Quesada

I’ve enjoyed the Casa Magna lines from the Quesada family and the Plascencia’s since they came together to bring cigars to suit many palates. Their latest release line which debuted at the PCA 2021 tis the Liga F (“F” for Fuerte). It’s billed as a stronger cigar with a sun grown Corojo wrapper, Dominican binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. 

As an aside, when companies boast a new blend being “strong,” I get concerned, because they often focus on power while flavors get lost. Admittedly it can be a delicate balance to incorporate strength while blending tobaccos that will deliver taste without being overwhelmed by the style.

I’m glad I smoked this blind, otherwise I may have been concerned that I would get a potent cigar without taste. With all that said, on to the review.

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Quesada Casa Magna Liga F Churchill
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown Corojo
• Binder: Dominican
• Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
• Size: 7 x 50 (Churchill)

Blind Review: Quesada Liga F Churchill

Appearance and Construction

This Churchill has a fine dark brown wrapper with minimal veins and a slight oily sheen. Feeling the wrapper, it is smooth to the touch with a well-balanced roll. As I give it a squeeze, the cigar from top to bottom is solidly filled with tobacco. Visually all the elements are there in what you’d expect from a premium cigar (minus the band of course).

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The foot of this cigar is giving off distinct notes of barnyard and earth. With a straight cut I take a draw without lighting and there’s a drying sensation on my lips. I’m tasting some prune on the back end along with hay and black pepper.  Using my Xikar torch I gently toast the cigar and the first puff I take is semi sweet followed by leather and nuts. With a slow draw I’m getting almond paste with a creamy finish that lingers for a bit. As I take a retrohale some black pepper tingles my nostrils although just enough to feel it without being overwhelmed. The initial start to this cigar seems to be in the medium bodied range and rather tasty given the amount of flavors coming through. The burn is progressing at a moderate pace which seems to allow me to get the most out of the cigars profile.

The middle of this Churchill is hitting its mark with notes of cashew, oak, and ground coffee. The finish comes off a little short but the flavors upfront are intense. The ash is a solid white with a somewhat curved burn line that does not seem to affect the cigar adversely. Another retrohale delivers floral notes with leather that clings to the sides of my mouth as I exhale.  For a cigar of this size, it seems to be smoking quickly, though that’s not to say its burning hot nor are the flavors becoming harsh. The body is in the medium to full category at this point while I draw on it with more leather, earth, and a strong finish of oak. What was black pepper tastes more like white pepper as I take a puff as the fullness continues to build.

Coming into the final third of this cigar there’s espresso and a richness that adds to the complexities of the smoke. The vivid white ash continues to remain solid and gently falls off as it touches my astray. The body stabilizes in the medium to full range and as I take another retrohale I pickup baking spices and chocolate which comes on rather surprisingly. The finish is once again long with a creaminess that resonates on my palate. Earthiness returns with cocoa and nuts rounding out the profile. With a last puff the sweetness from the wrapper comes through coming to a toasty lengthy end. A well-balanced Churchill.

Conclusion

When smoking a Churchill size cigar, you know you are making a time commitment with the hope of having a pleasant 2–3-hour smoking experience. This cigar did not disappoint. It began with leather, toast and nuts slowing building in flavors. Even the pepper that came through in the beginning did not overwhelm. Instead it created a developing profile that continued throughout.  As the body of the cigar went into the medium to full range the flavors intensified with nuts, oak and coffee all coming through straight away. The last third brought it all together with cocoa, toast, and a creamy finish. 

When I found this was a Quesada Casa Magna Liga F Churchill I was not surprised with the quality. I was impressed with the complexity. Although I wouldn’t say it was the strongest smoke as the name implies, I’d say that’s a good thing as it balances strength with lots of flavor. The Quesada family did a fine job in this blend as well as keeping a Churchill size cigar interesting for the duration. I would recommend picking up a few as they smoke well right now and I would surmise age will only improve them.

Final Rating: 93

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.

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.

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

The Casa Magna Colorado brand is a joint blend by Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plascencia. It’s a Nicaraguan puro created to deliver lots of flavor and a full bodied smoking experience. Both cigar makers are true craftsman and adhere high quality standards in their individual blends and the Casa Magna Colorado is no exception. I was looking forward to revisiting this smoke as it has been a while.

