigar culture. Some high-priced brands are specifically marketed as a super premium smokes. In turn you have individuals who pick these sticks up to posture and flaunt their status.

One brand in question is Zino. Owned by Davidoff of Geneva, Zino is constantly scrutinized by seasoned smokers for its hefty price tag but sometimes average quality. I’ve smoked Zino’s previously and admittedly I would say 90% of them were gifted to me.

Recently I was gifted a Platinum Scepter Series Pudge. Still in its cellophane casing, this cigar really peaked my interest. The wrapper looks like a beautiful marriage of coffee and milk. There is one vein stemming from the head, but the wrapper has no wrinkles in sight. Also the cap is masterfully woven. It is clear Zino puts a lot of attention into detail.

Honestly the Zino Platinum Scepter Series is my favorite looking non-Cuban band hands down. It’s very bold and regal at the same time.

Since this is a smaller cigar I went with a punch instead of a cut. When I punched, it created a small crack at the head. Very disappointing. The pre-light draw tells me this is going to be a mild to medium cigar.

Upon lighting the foot, I got a good intake of creamy notes which taste great. This cigar is right in the mild zone. The burn started out a little crazy; the wrapper seems very delicate and I might have scorched it.

As I get into the middle of this cigar, it starts to show some great balance. Flavors of cream and other subtle sweetness result in a really tasty smooth smoke. The burn line has now settled and the ash is holding great for such a small smoke.

I’ve been sitting with this Pudge for about a half hour and I am almost done with it. The profile is still smooth and I’m getting a thin layer of coffee on my palette every time I exhale. For a mild smoke, this is really tasty. More impressive is the cigar’s construction. The ash is longer than the rest of the cigar which is an indicator of superior quality.

I rarely ever smoke a cigar to the nub. In the case of the Zino Pudge, I couldn’t resist. It isn’t complex and doesn’t really change on you, but what it does deliver is a real tasty smoke. Other than my mishap with lighting this stick up, the construction was almost perfect.