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Ortega Series D - No. 12 (5 x 52)
Background:
In early February Eddie Ortega announced his departure from his partnership with Erik Espinoza in their EO Brands company. Eddie left EO on good terms, and ultimately made the decision to be more independent and create his own brands. Check out full coverage of this news from our good friends at halfwheel.com.
Very shortly after that he released access to his new website ortegacigars.com, which announced his new cigar imprint, Ortega Cigars. The website lists 3 lines that Ortega will be releasing, the Serie "D", the Brotherhood, and the Aftershock. The Series D is the only cigar by Ortega that has been released, today I will be reviewing the No. 12 (5 x 52) size. Rolled at the My Father Cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, the cigar uses a Mexican San Andreas Maduro Wrapper and features Nicaraguan fillers and binders from Jalapa and Esteli. The Series D is available in 5 sizes, all box-pressed.
Eddie's website explains that the Ortega Cigar Co has a deep commitment to quality and that by using the best materials available, and by taking the time to allow the cigar to cure and age to perfection, you will be able to identify a "characteristic personality" within each cigar you smoke. What more can you ask for in a cigar? Atlantic does not currently have the Ortega Series D for sale, but they are coming soon so keep an eye out.
Appearance:
The Ortega Series D is encased in a dark, toothy wrapper, the cigars are box-pressed and very firm and well packed. The scent off the wrapper is very barnyard, the pre-light draw having the same earthiness as well as some sweet tobacco flavor.
First Third:
Upon lighting the Ortega Series D my first few draws give off a very sweet, spicy Nicaraguan flavor. The standing smoke output of the cigar is minimal which I prefer to a cigar that puts off smoke like a campfire. The cigar has a wonderful sweet nutty aroma. Lots of sweet character upfront with the perfect amount of spice through the nose on the retrohale. The body remains in the medium area in the first third, but I can feel it building. Behind the earthy, molasses core is a cashew nuttiness that creates a very nice smooth flavor. The cigar's rich profile also includes some anise or almost a licorice flavor.
Second Third:
The salt and pepper ash has been hanging on in 1 inch segments before dropping off. So far the burn and draw of the Ortega D No. 12 has been great. While the burn is a bit wavy, the draw has the perfect amount of resistance. The peppery spice has fallen into the background and almost disappeared as the cigar hits its midway point. The cigar has hit it's stride and become very smooth, the sweetness has balanced out to produce a very enjoyable creaminess. At this point the body has built to something closer to medium - full.
Last Third:
The last third continued much like on much in the same fashion, with some rich earthy tobacco sweetness. The peppery spice returns, as the body continues to build to medium - full plus. I am very much enjoying this cigar, although the profile is rich, earthy and sweet, it's not super heavy or bowling me over with strength. Even as the Series D gets down to the final few inches, the cigar remains smooth.
Overall:
Although I only smoked a few of these to write this review, I enjoyed everyone individually. Each size brought a different experience to the table. The cigars are a great reference to the rich, flavorful cigars coming out of Nicaragua these days. If someone was to ask me what a Nicaraguan cigar taste like, I would hand them this cigar. I wish Eddie well on his journey, hopefully all that he's learned in his years in the industry will go into creating great product. All indications so far point exactly to that, an awesome first blend for a new Brand from an industry veteran.
*Ortega Cigars are coming soon to Atlantic Cigar, we'll keep you posted!
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Currently rated 3.7 by 6 people
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Tags: eddie ortega, eo brands, ortega cigars, series d, erik espinoza, san andreas maduro, esteli, nicaragua, jalapa, my father cigars, don pepin garcia, no. 12 |
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Categories: Product Reviews, Industry News |
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Background:
The latest in Rocky's Seasonal selections is the Rocky Patel Winter Collection 2012 (also known as the Winter Blend). This year's cigar sports a dark Ecuadorian Habano Wrapper with a dual binder from Costa Rica and Mexico, and fillers from both Panama and Nicaragua. An interesting blend with tobaccos from more than 4 countries. Let's see how it stacks up to the successful 2009 Rocky Winter Blend, and if it feels like a Winter cigar..
