Cigar Review: Headlines 2nd Edition

Cigar: Headlines 2nd Edition
Size: 6 x 54 (Torpedo)
Wrapper: Dominican Habano Oscuro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican Andullo
Price: $7 to $8 from the Antillian Cigars Online Store
Sample cigars were provided to me by David Jones.

As you may or may not be aware, David’s professional life is going through a bit of change. I know from my spending time with him at the Chattanooga Tweet Up and seeing how he interacted with shop customers and fellow cigar smokers, he’s going to do a great job at Burns. So because of his new schedule, he asked his fellow bloggers about doing a review on this cigar. With me almost never wanting to turn down cigars, I happily accepted the opportunity.

Doing a bit of research into the Headlines 2nd Edition cigar, I found that they are represented by Antillian Cigar Corporation, which also manufacture brands such as Imperio Cubano, Macabi and Sosa:

Headlines Cigars is owned by Dee Aguasvivas and Ulises Delgado. Headlines cigar is a 100% Dominican cigar using Andullo tobacco and made out of the Tabacalera Real Tamboril.

I encountered no construction issues and found the pre-light notes to be a hint of cedar on the nose. My first draws on this cigar were a bit tighter than what I have been used to with previous cigars but it wasn’t enough to where getting a draw was problematic. Notes of leather, wood and something akin to molasses were the primary flavor notes I encountered at the start, along with a subtle hint of spice. Being that the tobacco in the Headlines 2nd Edition was 100% Dominican, you definitely get more of the fuller body and strength of flavor than the outright burst of spice similar to what you would get with a Nicaraguan cigar. The spice, while mild, did linger on the palette for a good 15 minutes or so before disappearing. The flavor profile from then on didn’t change throughout the rest of the cigar, which would have been nice if it went somewhere at the end (even perhaps going a bit stronger). Total smoking on the Headlines was 1:50.

I think I touched up the burn on this cigar once during smoking but other than that, I encountered no problems. It didn’t get bitter on me at the end. The slight tightness in the draw I found at the beginning of the cigar didn’t seem to last very long and was not an issue. All in all, an enjoyable cigar to be had.

By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10

To recap the Headlines 2nd Edition:

• This is a great representation of a full-bodied Dominican cigar. I think this cigar would be too strong for my wife to take, as would it for new cigar smokers. Lovers of Dominican and/or full bodied cigars, take note of this one.
• The prices listed for this cigar are for five-packs and boxes of 20 respectively. For the cost, I would say if you are into full-bodied cigars, the Headlines 2nd Edition is a good value for what you are getting.
• This cigar paired with a drink like Octomore, that would be fun…well maybe not for everyone. This is one stick I want to keep a five-pack in the humidor for when I want a cigar to punch back at me.

As always, thank you very much for reading and I look forward to the next time I can share my thoughts with you.