Micallef Migdalia Corona Extra Review

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Micallef Migdalia Corona Extra Review

Today we review our first ever from Micallef Cigars. The brand was launched in 2017 by Al Micallef and quickly gained a reputation as a producer of quality product. Unfortunately for me, I never came across the brand in NYC or on my travels, so I was unable to see for myself what the reviews were all about. Until now.

Today we review the “Migdalia”, specifically the 2019 release of the Migdalia in 6×46 Corona Extra format. The Micallef website gives some context on the name,

Migdalia Sanchez, daughter-in-law of Pedro F. Gomez, was born in 1947 in Guantanamo, Cuba. At 17 she graduated from the School of Tobacconists in Havana. Migdalia was chosen to represent Cuba in various international exhibitions. She is widely known for her contributions to the tobacco industry and has been awarded several times as one of the best cigar rollers in the world. This is our Migdalia.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Micallef Migdalia
  • Wrapper:  4 year old San Andres Habano
  • Binder:  4 year old Sumatra
  • Filler:  4 year old Nicaraguan and Dominican
  • Size: 6 x 46 Corona Extra

Micallef Migdalia Corona Extra Review

Appearance & Construction

I really dig the band in the Midalia. I’m a bit of a traditionalist, so I’ll never turn down a cigar with a coat of arms at the center. The outer San Andres habano leaf has just one or two major veins, and a reddish-brown complexion.

Off of the foot I pick up hearty aromas of savory spices, black pepper, workshop, and some nuttiness. The draw is perfect, 7/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness. The cold draw is fairly unassuming, with just some granola and earth.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

As the Micallef Migdalia ignites, it comes right out of the gate with a very balanced medium bodied smoke that is hearty, savory, creamy and slightly sweet. Major points for complexity there. The first impression on the palate is cedar followed by bittersweet chocolate, peanuts, earth, some spice and finally cream on the finish. The retrohale by comparison is assertive and full of white pepper. Overall, a remarkably well balanced profile. I’m excited to see what’s next.

Micallef Migdalia Corona Extra Review

As the Migdalia burns into the second third, the strength and body are still in the medium range, though the spice is a bit lower making for a less intense experience overall. Some new flavors are evident, notably a powdered sugar/cotton candy note that’s present every few puffs. There’s also a tart, cherry like flavor that hits right around the halfway mark. Meanwhile, the retrohale tones down considerably, showcasing toasted bread, light black pepper and oak (yum). Construction never misses a beat, with the burn straight and the cigar producing excellent amounts of smoke.

The Micallef Migdalia continues developing as it nears the final third, with some spiciness that hits the tip of the tongue and leather on the palate. The profile overall remains mostly split between spicy, savory, bitter, and sweet. This continues on up until the last inch and a half, where the smoke takes on a mostly oaky, leathery feel that’s augmented by a bit of cinnamon.

Conclusion

To say I’m impressed by the Migdalia from Micallef cigars would be an understatement. The Migdalia puts forward an admirably complex, fully balanced mix of savory spices, oak, nuts, cream, and much more. It reminds me quite a bit of the Oliva Serie V, with similar strength and expressiveness though perhaps a touch less raw power.

Absolutely a cigar to pursue. Highly recommended.

Final Rating: 92

AVO Unexpected Passion Review

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AVO Unexpected Passion

Today marks our third cigar reviewed from AVO’s Unexpected Series, this time focusing on the Unexpected Passion, which the Davidoff website claims utilizes tobacco aged 25 years. So far, I’ve been mostly impressed with the Unexpected Series—the Unexpected Tradition took home a 92 rating (high for this blog). Let’s see how the Unexpected Passion performs.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: AVO Unexpected Passion
  • Wrapper: Ecuador
  • Binder: Dominican Republic
  • Filler: Dominican Republic
  • Size: 6 x 50 toro

Appearance & Construction

The AVO Unexpected Passion is a beautiful cigar, primarily because of the gorgeous, extremely oily Ecuadorian wrapper leaf. It’s also expertly constructed, with slight springiness that is consistent the entire length of the cigar.

Taking a whiff off the foot of the cigar, I’m greeted by bright aromas of cedar strips, black pepper, and grilling spices. The pre light draw produces warm notes of bread, light spices, and white pepper that sizzles on my lips.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

It’s a big, delicious opening from the AVO Unexpected Passion. The cigar has a very well rounded texture, and produces the perfect amount of smoke with each puff. The flavors are complimentary, with sweet baking spices, cream and oak on one side and semi sweet chocolate and a dash of pepper on the other. Body and strength off of the bat both sit just under medium. A good start.

AVO Unexpected Passion review

It isn’t long before the smoke starts to morph. A tangy, spicy mustard note (that I’m not quite sure about) makes a big entrance. The retrohale gets a dose as well, though the pepper is more evident there.

By an inch and a half in, the AVO Unexpected Passion is an altogether different cigar. Strength and body both climb past medium. The balance of flavors is totally different as well, with black pepper, tangy mustard, toasted bread and liquorice all coming together to make a profiles that’s strange but enjoyable.

As the AVO Unexpected Passion burns past the halfway mark, it’s still not done changing.  The tangy mustard finally decides it’s time to take a break and moves to the back seat. In its place are sweeter notes of cream and cinnamon. Black pepper and charred oak play in the background and on the retrohale. Construction is flawless, with no retouches and a great burn line.

The final third smokes mostly the same, though the strength of the smoke rises and falls at seemingly random intervals. As the cigar burns toward the end, the smoke is characterized by hot spices, mustard, charred oak, and some faint cream. Certainly not a perfect ending, but still very good.

Conclusion

The Unexpected Passion is another big win from AVO Cigars. The smoke is extremely flavorful, complex, and there’s hardly a moment where the cigar isn’t changing and offering even more.

Predominant flavors include sweet cream, oak, tangy mustard, and all kinds of sweet and savory spices. The only other thing I’d mention is that because of the dominant mustard note, the Unexpected Passion may be a cigar more suited for veterans and enthusiasts than for beginners.

Final Rating: 91

Don’t forget to check out our review of the AVO Unexpected Tradition and AVO Unexpected Moment.

Quesada 1974 Review

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Quesada 1974 Review
Quesada 1974 with 1083 Celcius ash tray from www.vicemerchant.com

Up for review today is the latest from Quesada: the 1974 in the robusto size. Quesada is a company that I’ve grown to love over the years, thanks largely to the amazing work that Michael Herklots has done with the family on many excellent Nat Sherman blends. I’ve also met the family a number of times and they are probably the most gracious and hospitable event hosts I’ve ever met. Quesada also won our 2018 Cigar of the Year designation with the Quesada Vega Magna, a cigar which scored a 94 rating for its amazing complexity, flavor and overall storytelling.

The Quesada 1974 was released just a few months ago after previously being released in the European market via Spain. The cigar celebrates 45 years of business for the Quesada family, so I’m expecting something special, or at least different.

Quesada 1974 Review

Quesada 1974 Review

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Quesada 1974 robusto
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian
  • Binder: Dominican
  • Filler: Dominican and Nicaragua
  • Size: 5 x 50 robusto

Appearance & Construction

The Quesada 1974 certainly looks celebratory owing to its copious use of gold amidst the red and black accents. The outer Ecuadorian wrapper is also attractive, though it has its share of visible veins, some running nearly the length of the cigar.

Off of the foot I find aromas of both sweet and savory spices, charred meat, honey and earth. The cold draw has a good deal of earthiness as well, along with some granola. The draw is fairly non-restrictive, probably about a 6/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness, so I’ll be curious to see how it affects the overall experience.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Quesada 1974 robusto kicks off with an immense amount of aromatic, flavorful smoke. The texture and body is light and elegant, but surprisingly strong (mild to medium body, medium plus on strength). Some hot spiciness hits the tip of the tongue first, followed by toasted bread, malted barley, creamy nuts, and black pepper on the retrohale. It’s very much a Quesada flavor profile, though the strength of the black pepper on the retrohale is surprising. The word that’s coming to mind is “spice sandwich”—it’s the first thing that hits your tongue on the draw, and the last thing you sense on the retrohale, with all of the other flavors in between. It’s certainly an interesting flavor profile, though I do find the cigar difficult to categorize.

As the smoke continues, the Quesada 1974 develops a solid white ash that is mostly straight. By the time it reaches about an inch and a half, the spice on the retrohale makes way to showcase a core of salty cedar, hot spices, and a vanilla note that shows up in the aroma and adds nice complexity. The strong spice and black pepper on the retrohale remains.

Quesada 1974 Review

The second third is a whole different story. The aggressiveness and spice that characterized the first third of the 1974 draws way back, replaced by a lighter notes of charred wood, tempered black pepper, vegetal notes, and vanilla. The retrohale also shifts, replacing strong spice with toasted bread and cinnamon. Overall, much more balance in the smoke and ultimately more enjoyable than the first third which seemed to have a difficult time settling on any combination of flavors.

In the final third, the Quesada 1974 picks up a bit more strength and lands right at medium in both body and strength. The flavors are a diverse mix of savory, salty, spicy, and sweet, with hot spices again at the fore followed by dry cedar, salt, and savory meats. The cream which was so evident in the first half of the cigar is mostly nowhere to be found, which is a bit of a bummer because I think it counterbalanced the pepper nicely. Otherwise, construction remains just about perfect, with only a slight waviness to the burn. The only construction issue that does arise is a bit of additional heat to the smoke likely as a result of the unrestrictive draw.

Conclusion

Having smoked the Quesada 1974, the fact that they first released the cigar in Spain makes perfect sense given the differences in preferences between Europe and the US. The American market in cigars is—like in wine or whiskey—more drawn to flavors that are more straightforwardly strong and sweet/spicy. The European market on the other hand typically focuses a bit more on flavors that don’t scream “sweet” or “spicy” quite as loudly. So the launch in Spain makes sense given the subtler, more neutral flavors that are offered up in the 1974.

All that said, I enjoyed the Quesada 1974, especially the interaction between spice, pepper, malty notes, and cream. I also give Quesada credit for creating what I think is a singularly unique blend—I haven’t smoked anything like it before. The only downside is that the cigar was out of balance at times, most notably in the first third where I think the spiciness took up a bit too much of the spotlight.

Final Rating: 90

Gran Habano Persian King Maduro Review

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Up for review today is one of the lesser known blends from Gran Habano, the Persian King Maduro. Coming in at roughly $5 per cigar, it’s a fairly economical cigar. Of course, in most cases you get what you pay for, so I’m curious to see how the cigar performs.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Gran Habano Persian King Maduro
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua / Honduras
  • Size: 6 x 50

Appearance and Construction 

The Gran Habano Persian King Maduro is an unorthodox cigar from a construction standpoint. First, it’s sold without the traditional ornate Gran Habano band. Second, it sports a second, lighter wrapper leaf that makes up its closed foot.  On further inspection, the outer sun grown maduro wrapper features two very prominent veins. After cutting the cap with a straight cut, the draw reveals itself to be somewhat loose, about a 5.5/10 in terms of restrictiveness. 

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Once the closed foot ignites, the Gran Habano Persian King Maduro kicks off with highly concentrated, creamy, medium bodied smoke. The profile is nutty, spicy and creamy, with a core of espresso and highlights of chocolate. Very, very good. Smoke production certainly isn’t an issue with this cigar, and the smoke is nice and cool, if spicy. Overall, it’s an excellent start, and I’m interested to see if the rest of the maduro wrapped cigar will keep my attention. 

When the ember burns past the lighter wrapper and into the sun grown maduro, the change of pace is stark. The creamy nuttiness disappears within just a few puffs, replaced by a more classic maduro profile of prominent spice on the tongue with layers of bitter sweet dark chocolate, espresso, some light pepper and charred wood. I’d describe both strength and body as medium plus. The retro on the other hand is a solid medium showcasing red and black pepper. 

By the second third, I’m ready for some more change, and the Persian King Maduro delivers. The spice that up to this point hits the palate hard draws back, revealing smoother, sweeter notes of chocolate, toasted bread, and a delightful floral note that I’m not used to experiencing in Nicaraguan cigars. Some nice cinnamon and molasses flavors also make brief appearances, though never coming on strong enough to be primary notes in the broader palette. 

In the final third, burn issues start to surface. The burn strays way off, requiring a relight to fix. Flavors though continue to develop nicely, with a mix of savory cooking spices, cinnamon, burnt wood and espresso. It’s a nice way for the cigar to end, but unfortunately the loose draw finally becomes problematic with the smoke production struggling and the heat picking up. It’s a natural place to put the cigar down. 

Conclusion

The Persian King Maduro from Gran Habano cigars delivers big on flavor, but has some big trouble with construction in the final third of the cigar. Given that I only smoked one cigar for this review, and knowing that Gran Habano cigars tend to have excellent construction, I’m willing to look past it to a degree.

In either case, the Gran Habano Persian King Maduro is a cigar that I think beginners and enthusiasts alike will love, and at such a great price point it’s an easy cigar to recommend.

Final Rating: 90

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Zino Platinum Master Edition Throwback 2008 Review

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Zino Platinum Master Edition Throwback 2008 Review

Up for review today is the Zino Platinum Specter Series Master Edition Throwback 2008. I can’t say that I’ve smoked much Zino Platinum product in my twelve years of smoking, but the cigars I have had haven’t normally justified the high price point. So I was excited to receive this cigar in one of my monthly shipments from Luxury Cigar Club, a really excellent service that any aficionado looking for new cigars should take a look at.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Zino Platinum Specter Series Master Edition Throwback 2008
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
  • Binder: Dominican Olor
  • Filler: DR, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru
  • Size: 5 5/8 x 46 Corona Gorda

Zino Platinum Master Edition Throwback 2008 Review

Appearance & Construction

Visually, the Zino Platinum Specter Master Edition Throwback 2008 is attractive, with the standard silver and black Zino Platinum primary band and a secondary “2008” band below. The cigar’s Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper is a light peanut-butter brown color, with a silky texture and few veins. The cigar seems to be packed consistently its entire length.

After cutting the cigar and testing the draw, it’s about an 8/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness, so maybe just a touch tight. We’ll see what that means for smoke production. The cold draw is gentle and difficult to discern, with just some oak and mixed fruit notes.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

Once the Zino Platinum Specter Series Master Edition Throwback 2008 gets started, the smoke seems to sit right at about mild body and mild-medium strength. The flavor palette is a mix of fairly standard Zino stuff: fresh cut grass, light cedar, light floral and a bit of lemongrass. Every now and again there are some nice flourishes of vanilla bean in the aroma. The retrohale is strong by comparison, with that fresh grass note and some white pepper that tickles the nasal passages.

Not much changes for the rest of the first third, and it isn’t until nearly halfway in to the smoke that real changes begin. First, the strength increases up to about medium, with bitter grass taking up quite a bit of space, followed by a mix of cooking spices, lemongrass and white pepper. Construction up to this point has been flawless, with a great burn, sturdy ash and excellent smoke production. The only problem is the cigar itself just hasn’t been captivating, so I’m hoping to see some real flavor movement in the final third.

While there is some movement in the final third, it isn’t enough to take the Master Edition Thrownback 2018 from a good cigar to a great cigar (or even a ‘very good’ cigar). Some black pepper becomes evident, but just as it is coming in to balance with the rest of the flavors, the heat of the smoke picks up substantially, and I end up putting the cigar with an inch and a half of the cigar left.

Conclusion

I joked on Instagram that if this cigar was as good as its name is long, it would be the best cigar I ever smoked. If only that were the case. The Zino Platinum Specter Series Master Edition Throwback 2008 is a good example of a limited edition cigar that doesn’t bring anything new or surprising to the table. And unfortunately, that tends to be the case with most Zino Platinum cigars that I’ve had. It has some decent qualities, but at the price point that these cigars come in at (~$15, which is cheap for Zino Platinum), there are much better cigars for the money out there.

Final Rating: 82

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