Construction / Prelight:
This 5 1/2 " box-pressed Robusto is a very attractive smoke. The aroma that comes off the cigar when you take it out of the cellophane is mouth watering! The dark reddish brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is smooth and oily. The construction is great, the cigar is well packed, with no soft spots to speak of. The pre-light draw gives a sweet spice mixed with tobacco profile. Can't wait to fire this one up.
First Third:
Right off the bat, Rocky's New Winter Collection gives a great blast of flavor and a TON of smoke. The cigar starts off with a leathery sweetness with some peppery spice and a nice clean finish. Although well packed the draw is a tad on the loose side, making an average puff fill the air with clouds of aromatic smoke. I've had to touch up the cigar a bit with my lighter to keep it on the straight, I'm attributing the wavering burn to the looser draw. The cigar has a dark chocolate, espresso sweetness reminiscent of the Casa Magna Domus Magnus and a slight cedar or oak profile. These flavors continue on throughout the first third with excellent balance.
Second Third:
Onto the second third, the leather and earthy flavors are in the forefront, mixing well with the rich sweetness of the blend. The body is medium at this point, possibly a little stronger, but nothing too wild yet. The 2012 Winter Blend has a ton of character, a very enjoyable combination of flavors that are bold and mix well. I think the cigar does a good job of being a "winter" batch. Its richness and bold flavor, combined with a long finish gives the Rocky Patel Winter Collection 2012 a true winter feel. I could definitely see myself lighting one of these up after a heavy holiday feast, a perfect topper to a belly warming meal.
Final Third:
All the draw and burn issues I was having at the start of the smoke have worked themselves out. The cigar basically just corrected itself and started to burn near perfectly. The body and spice have picked up in the final third, I'd say the body has easily reached medium - full. The sweetness that was initially in the forefront of the profile has dropped off into the distance. The earthy core of the cigar continued to play out until I nubbed it.
Overall:
I was a big fan of the 2009 Rocky Patel Winter Blend, another bold blend with a PA Broadleaf Maduro wrapper. I think Rocky has succeeded in creating a similar bold and flavorful (heavy) Winter Blend, but with it's own character. What this blend lacks in complexity and elegance it makes up for with a boldness of flavor. A great medium to full cigar loaded with a unique flavor that while not varied, is balanced and very tasty. As all seasonal blends, the Winter Collection is limited, so grab yours while you can! Only 2000 boxes of each size were made this year.
Check out Our Rocky Patel Winter Collection 2012 brand page to see availability or call us 1 (800) 887-7877 to order.
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Currently rated 4 by 1 person
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Tags: rocky patel, winter collection 2012, winter collection 2009, cigar reviews, new cigars, ecuadorian habano, costa rica, mexican san andreas, panamanian tobacco, nicaragua, medium - full body cigars |
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Categories: Product Reviews, What's New |
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Background:
The Carlos Torano Family Cigar Company released the new Torano Vault Cigar at the 2011 IPCPR Tradeshow in Las Vegas. The story behind this new blend is that it is actually an old concept, recorded in by Carlos Torano Sr. in the family's special "blend book," which captured every blend that the family has created. Making this book priceless for the Torano’s which they store under lock and key. The book outlines blends that are current as well as a whole list of yet to be produced blends, hence the name “Vault.” To produce the Vault, Charlie Torano scoured this same book and found a blend they developed in 2000; blend A-008. This particular blend impressed Charlie as it had great potential but was missing an important ingredient and was never released. After revisiting this blend, Charlie Torano realized the missing ingredient was Ometepe tobacco, which is grown on the rich fertile soil of the volcanic island of Ometepe, in Lake Nicaragua. Using complex Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos in conjunction with this Ometepe leaf as a ligero binder the blend produced a spicy full bodied aromatic cigar with solid rich earthy flavors. The cigar is finished with a Colorado Shade-grown Habano wrapper.
