Vitola: Corona Larga
Size: 6.375″ x 46 ring gauge
Price $14.95 MSRP
Obtained From Drew Estate as a review sample
Background
First off I want to thank they guys over at Drew Estate for sending me over this cigar as well as some others that you’ll be seeing reviews of. I hadn’t heard about this release before I received this review sample. In looking online this differs slightly from the normal blend in having a Nicaraguan binder instead of a Honduran one. I also think that the wrapper is a higher priming as it is darker and more reddish than the normal release. The bands also are easily distinguishable by the switch of the background and writing colors. It looks as though they were released earlier this year, and as the band says (tienda exclusiva = shop exclusive) you can only get them from Riverside Cigars. This was the first one of these I smoked.
Prelight
As mentioned above the band makes it easily clear that it is something different. I did have a little trouble getting it out of the cello without ripping the cap. In the end I cut the cello off. The wrapper is a nice ruddy brown in color with some oils and a slight amount of tooth to it. When I gave it a squeeze there was a slight amount of give without any soft spots. Putting my nose to the wrapper I noted the aroma of hay and leather with raisins coming from the foot. After clipping it and taking a cold draw I got notes of raisins with a good draw.
Flavor
The cigar starts off with flavor of leather, wood and cinnamon. The spice, while present on the tongue and retrohale, didn’t seem to be as intense as I’m used to from the original blend. The smoke did have a heavy feel to it as well. Towards the end of the first third the spice did mellow out a lot as I started to get some earthy flavors with a sweet finish from it as well. I would say this cigar starts off medium strength. When I got into the second third the flavors were very similar to the first third. I did get some black pepper notes from the cigar towards the end of this third. As I moved into the final third I did notice that the spice did start to come back on the tongue and retrohale. The flavors remained similar throughout. I did get a slight nicotine hit during this third as well. However I don’t think it moved beyond the bottom end of the medium full strength.
Construction
The draw was great throughout and it produced a large volume of smoke. The burn, while slightly wavy, didn’t need any correction.
Value
To me $15 is a bit much, but I know it is a limited production.
Conclusions
I actually enjoy the regular release in the robusto extra size a lot more. The flavor that were present were enjoyable but it just didn’t seem to hold on to my attention like the normal release does. I would give it another try if I visited the shop just to see how that one went.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: .5/1
Total: 8/10
Got to love an honest review. Thanks Keith. I have only had the Herrera Esteli blend once or twice and I loved it but none of his other Herrera blends. I will try them all if I can find them. Merry Christmas buddy
Nice write up. Ive only had one oft he original. So question, what does a shop have to do to get a “Shop Exclusive” with any of these major companies.
Speaking from the standpoint of a tobacconist at a shop that has 3 store exclusives with another in the works, you have to commit to an ungodly number of boxes. Companies will pretty much do anything if you put the money up to make the cigars.