Vitola: Box-Pressed Toro
Size: 6″ x 52 ring gauge
Price $12.99 at Total Wine Brea
Obtained From Señor Rio as a review sample
Background
A few weeks ago I was approached by Debbie Medina president of Señor Rio wondering if I’d be interested in reviewing their new cigars. Up until this they have been a tequila company, doing so since 2009. Since both of the co-owners enjoy cigars; Jonathan for almost 30 years and Debbie for a few years, and it has been a long time dream of Jonathan’s, they decided they wanted to blend their own cigars. They approached AJ Fernandez in Nicaragua to realize this dream. Each of them came up with a blend that fit their specifications. The cigars are mainly sold in Total Wine locations, but there are a few select cigars stores that carry them. These cigar I’ll be looking at today is the Añejo. This cigar was chosen by Jonathan to be a cigar for the more experienced smoker, and one you can enjoy with or without a libation. It comes in one size, a 6×52 box pressed toro. They come packed in 20 count boxes. This review cigar was the third one I smoked.
Prelight
The wrapper on this sample was a very nice even dark chocolate brown in color. It also had a small amount of sparkle to it which I don’t know whether it was part of the wrapper or the foil on the band flaking off. The box press was well done, but not super sharp. There were some medium veins and a good amount of tooth to the wrapper. As I gave it a squeeze it had a slight amount of give with no soft spots. When I put my nose to the wrapper I got the aroma of barnyard with leather and nuts from the foot. After clipping it and taking a cold draw on it I tasted nuts and sugar with a good draw.
Flavor
The cigar starts off with some sugar sweetness with some coffee, cocoa, leather, earth and cinnamon starting to show up after a few puffs. The cigar also had a pretty good amount of wasabi like spice to start off with. The starts off in the upper end of medium strength. When I got into the second third the spice did start to tone down. The flavors changed slightly to more intense coffee, earth, leather and wood with hints of cinnamon. The strength stayed in the medium range. As I got into the final third the spice had started to build again, but wasn’t as strong as the first third. The chocolate flavor definitely was in the forefront as the cigar finished off. I could detect some hints of the previously mentioned flavors as well. The cigar maybe got to medium-full strength by the end.
Construction
The draw and burn were perfect throughout. This was the norm on all three samples I tried.
Value
The MSRP for this cigar is actually $10, but it is selling for $12.99 at my local Total Wine. To me that is just a little too high. If this and the San Lotano Maduro were sitting side by side I’d go with the SL since the normal price around here is $8-9 for the same sized cigar. I know this isn’t their core competency but they might have a difficult time competing at that price.
Conclusions
Overall I really enjoyed this cigar. I think the other two cigar I had were a little stronger and did have a slight nicotine hit from them so I can’t recommend them for everyone, but if you like a good, slightly strong maduro then I can recommend it. It wasn’t a lot different than the San Lotano Maduro and the price does put it in some stiff competition. This is something that I’d smoke again but don’t think it’d be on the regular rotation because of the price.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: .5/1
Total: 8.5/10
I’ll pick one of these up today
The San Lotano Maduro is a smoke I like, so if I were to choose between the two, I’d go with one that I know I’ll enjoy – and at a better price point, as well.
Sounds good except that price. Might cheek out my store and see if I can grab one. Nice review.
I have noticed a lot of wine makers in my area have started to have custom cigars made for them. Good stuff!
Nice looking stick and I’m a big fan of AJ blends not sure if I will come across one of these in the wild but if I do I’ll stop by and pick one up!
Price aside, it sounds like something I’d enjoy.
Are these in stores now? Was just in Total wines humidor looking for something I have never seen before must have missed it
I like the AJ Fernandez stuff so I’m sure I would like this. But I am nowhere near a Total Wine so looks like this may be off my list.
It does sound like a smoke I would give a try. The first third really sounds good. And if it comes out swinging and tapers to something thats still enjoyable that’s a win. A $10 MSRP isn’t too bad to give something a shot you’re looking forward to.