Construction / Appearance:
The Torano Vault Toro sports a very attractive colorado reddish brown colored wrapper that's smooth to the touch with a nice oily finish. The packaging and cigar ring is very nicely done, black and silver without too much flash. The Vault also has a foot band identifying the long lost blend as A-008. The cigar is well packed, with no soft spots I can identify. The aroma coming off the cigar itself and through the cold draw is very barnyard, with a promise of some spicy, sweet tobacco flavors.
First Third:
The Vault took to flame like a champ and lit right up. Despite the heavy packing of tobacco, the draw is a tiny bit on the loose side, which I don't mind considering the blast of flavors coming from the initial few pulls. The cigar is putting out lots of chewy smoke. The profile is solid medium right off the bat, the flavor is very rich, complex and balanced with an earthy base, some sweetness and a bit of spice through the nose. This is not a hard cigar to like, I'm thoroughly enjoying the mix of earth leathery notes with an underlying spice and a long creamy finish. The burn line is almost perfect, the ash is a bright white falling off at half inch to inch intervals.
Second Third:
The second third has the body ramping up to medium-full, I have a feeling this one is on it's way to full body by the time I snuff it. The nutty creamy finish has some spice in the mouthfeel that blends excellently with everything else going on here. This is definitely one of the best Torano cigars I've smoked in a long time. The Torano Vault absolutely satisfies a wide range of the palate, but it doesn't over do it in any one area.. As the second third winds down the cigar has hit a very comfortable stretch… relaxing, smooth and absolutely full of dynamic flavor.
Last Third:
The last third is proving to be definitely fuller bodied, with a salty meat character. The sweetness has left for the most part, leaving a rich earthy smoke. The draw is a bit loose, which is causing the cigar to burn a little hot, but the flavor keeps me coming back. The nuttiness that was a major component of the cigar throughout has also come to the forefront.. reminds me of those roasted nut vendors you see (and smell) on the sidewalks of city streets. I decided to put the Vault down when it started to burn my fingers a bit. The cigars burn stayed razor right till the end.
Overall:
I think many cigar smokers are going to be very happy that the Torano family opened up the Vault book to create this blend and put it out on the market. An absolute exercise in balance and complexity, again I think this is one of the best efforts out of the Torano camp in a long time. They hit this one out of the park. Whether you get into the back story or not, bar none, this is a phenomenal cigar. For medium to medium-full bodied smokers who are looking for a great complex cigar that hits all areas of the palate , this is absolutely worth a try. Check out what's in stock on our Carlos Torano Vault Brand Page.
Thanks for reading..
Keep on Smokin-
~GC
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Currently rated 5 by 1 person
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Tags: Carlos Torano, Torano Vault, Torano Vault Toro, blend book, Carlos Torano Sr., Ometepe, Nicaragua, ligero, shade grown Habano Wrapper |
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Categories: Product Reviews, What's New, IPCPR Watch |
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New Cigars In Stock!
By admin
10/19/2011 3:18:00 PM
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Lots of great new cigars out this week! New Brands that just landed and are ready to smoke:
Aging Room Small Batch M356
- These Dominican beauties are created by Oliveros for Rafael Nodal's Habana Cuba Cigar Co. The brand is getting a lot of attention as of late due to some extremely high ratings in Cigar Aficionado. A complex, medium body cigar that's full of flavor and extremely enjoyable to smoke. The Presto Size is reviewed below in detail. These are "small batch" so they will be limited.
Rocky Patel Fifty
- After working on the blend for over four years, Rocky Patel has released the "Fifty", an ultra-premium cigar to celebrate his 50th birthday. The Fifty sports a dark Ecuadorian Habano wrapper hand selected from the top of the plant, the 7th priming. The double binder and secret blend of Nicaraguan fillers give the Fifty a rich full bodied character with complex flavors of peppery spice, dark chocolate and espresso. The packaging is very well done, with a limited edition decorated and numbered box. Give us a call or check our retail stores for more information: 1 (800) 877-7877. You can also email us.
