The Particulars

The Review

This review for the Definition Equalizer (Blue Band) - Perfecto (Box Press) (5.5 x 54) is based on the journal entry dated 2025-07-18

Appearance & Construction (0-3):  Average (2)

The Equalizer has a more unique and interesting shape. First, it might not strike you as a Torpedo, but it is. The rolled end of the foot is cut clean off so it has a very mild reduction in ring from the midpoint to the foot, creating a soft taper. Plus, you don’t see a lot of box-pressed Torpedoes with curly heads.

But it’s a gorgeous, super dark chocolate brown that looks wet with a heavy oily sheen. It does have mottling that’s hard to see because it’s so dark, and a super faint tooth that looks pressed in like all the veins. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of edge lift at the seams with visible gaps. The box press creates a squared-off shape with sharp edges.

Draw (0-3) & Burn (0-4):  Average (2) / Good (3)

The draw is on the tighter side with extra resistance but not enough to need the draw tool. Before I even get to the ash or burn, holy crap, this cigar is just pumping out smoke. This might be the smokiest cigar I’ve encountered, even more than the reliable smoke bombs of the Nica Rustica Broadleaf or Liga Privada.

The ash is a light gray that holds together fairly well. It has uneven cracking and banding, but it held well past the first third. The burn line was a hair uneven and wavy, but well enough controlled throughout the smoke. No relights, no corrections, a nice burn.

Flavor Profile (0-5):  Excellent (5)

As my family in New Jersey would say, “Oh nah gawd, chaw-klet!” Because that’s the immediate hit: cocoa and baking spice with a lot of creaminess. Some fruitiness starts to enter with the sweet, a bit of citrusy zest, a bit of plum or raisin-like dark fruit. There’s some charred cedar and musty earth, but they’re light. An occasional hit of saltiness will appear as well. There are light hints of nuttiness and coffee, bringing big chocolate macadamia cookie vibes overall.

With the second third and through the end, things are largely unchanged. I get hints of black licorice at times, a light vanilla or floral note, but overall, that chocolate macadamia cookie vibe carries on. This is a surprisingly smooth and creamy smoke. I’m not getting any pepper burn, harshness, bitterness, or negative notes. While not overly complex, this is a solid medium on flavor intensity and strength, and it brings a lot of very chill and relaxing flavors that I’m digging.

Overall Experience (0-5):  Great (4)

A surprising blend and a complete 180 after the Defigero, but quite enjoyable. I would absolutely consider this as a great option for a morning Maduro, especially with something like an iced mocha. This is one of those blends that I find naturally calming and relaxing, so a great option for any time really where you want to bring a strong chill.

Review Base Rating (0-5):

4.00

Would I Buy It Again?

Signs point to yes (recommended)

Review Final Score (0-10):

8.17

Overall Score and Individual Journal Entries

While the review is based off one instance of journaling this cigar; there’s a number of reasons you can have different experiences smoking the same cigar multiple times. A blend can evolve with age (for better or worse), palates evolves, preferences change, and sometimes you just get a bad example!  This section captures the ratings from each journal entry and the related journal photo.  Below you’ll find an aggregate score based on every time the cigar has been journaled. Unless it was a gift or on-off smoke, this section will be updated every time I journal this cigar!

The Flavor Wheel

With every cigar I journal, I capture simple ratings of the basic flavor categories that I experience.  These are more generalized than what you would see in a review, but a distinct profile can still be built out.  When multiple instances of the same cigar have been journaled, the scores are averaged out in an attempt to build a reliable flavor profile based on my palate.

The values entered for the strength of each flavor range from 0 to 3.

• 0:   No flavor detected
• 1:   Mild flavor
• 2:   Medium flavor
• 3:   Strong flavor

Note: desktop / large screens will see a flavor wheel while mobile / small screens will see a bar chart.

With every cigar I journal, I capture simple ratings of the basic flavor categories that I experience.  These are more generalized than what you would see in a review, but a distinct profile can still be built out.  When multiple instances of the same cigar have been journaled, the scores are averaged out in an attempt to build a reliable flavor profile based on my palate.

The values entered for the strength of each flavor range from 0 to 3.

• 0:   No flavor detected
• 1:   Mild flavor
• 2:   Medium flavor
• 3:   Strong flavor

Note: desktop / large screens will see a flavor wheel while mobile / small screens will see a bar chart.