La Instructora Delicado Robusto Review

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La Instructora Connecticut Review

Up for review today is the new Delicado from La Instructora Cigars, a brand I fell in love with reviewing one of their limited edition blends that is now sadly out of production. The Delicado is notable as this brand’s only Connecticut wrapper cigar, in contrast with the brand’s other blends which feature bolder tobaccos.

For additional background on this blend, we turn to halfwheel:

Saide came across the wrapper during the process of blending the cigar at Tabacalera Palma, with the leaf catching his attention both for its color and its sweet aroma. He told halfwheel that the creation of the cigar was about achieving balance and minimizing the lesser desired qualities of USA-grown Connecticut. To achieve that, a  binder and filler from the Dominican Republic were selected, both of which are grown by Jochy Blanco and have enough age on the leaves to provide balance to the wrapper. “Jochy achieved this blend,” Saide noted.

Saide said that while the cigar is smooth and on the milder side, the smoker never has to “reach for flavor.” He noted that there is no ligero in the blend, a decision made to ensure balance among the components.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: La Instructora Delicado robusto
  • Wrapper: USA Connecticut
  • Binder: Dominican
  • Filler: Dominican
  • Size: 5×50 robusto

Appearance and Construction

From a branding standpoint the Delicado is well done.  The metallic gold embossing contrasts well against the light wrapper leaf. I’m not sure what the logo is, but looks to be an impression of paint on a canvas (which makes a lot of sense if you’ve seen other bands from La Instructora). The outer wrapper leaf is golden brown in appearance, with a few noticeable veins and a velvety texture. When squeezed, the cigar has moderate give and I don’t detect any soft spots on the cigar.

The aroma off the foot of the cigar is surprising. It’s very full, with a very noticeable herbal and mint notes that sit next to cedar spice and something akin to moss.

La Instructora Connecticut Review

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The La Instructora Delicado kicks off with copious amounts of mild bodied, medium strength smoke. The texture of the smoke is very smooth, and the flavors sit balanced between sweet (cream, vanilla), salty (popcorn, toasted nuts) and bitter (oak). It has a desert like quality to it, like an after dinner scoop of vanilla ice cream and an aperitif. The retrohale is mild, with some light spices and toasted bread. Construction wise, ash that develops through the first inch is solid white, and the burn is mostly straight with a little waviness.

The first major shift comes at the end of the first inch. The strength of the flavor increases markedly, and the overall profile shifts towards charred wood, bitter oak, and peppercorn. The nose though continues to be both gentle and extremely aromatic. Not quite as captivating as the beginning, but still enjoyable.

By halfway, the La Instructora Delicado  is mostly unchanged, but a bit of obvious harshness has managed to sneak in from time to time. Otherwise, flavors up until the final third are charred oak, toasted nuts, and baking spices. The retrohale though remains relatively mild and still aromatic.

In the final third, the La Instructora Delicado comes full circle and settles back near where it began, with an aromatic and mostly mild profile of baking spices, oak, vanilla and nuts. Thankfully the smoke remains cool, allowing me to smoke the cigar all the way to the nub.

Conclusion

The La Instructora Delicado has a lot going for it. First, an excellent start with a great flavor profile that I haven’t experienced in any other Connecticut blend. Excellent construction and smoke production as well. But, the flavor profile is at times burdened by encroaching harshness that muddies up the flavor, so it can’t achieve the higher rating it otherwise would deserve.

Final Rating: 88

AVO Improvisation Series 2019 Review

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AVO LE 2019 (coffee cake not included in purchase!)

When AVO announced the next blend in its  annual Improvisation Series, I was excited. AVO has been one of my favorite brands ever since I went nuts for each blend in the (sadly discontinued) “Classic Covers Series.” Thankfully, 2019 has been a special year for AVO, with the brand releasing at least five new blends, including four very good blends in its “Unexpected Series” (reviewed: Tradition, Moment, Passion).

