Vitola (4 ⅞ x 50) || L: 124, ø: 19.84 Cuban Puro Wrapper: Cuba Binder: Cuba Filler: Cuba
In Short: Beautifully blended, linear yet enough complexity to capture your attention. The 1ˢᵗ half was delicious and overall something I’d be more than happy to buy more of! Almost box-worthy. Construction: Golden light leather hued, silky wrapper without a flaw besides a crack under the band. Cold/Hot Draw: Cold has a slight touch of resistance but should be enough to impede the experience. Draw remains decent throughout.
Burn-line: Touch up required when she begins to canoe. All over the place and not one I like to waste any leaf on.
Ash: Cement to light grey with great structure.
Smoke: Decent output and thickness with chewy mouthfeel.
⅓: A walkthrough a cedar filled house of vintage furniture, honeyed graham crackers on a tray and a cardboard/hay element in the background; Almost barnyard. Moving quickly into salty, orange pith and a moist, silty soil. That hay, graham cracker and salty pith just dominate the palate, finishing with a savory twang similarly akin to hazelnuts but in another direction.
⅔: Picks up a soft ganache with a light peppery bite atop the honeyed graham cracker, salt and hay. The silty soil coming back dusty this time; the hay returning to cardboard-like elements. A nice transition towards the orange pith picks up some orange zest into the mix, an unexpected pleasantry; coupling back with the hazelnut savory element. The graham cracker progressing into more toasted bread territory and a light dusting of Saigon cinnamon. The saltiness picks up light left in the midst of a strong sea spray and a finish of faint red pepper. Not long after inviting a dried red oak/cedar into the cardboard/hay aspects and nutmeg on the finish. Ending more so on a bitter walnut.
³⁄₃: Back to the cardboard on spicy pepper with subtle cinnamon-the graham cracker sitting on the back shelf too. Red oak returns with an appreciable amount of toast, nutty walnuts with a kiss of orange pith.
Duration: 1hr 19mins
Cost: Gifted by @mccigars
MSRP: $19.³⁷ USD
Ratings:
88/100
This blend offers a decently linear expression of rather tasty, classic Cuban flavors. Certainly worth the squeeze, especially considering the price of other Habanas here in Canada.
Pairing: Aberlour A’bunadh Single Malt Scotch (proofed to 50%). Opens such a rich chocolate cinnamon, raisin cake and leaves a long finish despite the nose closing when proofed down. I figured this would be an oddball pairing as these Cubans tend to be much lighter and pair best with a malty Speyside. Unfortunately this isn’t ideal-just on completely different sides of the discussion of flavors. Not terrible but not recommended.
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