Vitola: El Hombre (robusto)
Size: 5″ x 54 ring gauge
Price $5.00
Purchased From Two Guys Smoke Shop
Background
I had heard @BlowinSmoke and the guys on his Podcast talk about how good this cigar was, but could never find them locally. I like to try one or two before buying online and paying for shipping. Barry from Two Guys posted a sale on Twitter so I said what the heck and bought a few of the robusto and toro sizes. These cigars are comprised of Pennsylvania ligero, Honduran ligero, and Nicaraguan fillers, a Ecuadorian Habano binder and a San Andres maduro wrapper. There are 4 sizes and they come in 21 count boxes. This was the third cigar of this blend I smoked.
Prelight
The band on this cigar makes it pretty clear what the name of the cigar is. The luchador mask with the twin ‘L’ eye slots paints a pretty clear picture. The wrapper on this cigar was a nice medium brown with some lighter mottling to it. The wrapper also showed lots of tooth with some oils as well. When I gave it a squeeze it was fairly firm to the touch with no soft spots. When I took a cold draw on it I got notes of sugar, leather and wood with a good draw.
Flavor
The cigar starts off with lots of spice, and a wasabi burn on the retrohale. I would expect as much from the two different types of ligero in the filler. The cigar settles down a bit into flavors of leather, coffee and earth with a sweet finish. The cigar starts out on the medium-full range to start. The flavors in the second third changed slightly to chocolate, leather, coffee and earth with a heavy sweet undertone. The spice was still present but not as intense as the first third. The strength of the cigar stayed pretty consistent though the second third. The cigar built in strength as I moved into the final third with the spice coming back as well. The flavors didn’t really change from the previous third. I did start to get a slight nicotine hit from it as it built into the bottom end of full strength.
Construction
Throughout the cigar the draw was great and the burn line was only slightly wavy.
Value
Even at it’s regular price of $8.50 I think this would still be a great price for this cigar.
Conclusions
Overall I really enjoyed this cigar. I found it’s flavors very pleasing and liked that it had a little bit of kick and spice to it. I’ll agree with The Cretins that this is a great cigar. I just wonder what will happen with the sale to General. I hope that it doesn’t do anything to this blend because I would like to purchase this again. I would caution those that are nicotine sensitive, but the rest of you if you want an in your face cigar with lots of flavor give this one a try, if you can find one.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
So you’re saying there’s a little kick from the Luchador? Better than a chokehold. I’ll have to put this on my list. Thanks Keith.
I remember a few months ago I asked you about this cigar and you said you had not tried it yet. I smoked one a while back and was less then impressed the draw was lose and the cigar felt really light in my hand, I didn’t get much as far as flavor either. I will have to pick up another one or two and give it another shot, I have always like Sam’s blends.
its a really nice 5.00 stogie for breakfast!!
I just picked two of these up and am looking forward to them, especially considering what everyone has been saying. Thanks for confirming, look forward to them.
Have tried thanks to a great BOTL and loved the blend. I hope it doesn’t get changed..
I actually was looking at these a while ago. I just got a hold of one of these albeit a different vitola, from a great BOTL. Nice review, and it seems you enjoyed a great stick.
Thanks for the review! I’m glad you enjoy the Luchador! Have you tried my “Black & White” lines yet? Thanks Again!