Cigar Review: Aging Room Small Batch M356 “Presto”

Today, Advisor Gary Korb puts his cigar review sights squarely on the Aging Room Small Batch M356 “Presto”…

Draw: Very good. Smoke traveled easily from the get-go.

Pre-light flavor: Earthy and nutty

Toasting & Light: Cigar was a bit over-humidified, but toasted and lit evenly.

Base flavors: Sweet grass, spice, earthy-loamy

Retrohale: Very peppery

Aroma: Sweet and earthy. Very appealing.

Burn / Ash Quality: Very clean burn that results in a semi-flaky, black & gray-speckled ash.

Balance of flavors: Very impressive. As the flavors intensified they held together well.

Consistency: Excellent all the way through.

General Observations: Smoke was smooth, tasty and somewhat bittersweet. Just past the one-inch mark, the flavors took on a spicy, light peppery component. As the cigar worked its way toward the head, the smoke intensified in strength and spiciness with just a trace of the sweet, grassy component. No burn issues to speak of. By the last act, the body had taken on a much fuller character evidenced by darker and more complex tobacco flavors.

Summary: A well made cigar that starts out medium-sweet, then slowly works its way toward full-bodied-spicy. The flavors turn darker, spicier, and more complex as it continues; personally, I would have preferred if it had maintained more of the sweeter components. I would certainly recommend the Presto for smokers with a more “refined” palate. It may seem a little pricey for newbies who may not be familiar with the Aging Room Small Batch selection, but if they’re looking for something with a little more kick, it’s well worth checking out.

Rating: 89

Rating scale
75-79 = Fair to Middling
80-84 = Good
85-89 = Very impressive
90-94 = Excellent
95-99 = Spectacular!