Cigar Review: SoHo Cigars El Jeffe
Blend Specifics
Vitola: 6” x 52 Box-pressed Torpedo (advertised as a Toro)
Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Appearance and Construction
The El Jeffe has a dark brown wrapper with a slight reddish tint and darker spots throughout. The wrapper has a smooth satin feel, invisible seams and a variety of veins the run the length of the leaf. Some very small, some medium sized, but nothing too large or thick. There’s a pinch on the leaf from the pressing process but other than that, a very nicely constructed cigar with an added double cap on the torpedo-shaped head. There’s an even sponginess and the foot shows an even and dense bunching.
Cold Aromas: On the wrapper there is a light cayenne pepper with a bit of earth, which is also on the very light side. Woodiness starts to come up as well. On the foot there is a mix of cayenne and black pepper, cocoa, sweet tobacco, a touch of coffee bean and a slight oak. The cold draw opens to a nice even tension, with a sweet wood and tobacco, a little white pepper but nothing heavy, and a hint of espresso is left behind on the lips.
*Note: I am removing the band early because it is too loose and will keep sliding around for the duration of this review. The band is a thin paper and is loose enough to slide right off the cigar. Will still be shown through the progression photos of this review.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
First Third: A nice even draw and the first notes are a blast of red pepper followed with an oak core, a little cedar and salt. The smoke is dry on the palate but is very smooth and has a smooth mouth feel. Not gritty at all, but more velvet like. The burn line is near razor sharp but not quite there, though it does have a nice look to it. Ash is light grey with slightly darker rings and is very tight. This cigar has a nice and easy draw, which is something I keep noticing when I take them, with just the right amount of tight tension and the ability to produce a good amount of smoke. The smoke also pours off the foot quite freely between draws. As the first third progresses, notes of cedar come up a bit with espresso coming into the fold. The oak gets a bit deeper, and the pepper is still present but has dropped back a little. Though it does leave a bit of a spice tingle on the roof of the mouth and tongue. There’s also a creeping in of licorice on the draw that last through to the early part of the finish. The ash is holding well and the burn is staying even and consistent. The aroma is also very pleasant, with a mix of leather and oak, a bit on the strong side but not overwhelming. The profile toward the end of the first third is medium to full in body, medium to full in flavor, and medium to full in strength. The ash fell off as one solid chuck at 1.5 inches.
Second Third: Starting the second third the flavors are holding steady, with the espresso coming up a bit, the pepper still dropping back and the same with the licorice. Leather is now making itself present on the retrohale, with a bit of char on the draw and the smooth oak still holding the core. The salt is way down and the mouth feel is still very smooth but dry. The cigar is holding an even burn line and there’s a sweet note that comes in on the finish. The second third is medium to full in body, medium to medium to full in flavor, and medium to full in strength. At this point things are staying pretty consistent with not much change. Also to note, this cigar burns fairly cool, which is always a plus. Progressing through, as the flavor in general starts dialing back, a chocolate comes in and mixes nicely with the sweet tobacco and espresso notes. The oak is still the core but as stated, the flavor on the whole is coming down. The cigar is becoming very mellow, an easy going smoke with creamy plumes.
Final Third: Into the final third things are staying pretty consistent with not much change from the second third. There was a moment of a tarty cherry coming at the transition point but quickly faded. Overall, the flavor is moving down and the profile is medium to full in body, solid medium in flavor and medium to medium to full in strength. Through the second and final thirds, the finish has been clean and short and the characterizing notes are a light oak, espresso, with hints of chocolate and sweet tobacco and a touch of char lasting through. The strength does pick up a bit more at the very end but not much else than that.
Final Thoughts
I don’t know why, but I’m generally leery about house blends. Maybe due to the anonymity to their production, tobaccos used, or even their blending process. The SoHo Cigar El Jeffe is contrary to that belief, as throughout the session one can taste the quality of tobacco used is of a generally good selection. Though the first third starts off very flavorful, that soon changes in the second and final thirds, opting for a more power-based profile rather than a flavor focused one. The cigar stays consistent in burn, smoke and ash production throughout, and the aroma stays pleasant as well. The main notes encountered are an oak core with notes of leather, espresso, chocolate here and there, a good amount of spice early on and licorice. There was a brief moment of cherry and wished that stuck around longer. In all, a decent cigar, and an exceptional house blend.
Similar cigars would be Tatuaje’s core lines, characterized with a big kick in the front and very mellow from then on.
Smoking time was 2 hours.