Vitola: Robusto- 5” x 50 ring gauge
- MSRP $6.20
- Provided by company rep
Background
I was first introduced to HVC Cigars last year when the brand owner, Reinier Lorenzo, came through Chattanooga and convinced the owner of the store I work at to carry his cigars. Really, it didn’t take much convincing…his cigars are pretty great. Basically, Lorenzo grew up in Cuba but fled when he got the chance. “HVC” is short for Havana City and some of the names of his cigars pay tribute to the streets and neighborhoods where he was raised. Some time ago, the company’s new rep in our area gave me a few samples of something new from HVC…Pan Caliente…Spanish for “hotcakes.”
The name makes me think I should go to the closest IHOP and pair this cigar with some of their house specialties…but I’m afraid they wouldn’t take to me lighting up in a restaurant…even if it was for a review. The name actually is in reference to the phrase that basically says “selling like hotcakes.”
Pan Caliente is all Nicaraguan leaf, some of which his two-year-aged Aganorsa leaf. It has a Nicaraguan Criollo 98 wrapper and was made in the Raíces Cubanas factory in Honduras. This review sample is at least the second (and maybe the third) Pan Caliente that I’ve smoked; as stated before I got the samples from the company. (I did get some background info from halfwheel’s review of the cigar.)
Prelight
HVC tends to take a more old-school approach to banding and boxing. It creates a bit of a challenge for the cigars to stand out in a crowded store, but when the cigars are as good as HVC’s the store staff tends to lead people to them sticks. Pan Caliente is no exception, with simple burgundy and gold ink on a white background, with a bit of embossing. The band is simple and efficient with no overt adornment.
The cigar it was wrapped around was a dark caramel color with minimal veining and a nicely oily touch to it. It smelled of aged tobacco, cedar, and just a touch of earth. The foot of the stick had more earth, along with some hay and a bit of a sweet aroma. After clipping with a straight cutter, the cigar had a great draw with an abundance of cedar flavor as well as touches of earth and grass.
Flavor
Once I got the Pan Caliente burning, there was a good amount of cedar in the front, followed by natural tobacco and sweet hay notes. Pepper was just a minor thing on the palate, although it was a bigger burn on the nose. It wasn’t standing out to me as a very complex cigar with modern sensibilities, so much as a classic throwback…a simple cigar made to just appreciate for that face alone.
The second third was characterized by an even more up-front natural tobacco flavor, with cedar and hay notes sliding down in prominence. There was some roasted nuttiness on the palate and nose, but pepper had left the proceedings altogether at this point.
In the last third, Pan Caliente had still more natural tobacco and hay notes, while the cedar was downplayed even more. The nuttiness continued unabated and a little pepper came back into play.
Construction
I had a very even burn line, great draw and solid ash throughout this cigar.
Value
The price point is almost in the “bargain” range and the cigar is solid, so I judge it as good value.
Conclusions
Pan Caliente was a very fine cigar and the price is very good. It didn’t have a big amount of complexity during each puff or change-up on the way from light-up to letting it go out, but it was very good all the way. It consistently delivered a good medium-bodied Nicaraguan flavor without being overpowering in any way. At the time it’s just available in the one size, which is a mixed blessing. While I might enjoy a Corona or Lonsdale more than this vitola, a Toro or Gordo would likely suffer from the lack of complexity and just come off as boring. I would recommend this those who love Nicaraguan leaf and need a good-priced cigar that will last 45 minutes to an hour.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10