Will the AVO LE 2019 meet the high standard of blends that have come before? Let’s find out.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: AVO Improvisation Series 2019 (LE 2019)
  • Wrapper: Ecuador
  • Binder: Dominican Republic
  • Filler: Dominican Republic / Peru
  • Size: 6 x 52 box press toro

Appearance and Construction

The AVO LE 2019 is stunningly branded as ever. White, black and rose gold all come together to give an impression of luxury and sophistication. The outer wrapper itself is without blemish save for a few visible veins.

Once cut, I test the draw and it’s a tad loose, about a 5.5/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness. The cold draw summons notes of almonds, fresh bread and some light spices that tickle my lips. Off of the foot I pick up aromas of wood, grilled meat, grilling spices and light cocoa powder.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

Once lit, the AVO Improvisation Series 2019 generates copious amounts of relatively mild, toasty, spicy smoke. There’s also a dusty, mushroom-like note that reminds me very much of the AVO XO Intermezzo. By an inch in, oak, tangy fruit, toasted bread and bitter almond enter the mix. Good complexity, but not entirely outside the AVO wheelhouse. Construction is very good, with a straight burn and cool / plentiful smoke production.

Overall, it’s a beginning that is mostly familiar and I’m left feeling like I want more out of it.

The AVO Improvisation Series 2019 continues along mostly the same until the second third, where the tangy fruit note ramps up quite a bit. A few puffs later the bitter almond note is back, with a bit more spice along with it. Thankfully the strength of the cigar also picks up though it still doesn’t break medium. The retrohale is another story, full of pepper and toasted bread. The ash that develops in the second third and past the halfway mark isn’t quite as perfect as the first two inches, but it doesn’t require any relights.

In the final third, the smoke becomes much more toasty and finally arrives (a bit late) at medium body. Otherwise, more of the same. Thankfully construction remains excellent, and the smoke remains cool all the way to the end.

Conclusion

The AVO Improvisation Series 2019 is a good cigar. It showcases lots of enjoyable notes and stays in balance all the way through. Still, I always found myself always wanting more.

So, good? Yes. Just not a dynamite cigar like so many other AVO blends.  Worthy to buy for fans of AVO, but I don’t think I’ll be purchasing it again.

Final Rating: 87

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My Father The Judge Grand Robusto Review

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my father the judge review

“Emotional roller coaster” is the term that comes to mind when describing my experience with My Father: The Judge. This cigar was first showcased at IPCPR 2016. The Judge was inspired by a dear friend of the Garcia family, who’s an actual judge. Just like the name implied, The Judge grand robusto has a larger and unique vitola at 5”x60” with a soft box press and a medium to full body in terms of strength. It is also worth mentioning that it was No. 7 Cigar of the year for 2017 on Cigar Aficionado.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: My Father: The Judge
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
  • Binder: Nicaragua (Corojo & Criollo)
  • Filler: Nicaragua (3 different types of tobaccos from Garcia’s farm)
  • Size: 5×60 Grand Robusto

Appearance & Construction

As usual, the MF line impressed me with their band design. The golden scripted “MF” logo centered itself at the beginning of the final third mark, followed by “The Judge” right beneath it with its background fading into the walnut shell colored wrapper. Since it was the first time I’ve encountered this type of vitola, the cigar felt bulky, yet it rested comfortably between my thumb and index finger. The cigar had two very minor veins and a little weight to it, and firm to the touch. The wrapper appears dry visually, but there was a slight oily feel to it. Overall, The Judge has a very solid construction.

my father the judge review

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

When dry pulling, I mainly get barn yard, dry wood, leather and a hint of caramel with white pepper spice at the finish. At the foot of the cigar, I was able to smell more of a barn yard funk and spice which made me sneeze a couple of times.

