Quite a tight draw, as others have said, but not bad. Needed to work at it a couple of times to keep it going. Fairly even burn, ash held on for about 1.5". The first inch was very mild, quite woody, but then a nice dark espresso kicked in with a slight chocolate tinge. Rather nutty in the final third. You get what you pay for, but at the price it's a very nice cigar. I've ordered a bundle on the strength of my first one, so it must have impressed me....