Graycliff Crystal Series
Robusto
An Ode to Sweet Memories
Smell, perhaps even more so than any of the other senses, is intrinsically linked to memory. Some argue that this is because the olfactory nerve (the nerve that processes smell) is located so closely to the hippocampus, which is responsible for processing memories. Others argue that it is an evolved trait essential for the survival of a species.
Memory of smells also tends to be the most vivid. Survivors of rape sometimes struggle with describing the physical attributes of their attackers but can generally describe their smell with a high degree of accuracy. Likewise with combat vets, abused children, and other survivors of trauma. Car crash survivors often can describe the smell of fuel and blood and not much else.
Memory of smells is also among the most permanent, least permeable memories. Contrast this to visual memory: Apart from those with eidetic memory we often “misremember” what we see. Lawyers either love or hate this fact depending on the where they sit. In contrast, we rarely misremember smells -- the smell of the first girl I really kissed, the smell of the Coconino National Forest driving north of Phoenix, the smell of the Pacific Ocean, the smell of my newborn son and daughter...you get the idea.
It’s no wonder then, that the the first thing I noticed about the Graycliff Crystal was the smell. A sweet honey smell -- not the overprocessed “comes in a plastic bear” honey, but real honey, still warm from the hive. There use to be this little roadside stand just off the highway on my way home from University that sold honey by the quart jar. This was at the beginning of the boutique food revolution where you could order clover honey, blackberry honey, raspberry honey, apple honey, and so forth depending on the source of the bees’ nectar. Nevermind that most people couldn’t tell the difference between blackberry honey and raspberry honey! This honey was different, though. Stan, (the honey man) would roll his eyes if you ask what “kind” of honey his was but when pressed would tell you where he placed his hives (often places like Jed’s orchard or Maybell’s peony garden.)
The Graycliff Crystal has an easy draw which is good because it is still morning and I don’t want to have to work at this. It’s considered a medium to full smoke but for me it swings more towards the mild but that could be that I suspect that it has a little age on it given the light amber of the cellophane. It produces moderate amounts of smoke but the ash is flaky and weak, covering my shirt with its detritus more than my ashtray. Overall, though, the burn is right on.
Other reviewers have picked out notes of caramel but I don’t get it--neither literally nor figuratively. In fact, the only sweetness comes from the honey notes but that’s on the nose not that palette. Graham cracker, perhaps. Halfway through there is a little spice but only on the retrohale.
In the second half, the burn continues strong and the flavors pick up a bit. There is a little more spice now and the taste is bigger and more complex. If only my memory for taste was a strong as my memory for smell I could be more definitive in my description but whatever I am tasting is as ephemeral as the smoke it produces. A nut perhaps? But which one? I tried cleaning my palette hoping that would help but the flavor remains elusive.
Last inch and I can’t find my nubber (and it needs a touch up to boot). I almost give up but manage to touch it up, warming my eyebrows in the process. I’m glad I did too because this cigar finishes strong with consistent spice, albeit, mild, for the first time but only if I let the smoke linger a little longer than normal.
My fingers are burned but it’s a good burn and I have no regrets other than wishing my memory for things and places allowed me to find my nubber so I could smoke this stick just a little bit more.
Here is what I smoked:
