Blind Review: Tatuaje Havana VI Verocú Blue No. 1

2 0 1.1k

The Tatuaje Havana VI Verocú Blue No. 1 is produced for Tatuaje Cigars by My Father Cigars at their factory in Nicaraugua.  Further more, the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocú Blue No. 1 utilizes all Nicaraguan tobacco that the Garcia family grows personally on their own farms in Nicaragua.  The blend is another extentison to the Tatuaje Havana VI line and is currently only offered in two sizes: a toro and robusto extra.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Tatuaje Havana VI Verocú Blue No. 1
  • Wrapper: Shade Grown Nicaraguan Corojo
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Size: 6 1/4 x 52

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is softly packed and triple capped.  It is dressed in a speckled natural wrapper.  It isnt toothy, but it has the appearance of a finished sidewalk.  The cigar looks tough.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The body of the cigar smells like raisins and straw.  Very farmy on the nose.

It has a decent cold draw with lots of cedar on the breath.

The cigar toasts and lights very quickly and efficiently.

Lots of wood and choclate greet me at first puff. It has lots of salt and pepper with a choclatey aroma and a salty retro. The biggest take away is steak and onions- VERY SAVORY! The cigar has a sturdy ash build-up.  There is a nice sweetness on the backend of every puff.  Smoke production could be better as well as heat maintence.  You have to employ a steady double draw to keep things in motion.

At the second third the ash breaks off naturaly and reveal a very icy white ash that I’ve never seen before on the inside of a lit cigar.  It reminds me of husky fur or fresh snow.  The cigar is transitioning into a very light bodied smoke that can still be savory at times, but really holds this very enjoyable sweetness. The aroma is also very sweet, the retrohale is leathery.  Smoke prodution picks up a little bit more, but the draw is a little shallow and the heat maintence is still at an all time low.

On the way to the last third I’ve had to touch up the cigar a couple times. The wrapper leaf is also a little detached.  After a couple more touch ups the draw opens up even more, offering a little more relief to what tastes like a fantastic lightweight smoke but is not performing up to code.  The flavors, aroma, and retrohale are all the same.  Its very linear. The heat maintence is still lacking. The sweetness is still lingering with a coffee note added into tthe mix.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocú Blue No. 1 was phenominal.  It has the potential to be the NEW light smoke on the scene that will make you throw out your old golf course Connecticuts.  Yes, it scored an 80, because the construction made it a huge pain-in-the-ass to smoke, but I do see that Tatuaje also offers the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocú Blue No. 1 in a robusto.  I will most likely be picking that robusto up this week to kick tires a little bit more, simply becuase I have recently been very impressed with the flavor profile that shade grown corojo can produce.  Enjoy!

Final Score: 80

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Blind Review: Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto

3 0 1.8k

The Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto is manufactured by General Cigar Company at their HATSA, SA factory in Danli, Honduras.  Sancho Panza is a world renowned Cuban value brand, whose trademark was also registered in the USA in 1981.  Sancho Panza was recently revamped in 2022 under Scandinavian Tobacco Groups’ new creative director, Matt Booth, of Room 101 Cigars.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto
  • Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
  • Binder: Nicaraguan (Esteli)
  • Filler: Dominican and Nicaragaun
  • Size: 5 x 50

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a sturdy well built maduro robusto.  It dons a double cap and is draped in a veiny rustic wrapper leaf.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The body of the cigar smells of chocolate.  It has a good cold draw with cedar and hot chocolate on the breath.

It takes a while for the cigar to toast, but combusts quickly.

At first puff the smoke is cedary and salty with a popcorn finish.  The cigar has a very toasty retro.  Lots of thick smoke production.  There is a noticeable graham cracker aroma off the foot of the cigar.  As the cigar heats up, my palate fills with pepper.  It handles the heat quite well.  The ash build-up is flaky.

As it progresses, there are beautiful nuances of cinnamon, clove, and wood.  Smoke production is stellar and leaves a creamy mouth feel, with a confectionary aroma.  The cigar develops a very leathery retrohale that is both savory and sweet. The ash build-up stiffens and looks flawless.

On the second third, the body completely drops out of the cigar.  The smoking experience is still very smooth and creamy with great smoke production.  There is cinnamon and clove on the retrohale with a cedary aroma, but as I said, my palate is left wanting.

The last third of the smoke sees the body of flavors return. My tongue is again coated with baking spices.  The cinnamon and clove also revisits on the retrohale.  The aroma is sweet.  As I smoke it to the nub the flavors become a little harsh with hazelnuts and black coffee.