Farmer's Select Nicaraguan Bundles
- We all know the economy isn't looking all that great these days, everyone is trying to save some cash here and there. We wanted to find a great Nicaraguan cigar that had all the usual qualities, some spice, a nice medium to full body, earthy tobacco flavors, etc.. at an everyday smoke kind of price point. With that in mind we did some digging around and came up with the Farmer's Select Nicaraguan. Because we import them directly and skip the flashy packaging, we're able to cut out the middle men, and deliver a 5 or 6 dollar cigar for half the price. Created in a small factory, these small batches are made with the same premium tobacco that are in your pricier smokes. Try them out, we think you'll be glad you did. All bundles are under 40 bucks.
Sencillo Black Cigars by Prometheus
- Sencillo is a project created by Keith Park and Prometheus. Last year's Sencillo was blended by Christian Eiroa of Camacho Cigars. This year Keith Park teamed up with the Plasencia family to create the Sencillo Black. The 2011 blend has more Nicaraguan tobacco to give the cigar a fuller bodied profile. Handmade in Nicaragua, Park created a blend made up of five different tobaccos that come together very well to create a balanced, tasty smoke.
E.P. Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2011 - Dark Rituals
- The latest and third E.P. Carrillo Edicion Limitada released is a beautiful dark Oscuro Maduro dubbed "Dark Rituals". The Carrillo family's cigars just keep getting better, and the Edicion Limitada's are really something to covet. Blended with an Ecuadorian Sumatra binder and Nicaraguan Fillers, the Dark Ritual is a pretty large smoke, (6.5" x 56) and is encased in a dark, rich Oscuro Maduro wrapper. The cigar comes in boxes of 10. Only Carrillo Sr. could blend such a complex, full body and full flavor masterpiece. These cigars are no joke, forget about the single sticks - we haven't had something more box worthy in the shop in a long time! Like all Edicion Limitadas, the quantities are limited so hurry up!
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Currently rated 5 by 1 person
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Tags: new cigars, atlantic cigar company, aging room small batch m356, oliveros cigars, rafael nodal, , rocky patel fifty, farmers select nicaraguan, sencillo black, prometheus cigars, keith park, plasencia, ernesto carrillo, e.p. carrillo dark rituals, e.p. carrillo edicion limitada |
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Categories: Product Reviews, What's New |
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Appearance / Pre-light:
A new limited edition blend from SAG/Matasa is the Casa Magna Domus Magnus. The cigar is a Nicaraguan Puro with a sun-grown wrapper from the Jalapa Valley and was blended by Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plasencia. Packed as 10 counts in a sturdy built hinged box, the presentation is wonderful. The larger of the two sizes that I am sampling is called the Primus (6 3/8 x 55), the smaller being the Optimus which is (5 7/8 x 52). Both are extremely box pressed, basically square really and finished off with a pigtail cap. The band is similar to the original Casa Magna, with different colors identifying the Domus Magnus Blend. The cigar is finished off with a foot band also identifying the namesake.
The wrapper is toothy yet smooth, with a rich brown color. The cigar feels well packed with ample heft , yet at the same time has a bit of softness to it when you give it a pinch. There is a sweet scent coming from the foot of sugar, sweet tobacco and some fruit notes. The cold draw has a really fruity taste, think Juicyfruit gum.. It's really an intense flavor hopefully it will be balanced with some nice spicy body.