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Casa Magna Colorado
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Size: 5 ½. x 53 Robusto

Appearance & Construction

The Casa Magna has a dark wrapper with few veins although it’s smooth to the touch. The Casa is an expertly crafted boxed press cigar with a soft spot in the middle. The label is stunning with gold adorning the top and bottom with “Casa” emblazed in gold behind a white backdrop and “Magna” underneath in gold inside a black banner. The words “Colorado” are at the bottom in a smaller font with gold and red. A well-made cigar band that grabs your attention.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

Using a straight cut, I light up the Casa Magna and am instantly met with a blast of black pepper. During the first few puffs, lots of leather coat the mouth. I detect some earth, and notes of cashews and other nuts on the retrohale.

At the halfway point, the Casa Magna changes profiles to reveal cocoa and cedar. A bit of Swiss chocolate and cream resonate on the finish as the light gray ash and razor sharp burn develop at the foot of the cigar. A few puffs later, some dark cherry comes to the forefront, but quickly dissipates into sage and cedar. This is quite a complex cigar.

Towards the final third of the Casa Magna Colorado, the leather returns, along with a heavy dose of cedar and spice on the retrohale. The intensity of the cigar at this point is full bodied and the flavors really are “in your face.” Coffee on the mid palate builds up to espresso bean and some oak. Leather rounds out the profile with a rich, creamy finish.

Conclusion

It’s been a while since I’ve smoked a Casa Magna Colorado and it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to try it again. Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plascencia have a reputation for quality and their Casa Magna continues to demonstrate what master blenders can do. The Casa Magna Colorado gives you a full bodied smoking experiences encased in leather, pepper, cedar and espresso. It was a wonderfully balanced cigar and if you haven’t tried  one you need to pick up a few or a box.

Final Rating: 90

Reviewers note: this is a non-blind review.

Today we review the highly anticipated Vega Magna from Quesada Cigars. Announced at IPCPR 2018, Vega Magna is Quesada’s follow up to its award winning Casa Magna series. The cigar is offered in robusto, toro, and belicoso sizes. It utilizes an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper, as well as “traditionally aged tobaccos.”

In a press release, Manuel “Manolo” Quesada Jr., the company’s president said of Vega Magna:

“The use of Dominican Tercio-aged tobaccos from as early as 2001, sorted and fermented with the extreme care, makes this blend extremely unique. The tercio aging, over long periods of time bring out wonderful complexity, that help create a sweet, rich full-bodied blend with notes of cocoa, dried fruits and cedar.”

The Casa Magna Colorado was one of the first cigars to ever “wow” me (and interestingly one of the first I ever reviewed). So it goes almost without saying that this is a cigar I was extremely excited to smoke.

Product Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Quesada Vega Magna Toro
• Factory: Quesada
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown
• Binder: Dominican
• Filler: Dominican
• Size: 6 x 50 (Toro)

Appearance & Construction

The Vega Magna features gorgeous branding and has a worthy look following up on the legendary Casa Magna line. The cigar is packed tightly, with very little give when squeezed and no soft spots. The outer sun grown wrapper is a rich brown with slight reddish hues and has an amazingly textured, leathery feel. A whiff off of the foot reveals savory woodiness, spices, cured meat, and slightly sweet tobacco. The cold draw on the other hand is heavy on grilling spices and wood.

It’s the kind of pre-light experience that gets me excited to light up.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Vega Magna opens with plumes of soft, toasty, mild to medium smoke. The flavors are delicious and very complex, hitting sweet, salty, savory and bitter all at once (this is a great foundation for a complex smoking experience). Specifically, there’s that salty minerality that I associate strongly with Quesada, alongside a milky chocolate and slightly bitter leather. The texture of the smoke reminds me a lot of what I encounter with the Davidoff Millennium Blend: very smooth but with an almost musky, dusty old attic character. Smoke production is excellent, as is the draw.

By an inch in, the salt and leather has subsided, giving center stage to milk chocolate, savory spices, and dry sliced apricot. On the retrohale is dry wood, toasted bread, and black pepper. My only complaint is that the burn has begun to falter, requiring a minor touch up.

As the ember burns into the second third, the balance of flavor shifts again, favoring toasted cedar, tangy fruit, and a spice that lingers on the tip of the tongue. Body and strength have both inched slowly into medium territory. The burn now is perfectly straight and smoke production is voluminous.