I took my time toasting the bottom foot of the cigar, making sure each side was toasted properly before making my way to the middle. Once smoke started to emit, I smelled the scent of sweet granola, dry hay and pepper. Upon taking my first pull, I was surprised as to how mellow the actual smoke was. Flavor wise; dry wood and hay was the main profile with a creaminess of raw almond and a sweetness of caramel. There was also a bitter and earthy accent as if you were gnawing on an old bark and soil. There were two interesting characteristics that I wanted to point out; the smoke was silky but dissipated quickly with a bitter taste that I can only associate to the bitterness from a bitter melon. On the contrary, the bitter smoke left a long-lasting lingering sweetness on my palate.

The Judge continues to evolve as I arrived to the second third of the cigar. The nuttiness took the lead at this point, the bitterness and the spiciness in terms of flavor toned down to a hint. The lingering sweetness still existed as well as the bitterness in the smoke, but I realized my mouth was drying out quicker than usual and the only experience I can compare this experience to is when you accidentally chewed on peanut shells.

To my surprise, The Judge still had much life to offer at the final third. In addition to the bitterness in the smoke, a much more delicate floral essence emerged. The white pepper spice was gone, and the hint of sweet caramel at the beginning became a salted caramel instead which offered a savory aftertaste along with the lingering sweetness.

Conclusion

The Judge was a very unique smoke, it was very complex and balanced. The cigar structure remains consistent throughout the whole session, which is why I barely mentioned it in my review. I enjoy the shift of flavor every now and then. However, it would not be one of my go to if I had choices between the MF line. The bitterness in the smoke is very off-putting, unless you enjoy the taste of a bitter melon.

Final Rating: 87

Cavalier Genève Series Black II Review

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Cavalier Geneve Series Black II Review

When the Cavalier Genève Series Black II hit my mailbox in a monthly package from Luxury Cigar Club, I was excited for two reasons. First, as a packaging nerd I was intrigued by the gold leaf that’s inlaid in the outer wrapper of the tobacco. Second, Cavalier Genève is a brand I’ve seen around quite a bit on social, which is always and indicator for me to listen up and take a product seriously.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: When the Cavalier Genève Series Black II
  • Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: 5×50 (robusto)

Appearance and Construction

The cigar is unorthodox to say the least. The diamond shaped gold leaf is pressed around the edges of the box press. The outer San Andreas wrapper has a rugged look and feel, with a sandy texture and a few minor veins. Off of the foot are notes of barnyard, light black pepper, salt and cedar. The draw is fairly restrictive, and it brings in flavors of dark chocolate brownies, pepper, and tingly spices.

Cavalier Geneve Series Black II Review

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Once lit, the Cavalier Genève Series Black II produces a decent amount of medium bodied smoke, though the tight draw does seem to reduce the supply of smoke to a problematic degree. The smoke itself is rich and balanced between sweet, bitter and savory flavor categories, though there is some spice evident on the tip of the tongue. The sweet side features a very distinct creamy caramel note, along with some cinnamon. On the bitter side is a bitter paper note that seems committed to dominating the rest of the profile and definitely detracts from the overall experience. Not bad.

At an inch in, the ash is holding well. The cigar’s performance has improved somewhat, with a bit more smoke being produced and the paper note transitioning more to walnut. The retrohale though is still dominated by bitterness.

Thankfully, the Cavalier Series Black II turns around in the second third. I must have burned through the overly packed part of the cigar because the draw and smoke production suddenly improve, along with just about every other aspect of the experience. The flavor profile is much more harmonious, with oak, leather and orange peel balanced against sweet cream, toasted bread and some great baking spices. The retrohale clears up as well, featuring a heavier dose of spices and toasted bread.

The final third sees the strength and body of the Cavalier Genève Series Black II pick up markedly, passing medium and within stones throw of full. Unfortunately, with the increased strength comes the bitter paper note, which again threatens to overpower the rest of the flavors, which include heavy oak, burnt bread, hot spices, tanginess, cinnamon and vanilla. The gold leaf doesn’t seem to affect the experience much, though it does burn a bit quicker than the rest of the cigar.

Conclusion

To me, the Cavalier Series Black II is that new acquaintance that you want to like but just has too many glaring issues to establish a long term friendship with. Although it had some good moments, the good was too often overshadowed by construction problems and overpowering bitterness. That said, I’ve heard too many good things about this brand to disregard it, so I’m planning on exploring some of the other offerings from Cavalier.

Final Rating: 82

Highclere Castle Victorian Cigar Review

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Highclere Castle Victorian Cigar Review

Up for review today is the Highclere Castle Victorian from Foundation Cigar Co. The cigar is a maduro version of the initial Highclere Castle cigar which was released in September of 2017 and which we reviewed (favorably) here. I’ve been a fan of just about every blend that Nick Mellilo and the Foundation Cigar Co team have put together, so it barely needs said that I was excited to review this cigar.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Highclere Castle Victorian
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian (Habano)
  • Binder: Brazil (Mata Fina)
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: 5 x 50 (robusto)

Appearance & Construction

The Highclere Castle Victorian robusto sports a reddish-brown, oily maduro wrapper. There are a handful of visible veins, but otherwise the surface of the cigar is smooth. From a branding standpoint, I dig the combo of red and gold, but it doesn’t make for an easily readable band and isn’t as attractive as the original Highclere Castle from Foundation Cigars.

When squeezed, the cigar has a moderate amount of give, about as much as I’d like any cigar to have, though there don’t seem to be any soft spots in the packing.  Taking a whiff off of the foot, I pick up aromas of seasoned meat, cedar plank, and a touch of sweet natural tobacco. The draw is excellent, about a 6.5/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness, and the cold draw has a spicy and savory character.

Highclere Castle Victorian Cigar Review

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The Highclere Castle Victorian opens with huge, aggressive plumes of smoke—a real punch in the mouth. There’s quite a bit of pepper and hot spiciness on the palate, as well as earth and a touch of sweetness (spicy hot chocolate comes to mind). The retrohale is similarly aggressive—any more pepper and I’d be afraid of even going there to be honest. As my palate adjusts to the surprising strength, I start to notice that there’s actually a lot more subtlety going on than I thought. The sweeter notes start to take on more prominence, and, now equally balanced between sweet and savory notes, the cigar is very pleasurable to smoke. In fact, I’d say the overall experience is similar to some of my favorites from Padron, like the Family Reserve 50 Years Maduro: lots of concentrated flavor, but subtlety and smoothness to go along with it.

As the Highclere Castle Victorian moves into the second third, the pepper from the beginning takes on new vitality and moves to the fore alongside charred wood and earth. The sweetness that dominated for a good inch pulls way back, and hay and barnyard make up most of the background. There’s less strength now on the retrohale, which narrows down on charred wood and some pepper.

In the final third, the Highclere Castle Victorian continues to produce assertive smoke, dishing out lots of charred wood, earth, seasoned meat and both black and white pepper. It isn’t the nearly jaw dropping combo of sweet, savory and sweet that was the first and part of the second thirds, but it’s still very good, if a bit imbalanced. The construction impresses all the way to the end, with great smoke production and a straight burn.

Conclusion

Maybe my palate has shifted or just become a bit more prejudiced, but a cigar that can balance multiple flavor categories (in this case sweet, savory and spicy flavors), and then go on to develop the notes throughout the smoke, is what I gravitate more and more to. Such is the case with the Highclere Castle Victorian robusto, which puts fourth an amazing array of savory, spicy, and sweet flavors including black pepper, charred wood, spiced meats, hot cocoa, and more. The only negative came in the final minutes of the cigar, where I found the cigar to be at times out of balance.For ~$14, it’s a wonderful smoke and one of the best new releases I’ve smoked this year.

Final Rating: 93

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