Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5.5″ x 52 ring gauge
Price $11.00
Sample supplied by La Hoja
Background
I didn’t really know much about this company other than seeing people posting smoking pics of the cigars on social media. When J. Carlos approached us about smoking them for review I was very interested to see what they were like. Dave did a review of this cigar here. This was the second one of these I smoked. Thanks again to the guys from La Hoja for giving me a chance to try it.
Prelight
The wrapper was a nice even medium-dark brown with some lighter streaks to it. The only vein of any consequence was on the back of the cigar. The cigar did have some oils to it, but might have lost some due to it being not packed in cello. There was a slight amount of tooth as well. The box presses was not very sharp, but from the pics I’ve seen I think that was intentional. There was a slight amount of give to it but no soft spots. Putting my nose to the wrapper I noted the aroma of leather with raisins and sawdust coming from the foot. After clipping it and taking a cold draw on it I got an ok draw with the light taste of raisins.
Flavor
It starts off with a good amount red pepper spice on the tongue and retrohale. The taste I got at the start was of a sweet cinnamon. After a few puffs on it I started to get some coffee and earth flavors as well. The cigar starts off in the medium full range. When I got to the second third the spice had definitely toned down, but not gone completely away. The flavors in the second third were of earth and coffee with hints of anise and a slightly sweet finish. The cigar was still in the medium full range. The final third had flavors very similar to the second with the cinnamon thrown back in as well. The spice did start to come back and the cigar built into the bottom end of full.
Construction
Getting the cigar going at the beginning was a bit difficult. I had to keep puffing on it or it would go out. By about half way through this was gone. The burn was slightly wavy and needed a correction, but that was probably due to the wind while I was smoking.
Value
At $11 it is slightly high in my opinion, but not overly so.
Conclusions
While it wasn’t a bad cigar, it just didn’t do much for me. I did think that was odd since the blend is something I usually go for, and the flavors I noted are ones I like. Dave seems to have had a different experience with it, even though he isn’t a big fan of the Mexican San Andres wrapper. I guess it has to be up to you to decide whether or not you like it.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8/10
Not a huge maduro smoker or a fan of the SA wrapper and the flavor profile doesn’t seem to generate a lot of excitement.
Guess I should try mine soon & see for myself then. Thanks Keith.
Seems like something I might like, Although I find it hard to shell out 11 bucks for a stick that might be mehhhh. But one persons Mehh is another persons Gold Mine. (EPCNW) cough cough Dave.
Sounds like a decent cigar but for decent at $11 it might be a tad high in price.
I think I’ll pass on this one. Thanks for the review.
Sounds good, but just a little to much for me.
Always curious how the reps feel when they give out a cigar for review and the reviewer doesn’t like it. I don’t think I could handle that kind of rejection
if there was that many troubles smoking and keeping it lit , I’ll pass. Thanks !
I like the Mexican San Andres wrapper but nothing about this cigar really stands out. I might give it a try, if I come across it.
Very nice
Great review! Thanks!