T.L. Johnson – A Very Nice Box Press

Cigar makers are always looking for some way to stand out on the shelf.  There are so many sticks vying for the customers attention, it’s hard to get any traction for a new brand.  For T.L. Johnson, to stand out from the crowd, an extreme box press was made.  Not only did they make a box press, they shipped it in a box press mold.  It makes for an interesting conversation piece and it sure gets your attention in the shop.

When you first look at the stick you can’t help but notice how sharp the edges are.  It is really a rectangular shape.  The band is large and impressive.  When you get to the cigar itself  it is a nice feel consistent head to foot.  It has a nice medium brown color.  The cigar clipped and lit without a problem.  It produced nice smoke with a barnyard aroma that sounds worse than it was.

Construction is okay.  It drew well and easily, but didn’t burn evenly.  While I had to retouch the cigar a few times during the smoke, it didn’t take away from the flavor.  The cigar gave a good ash that held firm for about two inches.

The cigar changed very little in flavor during its smoking time. It was a woodsy, earthy, cedary flavor that seemed a bit dry.  As the cigar progressed I found more spiciness added to the taste.  But, it never got as strong as a full bodied cigar.  I would think of this smoke as a medium bodied or ‘lunch’ cigar.  Despite the spice, I felt that the cigar was smooth and cool burning.

At around $12.00, this isn’t an inexpensive cigar.  But, it certainly is a beautiful stick.  If you are looking for something unusual try one of these.