Conclusion

The Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto is a decent value smoke.  Those who know me, know that I have become quite the “bundle cigar” smoker in this current economy.  However, I wouldn’t put this specific cigar in my current rotation of Curivari Buena Ventura’s or New Cuba Corojos.  The Esteli tobacco in the blend really props the Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto up a little, but I would rather spend the extra cash for an Eiroa Classic Prensado if you really like spiced nuances.  Even a Joya De Nicargua Antano Consul will give you the same mouth feel.  Anyway, when it comes to the Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto I would likely be looking to spend my money somewhere else. Enjoy!

Final Score: 84

Blind Cigar Review: Quesada Reserva Privada Toro

4 0 1.6k

The 1997 crop of Dominican tobacco was a banner harvest for the Quesada Family and Manuel Quesada saved a bunch which became the Reserva Privada blend. The Quesada Family grows tobacco that are used for many other companies as well as their own lines. I’ve always enjoyed the blends which gave me a true sense of Dominican terroir. Smoking this blind the cigar looks a bit light which might make me think its mild however you just don’t know until you light up.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed:  Quesada Reserva Privada Toro
  • Wrapper: Connecticut Ecuadorian
  • Binder: Dominican
  • Filler: Dominican, Pennsylvanian
  • Size: 5” 5/58 x 54 (Toro)

Appearance and Construction

This toro is greenish with a blemish on the wrapper.  As I give the cigar a squeeze there are noticeable soft spots at the foot. There’s not much nose on the cigar as I give it a sniff and it is rather light in my hand. The look of the tobacco is anemic and lackluster.

Taste and Smoking Characteristics

I use a v-cut and take a dry draw which is airy and loose. With a torch lighter I toast the cigar and the first puff is gritty and charry. Another slow draw which comes off stale and unappealing. I take a retrohale and my sinus gets hit with spice and ginger that ends with graphite on the exhale. There’s some loose tobacco in my mouth which hinders the experience and leaves the quality suspect. The burn line is wavy and light gray ash forms on it.

Midway the toro grips me with heavy oak and a drying sensation along the sides of my mouth. There is an earthy character beginning to develop as I draw off the cigar. A retrohale is less intense than before and I pick up coffee and cocoa with burnt vanilla on the finish.  Notes of nuts and hay develop with a constant chariness in the background. The finish has been continuously short with a fast burn rate. At this point the smoke is in the medium range.

On the final third there is oak and raisin being the predominate characteristics. The draw has begun to tighten up surprisingly which inhibits the flavors coming through. As I take a retrohale to coax out some tangible notes there’s raw tobacco and an earthy finish. The burn line is wavy and there’s notes of hay and earth that turns sharp and bitter. With the smoke dissipating I choose not to relight and put the cigar down as I hesitate to experience more bitterness on the end.

Conclusion

My experience with most of the Quesada blends and tobacco has been pleasant, giving me complex flavors from there mild to full bodied lines. The quality of the tobacco and construction has usually been spot on with whatever I’ve smoked. The Reserva Privada did not deliver the nuances I am used to with their blends and the filler tobacco was loose and lacking. The drying and bitterness was not pleasant, and the charry notes tainted my palate. Maybe there was not enough tobacco from that crop saved to deliver the flavors that were expected however I can only speculate. I will say Quesada has plenty of lines to choose from and I would recommend trying others as they produce some wonderful cigars.

Final Rating: 84pts

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Blind Review: Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Toro

3 0 1.6k

The Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Toro is manufactured by General Cigar Company at their HATSA, SA factory in Danli, Honduras.  Sancho Panza is a world renowned Cuban value brand, whose trademark was also registered in the USA in 1981.  Sancho Panza was recently revamped in 2022 under Scandinavian Tobacco Groups’ new creative director, Matt Booth, of Room 101 Cigars.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Toro
  • Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
  • Binder: USA Connecticut Broadleaf
  • Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
  • Size: 6 x 52

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a very veiny double cap maduro toro.  It feels very lightweight in my hand, but is packed very well.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The body and foot of the cigar smell of honey and straw bales. The cold draw has some resistance, with baking spices on the breath. The cigar toasts very easily under a soft flame and combusts with ease.

The cigar offers lots of chocolate and graham cracker at first puff.  It has a mild salty and spicy finish. Very tangy.  The retrohale is habanero pepper complimented by a cedary chocolate aroma off the foot.  The smoking experience, however, is really dampened by the tight draw.  I have run into draw issues with lots of toros, and have steered clear of them for this very reason.  They burn well and handle heat well, just like the one I’m smoking today, but I find the draw on toros to frequently be a tug-of-war.  In this current cigar market, the toro is the “new” robusto, and I have seen many manufacturers cancel their more classical vitola formats to meet this current demand.  Many master blenders are also switching from rolling corona sizes, and opting for a 6×52 or 6×54 when they are constructing their samples and protypes.  Anyway, the ash buildup is superb so far, but the heat management requires a steady double puff pace.  Flavors are fainter, yet dominated by straw bales and pepper.

The second third debuts with stronger flavors.  I sense nuances of endive and chicory with pepper on the back end.  The smoke maintains its chocolatey cedar aroma.  The retrohale is now leathery.  More importantly, the draw has developed a little more give, which boosts the smoke production and I can now taste some sweetness on the finish of each puff.  I still find myself having to take two draws to maintain heat.  A perfume note of subtlety shines through.

The last third opens up with cinnamon notes as well as some green bell pepper on the finish.  Other then that, the draw has completely opened up and the burn picks up its pace.  The flavors can be harsh at times and reminiscent of roasted hazelnuts and whole espresso beans.  The aroma is leathery as well as the retro.  Something is telling me I should have tried smoking this stick backwards…

Conclusion

The Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Toro was smoked a couple days after I had reviewed the Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto which scored four points higher.  The difference in rating solely came down to the pesky draw of the toro vitola.  That being said, the last third was spot on with its expression of  Connecticut Broadleaf, which I reluctantly suspected was in the blend.  When it comes to the Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Toro, I wasn’t joking when I said it was better smoked backwards.  I would also like to revisit this blend in a smaller format since I am a big fan of Connecticut broadleaf.  Matt Booth may have hit the nail on the head idea-wise, but I couldn’t in good faith hand the Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Toro to someone else.  The cigar industry has been growing since the last boom, and even the “value” AKA “bundle” cigar market is loaded with lots of better options that are far superior in construction and flavor delivery. Enjoy!

Final Score: 80

Blind Review: Drew Estate Nica Rustica Adobe

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In 2013, Drew Estate introduced a new line of cigars called Nica Rustica. The purpose was to pay homage to the beautiful Esteli, Nicaragua, where colorful barrios shine brightly within the mountains and the home of La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate.

This year, Drew Estate created a second expression under the Nica Rustica portfolio called Nica Rustica Adobe. It came with a recent Freestyle Live Event Pack under the guise of a mystery cigar.

In an interview, Jonathan Drew, founder of Drew Estate, describes Nica Rustica Adobe as “…a proud and no-nonsense cigar that represents our strong bond between La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate and its beautiful Nicaraguan home, where the mountains meet the sun.”

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Drew Estate: Nica Rustica Adobe
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
  • Binder: Brazil
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: Toro (6″x52)

Appearance & Construction

The light brown wrapper on this cigar looks smooth but is quite dry to the touch. There are a few tiny cracks throughout the cigar, with several visible veins running the surface amok. Even so, this cigar still feels mighty sturdy.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The cafe au lait colored wrapper gives off a faint sweetness on its surface. When I traveled down to the foot of the cigar, it got more tart with a dash of pepper spice, which tickled my nose. I slice off the cap using my trusty Xikar XO cutter and go straight in for a cold draw. The flavor is fruity: sweet and tart apricot, to be exact.

As soon as I light the cigar, I go in for a puff and get a combination of sweet and savory taste with profiles of charred wood, dry hay, raw sugar, and black pepper spice. I retrohale the next puff and got a satisfying amount of red pepper spice. The spice lingered for a while before it decided to settle down. I was then able to identify roasted peanuts and cedarwood. The finish of this cigar is unique; I got left with mesquite flavors from the retrohale and sweet and spicy sawdust on my palate. So far, this cigar has a solid build. The burn line is slightly wavy but even. The restrictiveness is on the tighter side for me, about an 8 out of 10. Even so, it gives off a plethora of smoke.

Sadly, I only enjoyed about an inch and a half before a tunnel formed, and it was big enough for me to hear my echo if I screamed into it. I run my fingers halfway down before I feel a solid spot where the tunnel ends and reluctantly cut almost 2 inches off.

I fast-travel to the second third and relight the cigar. The smoke becomes creamy as I taste raw almonds, dry hay, and sweet toffee. The spice on the palate is gone completely. I then retrohale and got greeted by the same red pepper spice from the first third. Similar to the reappearance of the red pepper spice on the retrohale, the tunneling resurfaced half an inch in, but it was not as big as the first one, and I decided to power through.

Unfortunately, the final third did not get any better, as the filler tobacco is almost non-existence at this point. I get sweet and creamy raw almonds and cedarwood before the smoke gets too hot. I did one last retrohale, and it was delightful! I got sweet and tart stone fruits, creamy toffee, dry hay, and a satisfying amount of pepper spice. I wished that the last retrohale lasted a little bit longer.

Conclusion

The Nica Rustica Adobe had potential. I thoroughly enjoyed it before the tunneling and on the final puffs. I like the constant sweet and creamy profile; it was welcoming, but the construction issue was too much to bear. Overall, I don’t think this is a good representation of the Nica Rustica Adobe; I will seek out another one and hope it will redeem this one.

Final Rating: 76

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