El Centurion 2016 TAA Review

El Centurion TAA 2016
Made by: My Father
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 1/2 by 52

This is a new release from My Father, this 2016 TAA is a box pressed torpedo coming in at 6 1/2 by 52. A couple of months ago I conducted a review on the corona size of the H-2K-CT, I am expecting something similar here. However, being a TAA cigar, these releases often have more effort put into the blend. This is a general statement, but holds true for most of the TAA’s I have had the pleasure to try. Lets see if this sticks along those lines as well with a El Centurion 2016 TAA Review.

Prelight

First thing to note, this is a good looking cigar. The box press is pretty sharp and it feels great holding the cigar in your hand. Not usually an area I cover, but it is worth mentioning. Great cap, the cigar does have one hard spot, other then that the pack is uniform. the foot is giving off a bolder note. Lots of wood alongside a some pepper bite, slight raisin underneath. The best way to describe that flavor on the front is bold oak with a background of mixed pepper. Odd, it will be interesting to see if that pepper note develops into anything, it seems pretty complex. Good cut, the prelight draw shows more of the woodsy notes and a lightly sweet under. Very few veins on the cigar, and the ones that are there come in at small to medium size. Visible seams and a good amount of tooth. Overall, a good set up so lets see what it has to offer.

1/3

Red pepper is present from the center through the finish with some white pepper mixed in. A good amount of tongue bite. The front is a balanced with a complex mix of dry macadamia nut, oak, and leather. Medium smoke production and medium to high smoke thickness. Medium to full body and low to medium strength. Not the straightest burn line, it may need a touchup eventually. Great complexity so far, wonderful flavors. The wrapper did have tooth and that is starting to show, the cream starting to show up from that could have been the light sweet note.

2/3

The best description of the flavor I am getting is Lucky Charms marshmallows. The oak, dry macadamia nut, and cream is giving the cigar that note. It sounds odd but it tastes great, of course the presence of the mixed red and white pepper reminds me that this is not a General Mills well rounded breakfast. The body is holding at medium to full and no changes to strength. The burn line self-corrected. As I reach the end of the second third the nuts have developed heavily on the front, macadamia nut and light leather. The woodsy oak has fallen to the background. The finish is now a full spectrum mixed pepper (red/black/white). Cream still comes into play on the center and finish, but the front of the profile is the sweet spot. Great complexity and interesting transitions. Good flavors overall, big step up from the normal blend.

3/3

Pretty far into the last third, there is oak on the front and the macadamia nut is still underneath. The pepper has come up and the flavors are washing out. So yes that means the first two thirds were the sweet spots. But this last third is a bold ending, not reaching full body but still reminding you that this is a good blend. Medium to full body and medium strength would be the classification on this cigar at the end. No touchups needed, a solid offering and a good testament to TAA run cigars.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Conclusion: 89

Good offering from My Father for the TAA convention. It almost hit a 90 but the last third underperformed, the second third was the best area for complexity. Worth trying, everybody’s palette is different. If you don’t always finish your cigars or you have a friend that you want to give something they will enjoy this may be a good contender. In either of those cases they may be the kind of person that ends the cigar at the start of the last third.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com