First Third:
The cigar takes to flame very well and starts off with some great flavors. Right off the bat I'm tasting the fruitiness mentioned above with some peppery spice, overall very enjoyable. The draw is a bit loose and the cigar puts out a good amount of smoke. The square shape of the cigar is very comfortable in the mouth. The fruitiness has died down a bit leaving rich tobacco flavors with a nice creamy spice through the nose. The burn line is wavering, but nothing that cannot be touched up easily. The initial ash hung on for well over an inch before I dumped it. As the first third ends the cigar's fruitiness has come back on the forefront. It seems like areas of my palate that don't normally get stimulated while smoking a cigar are coming alive. The tip of my tongue is alive with a tanginess that is rare for me while smoking a cigar.
Second Third:
Although Nicaraguan, this cigar is starting out as a medium body smoke. The second third is much like the first, with more body and more pronounced flavor. I'm not sure if I'm able to truly identify the complexity of the sweet fruit-like flavors. If I were going to try it would be something like blackberry or a dark raspberry. I am pairing with coffee, so it may be amplifying this flavor, but it seems like a dark roast coffee or dark chocolate is in the mix here as well. The finish is all sweetness though, fairly long and very sweet. There are also some hints of leather or earth in the background that I'm picking up. The burn and draw are perfect at this point and the ash hangs on like a champ. Towards the end of the second third the Domus Magnus builds to something more along the medium-full in body with a full, complex flavor. There's a lot going on here!
Last Third:
The last third has the Domus Magnus becoming a very rich smoke. Because the cigar is so intent on delivering such a variety of sweet flavors, I would have to say this is almost like a "dessert" cigar. Everything has come together in the final act of this cigar perfectly offering amazing balance and complimentary flavors. It very much reminds me of my morning cup of very strong french press coffee, but towards the end, where the unmixed sugar is left behind. This cigar is like the last sip of that strong, sweet coffee. I think the final third of this cigar is my favorite, the flavors are awesome, the body is just right and it's just a very enjoyable, unique smoke at this point.
Overall:
This cigar is very enjoyable. Definitely a change of pace from the fuller body, peppery spicy Nicaraguan's. There were some flavors in the Casa Magna Domus Magnus that I honestly have never tasted before in a cigar. I would qualify it as a dessert cigar, very rich a sweet. A perfect closer for a big meal. This cigar is very unique and I think the complexity of flavor and balance are really second to none. With only 5000 boxes being made, if your interested, pull the trigger soon, these won't be around much longer. Check out the brand page for the Casa Magna Domus Magnus to see what's in stock.
Keep on Smokin!
~GC
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Currently rated 0 by 0 people
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Tags: Casa Magna Domus Magnus, Matasa, SAG Imports, IPCPR 2011, cigar reviews, optimus, primus, nicaraguan puro, fruit, coffee, complex, richness, medium - full |
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Categories: Product Reviews, What's New, IPCPR Watch |
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Background:
I have to admit right off the bat that the ultra boutique Curivari line as a whole has really blown me away. It's the one of the first recommendations that I give to people lately who are generally looking for something new. Although I haven't smoked every vitola in every line, I've enjoyed most every Curivari I've smoked and here's why. Although they are Nicaraguan.. they are very much a change of pace for Nicaraguan cigars. You can tell they are short run creations, blended with quality tobaccos, and by someone who has quite a unique talent. It's almost as if they've blended a cigar for a Cuban or "European" palate, but with Nicaraguan tobaccos. The Cuban influence is everywhere, from the simple yet effective and elegant bands, to the small 10-count cabinet boxes. From a distance, they look Cuban, and at times to me, they share some very common flavors. The Selección Privada is probably one of the mildest of the entire Curivari range somewhere in the medium body range, a great morning cigar, with tons of flavor and a uniqueness all its own.
