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Vicente Blends (@vicenteblends) Precious Blends- ‘Gold Standard V’ - (Ligero)

Double Robusto (5.5 x 54) || L: 140, ø: 21.4 Factory: Undisclosed Blender(s): Vincent McGlone Dominican Puro Wrapper: Dominican Criollo ’98 (Ligero) Binder: Dominican Filler: Dominican Blender: Vincent McGlone In Short: A relatively linear version of the GSV with a very bold center. Certainly not as amazing as the production GSV or New Corojo but in it’s uniqueness, worth trying if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one. Construction: Marbled/molted wrapper not too different in color from the original GSV. Excellently filled; and despite me forgetting the Boveda in the box, these are perfect in draw too. Still nothing like Vicente’s Blends anywhere on the market. Cold/Hot Draw: Cold draw is superfluous! Continuing this way when lit. Burn-line: Fairly even despite a poor lighting on my part. Ash: Light gray to bright white with excellent structure. Smoke: Thick & billowing, more than plentiful. Part and parcel from the excellent airflow. ; ⅓: Beginning on a strong, umami and sharp expression like chili flaked miso soup. Continuing with a tree bark and walnut/cashew element into the mix. Slowly beginning to smoothen out, adding a dense layer of cream to the middle of the walnut/cashew. As they blend, it all takes up this Cuban-esque twang that’s hard to describe on this dark, nougat and mud backing. From afar, it’s a lot like a slightly oaky ganache. The oak and walnut intensify, morphing into perhaps a walnut wood, laden with impregnated oils while still retaining the cream, cashew and walnut nuttiness. She carries on about the cream, ganache, now cedar wood and salty myrrh. It’s quite the ensemble of flavors. Hanging in these delicious gardens while the palate relishes. Becoming hinted by a mossy oak aspect then overbearing on mossy funk, vintage furniture, cedar and a touch of white pepper to end. ⅔: A return to cream, cashew/walnut and cedar- the deep, dark forest of abandoned old folk furniture didn’t last long but some seesawing occurs back to and fro. Summing up this third quite boldly. Very glad for the glimpses back to the end of the 1ˢᵗ third to keep things interesting. Along with the cedar, nuts and cream, we find once again that Cuban-esque twang with a hint of toasted oak which slowly becomes chalky and smoky like a campfire near the end. ³⁄₃: Creamy cedar, nutty walnut toasted bread and oak. Inklings of vanilla trickle onto the palate, adorned with black pepper. The bread picks up and becomes slightly french toast-like but drenched in cedar oils. Oak becomes charred heavily, muddling much of the other notes besides the cedar. Rounding off the finale with toasted oak, walnut, toasted bread and white pepper. Duration: 1hr 56mins MSRP: $42.⁰⁰ Ratings:
  • 92/100

  • Quite memorable experience. Vicente’s focus on construction and flavor are world class. This one was much more humid than I prefer and still delivers a wonderfully delicious smoke. The ligero leaf does seem to take away from a lot of the complexity there in, leaving it a fairly linear expression on some might fine notes. the 2ⁿᵈ third was a bit less enjoyable with the vintage woods and forest notes but comes out of it’s funk well. Maybe one of my least favorites of his portfolio but being an experimental blend, an enjoyable journey to embark on.

Pairing: Stranahan’s Single Barrel Cask Strength American Single Malt. Proofed down to 50%, this drink smacks of chocolate covered cherries, more than I ever get in any bourbon. Straight, it has brighter cherry wood , light vanilla and slight malty aspects towards the finish. Something more bold I figured would pair best with a ligero blend. A bit stronger than ideal straight, I’d say proofed at 50 would be perfect but I wanted a taste during the photo shoot. This is along the lines of my first mashbill. 95-100 Golden Promise, maybe 5% peated MB and in New American Oak with a lighter Char-Maybe #2-3.



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