Cigar: Quesada Holiday Keg
Size: 6 x 50
Wrapper: Corojo Dominican
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Price: $69.00 per Keg (10 cigars) from Rodrigo Cigars
This next cigar was one of a few that I just couldn’t find the time to get a review of before the end of the year. Quesada Cigars is one brand that really impressed me this year, from the rich and tasty Keg to my second favorite cigar of the year, the Oktoberfest 2016. The Holiday Keg caught my eye immediately with the clever keg packaging. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of a cigar that was supposed to be crafted ‘for the holidays’, but I figured it would be cost effective enough to find out.
No construction issues were found on my last remaining Holiday Keg, if that begins to give you an indication of what to expect. The pre-light aromas (nose) on the cigar have me strong notes of cigar with lingering hint of cocoa while the cold draw gave me a faint but bitter anise-like flavor. I used a V cut on this cigar, thanks to the gift of a guillotine cigar cutter for Christmas. The light gave me an incredibly open draw with copious amounts of smoke, almost obnoxious at times. The initial flavors from the Holiday Keg were an interesting mix of spice, bitter cocoa and burnt wood. I would characterize the starting strength of the Holiday Keg as medium bodied, approachable by most anyone who would light a cigar. The interesting point about the cigar was that everything from the flavor profile to the strength more or less stayed where it started until the 44 minute mark where the spice and the bitter cocoa mellowed some while the burnt wood flavors began to grow. With the more intense burnt wood and an increase to medium-to-full bodied in strength, the cigar finalized with a smoking time of 1:14.
Besides a minor burn correction and a couple of relights, I encountered no real problems with the cigar. The 10 lasted about a month and a half and the final cigar took quite a bit of restraint on my part to hold onto.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3.75/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.75/10
To recap the Quesada Holiday Keg:
- The Holiday Keg definitely reminded me in some ways in having some characteristic flavors you can find during the holiday season, but I would say it can be enjoyed all year long.
- With a unique flavor profile and approachable strength, all levels of cigar smokers can enjoy this without worry.
- More than fair price for the 10 cigars. And you get an attractive box for holding onto Toro-sized cigars or accessories after the Holiday Kegs are finished.
- Between the Holiday Keg, the Keg mentioned above and this year’s Oktoberfest, I would say this particular cigar comes in a distant third to the others. However, I would be more than happy to pick up another keg, should they come across my path again.
Thank you very much for reading. I look forward to the next time I can share my thoughts with you.