A bit past halfway, the chocolate note, still evident in the palate, moves into the retrohale, complementing notes of wood and mushroom.

The final third of the Quesada Vega Magna is characterized at first by increased strength and body (just above medium). Flavors are mostly balanced between savory spice, wood, mushroom, and light milk chocolate, and I’m beginning to really feel the nicotine. There’s some more trouble with the burn near the end, but a few purges corrects that quickly, allowing a nice conclusion to the smoke.

Conclusion

The Quesadas have knocked it out of the park with Vega Magna. Minor construction issues aside, it’s the kind of cigar that packs in so much flavor, complexity, and harmony that I’m almost tricked into believing in eating a second dinner. I honestly question whether I’d want to smoke this cigar in a social setting because the development of flavors requires so much attention.

It’s the kind of cigar you just get lost in.

Absolutely worth the higher price point. A joy to smoke.

Final Score: 94

In my personal experience, specially-themed cigars have a tendency to be either amazing or abysmal, with few (if any) in-betweens. The Oktoberfest thus far has consistently made its way into the former category (I distinctly remember enjoying the Über vitola with a hard cider in October of 2015). I know it’s December of 2017, but let’s dive into the Oktoberfest 2016 Triple Bock!

Form and Substance

• Vitola: Toro Gordo
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano, Estelí
• Binder: Estelí region, Nicaragua
• Filler: Estelí region, Nicaragua
• Dimensions: 6’ x 56”
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Aesthetics, Construction and Feel

This is quite a fancy looking cigar; the Germanic label design is a particularly great compliment to the body, which is more than a bit gritty, but also well-constructed (no seams on the wrapper, and very few veins). The body is unusually stiff, indicating that the cigar is stuffed to the brim with tobacco, to the point of inflexible stiffness. This fact is also partially evidenced by how the binder filler seem to extend outwards from the wrapper. The ’16 Oktoberfest sports an unusual cold odor; it reminds the senses (not surprisingly) of beer. I’m a bit concerned that there will hardly be a draw at this point, but I’m also keen to taste a cigar that has a quasi-beer cold odor…

Smoke and Flavor

I’m pleased and relieved to find that my initial concerns about the draw were ultimately overstated. The draw has a medium-grade strength toit, allowing me to experience an excellently-textured, strong and meaty flavor complimented by undertones of spice and pepper. The burn is also consistent in its evenness; very rarely do I find myself consciously paying attention to it, which is always a good sign.

Around the second third, the pepper in the background finds its way to the retrohale as well, making it more zesty, but not always in the most constructive way, given how harsh pepper can be. Not long after, the foreground’s flavor incrementally becomes more mild, going from spicy and peppery meat to salty bread (essentially a pretzel, fittingly enough). It’s not always preferable to have a cigar’s flavor become mild at this stage, but the transition is seamless and the flavor still works well. It’s also at this transition point that the undertone becomes more chocolatey, which balances the flavor profile with the foreground’s salt remarkably well.

The Point of Convergence is where I realize that the Oktoberfest has a slow burn that can keep it lit and undisturbed for over five minutes at a time. After refilling the water glass and various other chores and distractions, I find myself picking up exactly where I left off without need for maintenance. I find the salty bread of the foreground merging with the chocolate undertones to mature into a handsome and rich dark wood, with the occasional touch of BBQ and a spicy/peppery retrohale reminiscent of the first third’s foreground. This flavor profile continues up unto the nub of the cigar, many minutes later.

The Final Verdict

Given my previously stated suspicion, I was particularly surprised at how well the ’16 Oktoberfest turned out to be. From the meaty beginning to the pretzel-esque middle to the dark wood-infused ending, this season release proved itself quite viable, versatile, and enjoyable in its flavor profile, if somewhat unrefined. The construction is also quite laudable. It’s not every day you find a stogie that can consistently burn evenly, maintain a consistent and medium-strength draw, and stay lit for over 5 minutes, all at the same time. This stogie is definitely a winner overall.

Final Grade: A-

Charlie’s Tips for a Perfect Smoke Experience

• Smoke it for social events. Even though the Oktoberfest’s flavor profile is excellent, it is still just unrefined enough to make it best enjoyed as a supplement to an experience, as opposed to the center point of it. So break out the bier unt the sauerkraut and light one up in the midst of a group of friends.