Appearance / Construction / Pre-light:
The Selección Privada Royales is a larger Robusto at 5 x 54, with a lighter Colorado shade Nicaraguan Habano wrapper. If you run your finger against it, the Habano leaf has a soft feel, upon further inspection if you look very close you can see small "hairs" covering the wrapper almost like peach fuzz. Like I stated above the band is very traditional red and gold, could easily be Cuban, very close to a Romeo Y Julieta band from the Island. The cigar is well packed with no soft spots. I'm not sure if it's attention to detail or just the fact that the batches are so small but, they are all very well constructed, and I've yet to have a draw problem. ( Very much unlike Cuba  ) The pre-light draw does not give off too much, mostly a hay-like taste with some tobacco flavor.
First Third:
The Selección Privada fires up very easily, and has a nice draw, maybe a tad on the loose side. The initial flavor blast is very medium bodied sweet and creamy smoke. Although the smoke itself is thick and chewy, the finish is short to start but very clean, it leaves your mouth without any residue. The aroma is a very appealing sweet smoke. The flavor that takes center stage besides a light leathery, tobacco flavor is the sweetness. It's a really unique flavor, almost maybe a coconut or vanilla extract flavor. It makes the cigar really so enjoyable. One thing to note with the Curivari is the more advanced your palate may be, the more you will be rewarded. Most of the cigars I've smoke from this brand have been very well balanced and very complex flavor-wise. So while enjoyable for a beginner, the Curivari line is a treat for the true aficionado who is capable of identifying all the different nuances and flavors.
Second Third:
As the cigar moves into the second third, the body ramps up to a true medium body cigar with full flavor. The sweetness has taken on almost a maple syrup flavor. The finish is still a bit dry but clean, which I personally enjoy especially with a sweeter cigar. Sometimes cigars with a sweetness such as a cocoa maduro can leave a thick coating on your mouth which is heavy and unpleasant. The cigar continues to make subtle flavor changes, remaining light and earthy with a wonderful aftertaste of sweet leather. I start to wonder to myself while smoking this cigar, why don't all cigars who claim to be "sweet, smooth and creamy" taste like this? I touch up the burnline a bit as I've confessed in the past, I smoke a little bit too fast which has caused this stick to start a wide canoe up the side. A quick touchup, and we're back to a perfect burn. The ash on the cigar is very flaky. The first third held for about an inch, but it seems to want to fall off at half inch or so increments. So instead of wearing it, i've been letting it do it's thing.
Last Third:
In the last third or even a little bit before that point, the sweetness that was in the forefront of the cigar has fallen into the background. The earthy leather tobacco flavors that were in the background of the cigar up until now take center stage, and the sweetness falls to the back, almost non existent. It's actually pretty interesting to taste the core tobacco flavors that were the backbone of the cigar upfront. The cigar basically ends like this, burns a little hot at the nub.
Overall, if you can't already tell, I'm a huge fan of this cigar and this Brand. This is just about as mild as I go being a fuller bodied cigar smoker. I would absolutely look for this in the morning to start off my day, or if I was looking to change things up a bit to keep my palate fresh. If you like medium body cigars with smooth, creamy flavors you should absolutely try the Curivari Seleccion Privada. It will probably be one of the most full flavored, medium bodied cigar you'll ever smoke. My only complaint for this sample I smoked is that the draw was a little loose, but it never got bitter, so it really didn't present any problems. If your looking for a change of pace, some new flavors, something unlike anything on the market, try Curivari. The entire lines range from mild/medium to full strength, come in a variety of sizes and are packaged in boxes of 10.
Click to check out the Curivari Seleccion Privada Line.
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Currently rated 3.7 by 10 people
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This well packed Salomon from Gurkha is part of their new cellar reserve line up which uses a 98 Criollo wrapper, a Dominican Olor binder, and a 15 year old Criollo, Nicaraguan filler.
(Sorry about the washed-out pic, did not know I had the flash on)
This large Salomon looks like one hell of a smoke right off the bat. It’s got a nice pigtail cap and a shiny cocoa colored wrapper, with some medium sized veins running through it. The cigar has a solid feel with a bit of give when squeezed. The wrapper gives of a pleasant smell of baking spices and a bit of hot chocolate. The prelit draw is very tight but has some earthy hints with a nice note of cinnamon.
