"What ?"
The pre light aroma was unique. I can t ascribe it to anything familiar but it was not unpleasant. The initial light was a pepper bomb. The retrohale was sharp to the point of stinging my sinuses, and my long time smokers palate is conditioned to strong cigars. The draw throughout was tight to the point that the cigar was laborious to smoke. Two thirds of the way in I gave up as the cigar became sour in my mouth.
As this was the first of a 5pk and the first of this brand that I ever smoked, I will give the benefit of the doubt given the rep. that comes with this brand and will update my review upon smoking additional sticks. I did let them calm down in my humidor for a week before the first one and maybe a couple of more weeks of aging may improve them.