Cigar Review: Sons of Freedom Natural by Quesada

• Vitola: Robusto
• 5” x 52 ring gauge
• $4.50 single / $89.95 box of 20
• Provided by CDMCigars.com

Background

And now for something completely different…

Well, it may not be all that different, really…but it is something that probably would not normally make it to the “review” stage for me, just based on what it is. And what it is is another store exclusive from Casa de Montecristo…but this time it’s their “bargain priced” store exclusive. I hesitate to say these are bundle cigars, because the price doesn’t dip quite that low, but they are definitely priced to move at $4.50 for a single Robusto.

I didn’t see any definitive information on when these came to market, although a Facebook post from February seems to indicate that it is a fairly recent addition to the line. It’s available in “Natural” and Maduro versions, with the Natural being a Connecticut Shade wrapper, very likely over Dominican fillers and binder (I’m basing that on Quesada’s common practices because I couldn’t find any details on the web).

So basically, this is a Quesada-made Dominican-based blend with a Connecticut Shade wrapper. That leads me to believe it will be a good, mild cigar…whether it hits my taste buds just right will be something we find out as we go. Let’s smoke!

Prelight

I’ve dinged the packaging of cigars for lesser offenses than what Sons of Freedom puts forth. It has a silver border at top and bottom of the band, with a wide orange swatch in the middle and a simple font in white reading “SONS OF FREEDOM.” Sorry, but with no further explanation of the design or name, I have to say this is just a plain and uninteresting band. To me, working in a retail store myself, I like to see something in a cigar’s packaging that screams out to consumers: “Notice me! Pick me up! Try me!!!” No, not every cigar has to have that…some will get by on word of mouth alone (given enough time) and the reputations of some manufacturers will ensure success…but even established companies need something to make new products jump off the very crowded shelves in a large B&M humidor.

Getting beyond the band, the wrapper leaf was relatively dark for a Conny, having a color almost like peanut butter, with a bit of darker mottling on it in places. It had a good amount of oils to the touch and smelled of fresh hay. The foot of the cigar had a mix of more hay, mild earth and graham. The cold draw had notes of hay and bread, but also a bitter note that I hoped wasn’t a preview of things to come.

Flavor

Once I got the Sons of Freedom Natural lit up and going, I was happy to report that I didn’t get anything in the way of the bitter pre-light flavor. Instead, the flavor profile started off quite sweet, with notes of molasses and graham up front, chased by a bit of earth and cedar, all riding on a creamy smoke. The retrohale had a little black pepper, but overall, I found the beginning to be a very traditional mild Dominican blend with a pleasant flavor.

As I cruised into the second third, I got notes of toasted almond and lemon grass, while the mild pepper notes that were there earlier had pretty well faded away.

The last third had more grassy and nutty notes, along with a resurgence of earthier flavors and the introduction of a medium-roast coffee note.

Construction

Construction was okay, but not great. The draw was good at first, then tightened up late in the first third. The ash was solid, though, and the burn line didn’t need much to keep it straight.

Value

While this cigar didn’t have a standout flavor profile, it was low cost and didn’t have a bad flavor, so I’d say it was worth the cost.

Conclusions

In the end the Sons of Freedom Natural turned out to be about what I expected…an average mild Dominican cigar. I can’t give it a high recommendation, but neither can I say “Run away!” It was a good cigar, but didn’t do much to hold my interest overall. If you are in to milder Dominican smokes, though, it might be right up your alley. It’s definitely better than most bundle smokes for just a little more in terms of price point.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 1.5/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 7.5/10