The first third of the cigar starts off, like many other Salomons, with a very uneven burn and a tight draw. I am getting some decent smoke volume though so I’m not concerned. The flavors consist of toasted oats and earth with a tangy citric acidity on the finish. The smoke has been at about a medium body and has been relatively smooth from the first puff. The aroma is a very pleasant bittersweet chocolate and towards the very end of the first third some wood notes are coming into play.
The draw opens up nicely coming into the second third and provides ample amount of smoke. The burn still requires a lot of touch ups but with a lighter at hand it’s really not a problem. Notes of oak have joined the main profile in this third as well as some mild spices, including vanilla and cinnamon, which play nicely off of the oak notes. The finish is a bit drier in this third but is still very much a citrus acidity. Some elements of spice join the finish but it’s still a mostly smooth medium bodied smoke with a dark gray ash that only holds about an inch at a time.
In the last third the oak notes take the main stage as well as the notes of cinnamon and vanilla. This smoke has reached the lower end of full bodied and at this point I am getting tons smoke with each puff.
All in all this stick had a great flavor progression, a very slow burn, a mouth watering finish, and great aroma. While the burn may have been a bit ugly it was nothing that I couldn’t keep under control. Gurkha is definitely adding a strong new line, which is sure to please any cigar smoker.
Cheers-
Mr. Penny
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Currently rated 4.5 by 2 people
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Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva Toro Review
Another one of my favorite relatively new Brands / Manufacturers is Casa Fernandez. From the Arsenio to the Aganorsa Leaf to their Core Lines, Casa Fernandez has made a very strong imprint in the past couple years with their impressive Nicaraguan blends. Being one of the largest growers of tobacco in Nicaragua puts the good people at Casa Fernandez at a wonderful advantage when it comes time to blend. These guys are not just growers though, as we’ve seen over the past couple years; they can definitely blend a terrific cigar. The new Casa Fernandez Miami is a made at their Miami factory, hence the name and was just released at the IPCPR in July.
The Casa Fernandez Miami sample I’ve received is specifically the Toro Reserva shape. This cigar has some serious heft to it, very well packed and near perfect construction. This CF Miami sports a secondary band indicating the “Reserva” blend. The cigar has some great aromas from the foot, cold draw has some spice, earthy and sweet flavors.
Wow! After lighting this up I am immediately greeted with a blast of flavors… Nice spicy, chewy smoke with a great sweet tobacco finish. I can tell right off the bat this Casa Fernandez is going to be packed with flavor. The draw is effortless despite the amount of tobacco in this Toro. I probably should have had a bigger breakfast! I can feel the power of this cigar even in the first third, luckily I’m partial to full body sticks. Although strong, the cigar is blended with perfect balance and is extremely smooth. Winding up the first third, the spice has all but disappeared, leaving a rich, sweet flavor behind.
There is definitely a flavor that I can’t quite identify yet; so far the cigar is smooth and complex. The second third introduces more of a sweetness that I would say is more of a sugary vanilla then a cocoa flavor that a lot of cigars put off. There are definitely some leathery, tobacco flavors identifiable in the second third. This cigar is easily identifiable in thirds, as the flavors change almost exactly as each third starts off. The last third picked back up with some more body and mouth feel. The spice came back, and the cigar returned back to the medium-full area of body. I pretty much nubbed this one, the flavor and body just continued to build without ever getting bitter. Smoking time was near 2 hours.
Overall this is a great cigar! Very complex, lots of great flavors from start to finish. Although it may not seem so because of the smoothness it's probably medium – full in body and with the nicotine content considered sometimes falls into the full category. The folks at Casa Fernandez continue to make quality Nicaraguan cigars with lots of flavor and lots of character. Definitely highly recommended, keep reading to see when this brand arrives at Atlantic.
Keep on smoking!
-GC
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Currently rated 3 by 2 people
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