Joya De Nicaragua Antano 1970 Review

Antano 1970 Robusto Grande
Made by: Joya De Nicaragua
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 5 1/2 by 52

This cigar is known as a pretty full bodied go to when you’re looking for a cigar that won’t break the bank but will still deliver in terms of flavor, body, and strength. This review will be going over the grand robusto size, this is a vitola that I have not visited before so the only way to know what this has to offer is by getting this started. Lets see what it can do with a Joya De Nicaragua Antano 1970 Review.

Prelight

The cap is decently constructed, small to medium sized veins and there is light tooth to the wrapper. Barely Visible seams, the foot is giving off leather and mixed pepper. There does appear to be a bit of complexity to the blend, but the only way to truly tell is to get this lit up. Pretty firm and consistent pack, and there is a slight box press. Little bit of an issue with the cap, a bit fell off on the cut. Despite that, there is barely any loose tobacco which is highly impressive. Good resistance on the prelight draw, lots of red pepper and the draw is showing woodsy notes alongside the leather.

1/3

Just as the prelight draw was showing, there is tons of red pepper throughout the profile the finish includes just a bit of black pepper. Slightly bitter leather and mixed wood on the front, that leather carries through the center till the red pepper takes complete control. Medium to full body and medium strength at the moment. I expect both to reach full, the flavors are very pleasant but bold. Medium smoke thickness and medium smoke production. Did I mention red pepper? Because that is the main takeaway at the start of this cigar. Nice solid compact ash, and a pretty good burn line.

2/3

This isn’t a cigar that likes sitting so it does require attention. Smoke thickness has increased and is creating a nice mouth feel. This increase has also let cream creep into the center of the profile. Make no mistake, the red pepper has not gone anywhere it is still controlling the finish with the subtle black pepper lingering. The front is pretty distinct now, leather and oak with a spice that is separate from the red pepper. That little spice note is sharp and clean almost approaching a brief appearance of mint. Great distribution of flavors and it has improved as it has burned down. No changes to the body or strength surprisingly. Still medium to full body and medium strength. That red pepper tongue bite is still present, it will remind you if you forget.

3/3

One note, the cigar does seem to be getting soft a bit earlier than I expected. It became noticeable about 2 and a half inches out. The cigar is really beginning to push full body but it hasn’t hit it. The red pepper alone is pushing that characteristic, the strength has come up to a medium to full. Leather and light cream control the front and then strong red pepper and subtle black pepper come in at the center through the finish. Still a good mouth feel, but the red pepper bite is beginning to outdo the mouth feel. In typical fashion the pepper has come up at the end. Overall, it was a wonderfully blended cigar. Not a perfect burn, not perfect construction, but really good for its price point.

Smoke Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Conclusion: 87

These cigars are often praised for being budget friendly consistent flavor bombs. To tell you the truth I think that’s pretty valid, given their price point. Balance at a higher level of body and strength is hard to come by and this does a pretty good job. This is a cigar that would make a great traveler, something that you wouldn’t feel bad about if it got beaten up. It would certainly be satisfying, and probably even be smoke-able if it did have a couple issues in the midst of travel. The red pepper accompanied by the mouth feel make this a great offering. There are better cigars out there, but this does a great job in the genre it fits into.

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CAO Flathead V660 Carb Review

Flathead V660 Carb
Made by: CAO
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 by 60

CAO cigars puts out some interesting lines, from my own experiences the notable ones are the Lx2 and the Brazilia. This cigar is from the flathead releases, this ring gauge is on the larger size and I believe I have had a couple before. However, I recall them being decent but not really memorable. Let’s see if this can outperform my expectations with a CAO Flathead V660 Carb Review.

Prelight

Visible seams, small to medium sized veins. The wrapper has a good amount of tooth to it, the cap decently done but has been compressed by the box press. The box press is pretty sharp, almost square. The band is pretty simple, a fruity sweetness on the foot with sweet cream and leather. The cut was not very good, I would probably recommend a punch on this cigar. The cap fell of and there was a slight amount of unraveling. Extremely easy draw, and sharp red pepper on the prelight draw, I hope the pepper does not overwhelm the rest of the notes.

1/3

Slightly difficult to light, the light sweetness that was on the foot is still present, there is a very subtle note underneath. That note is heavy oak and it is slightly bitter. Leather and a mix of black and red pepper on the finish. Heavy smoke thickness high smoke production. Good body coming in at a medium to full and low to medium strength. Cream isn’t really effecting the profile despite the tooth of the cigar. At the very end of the first third nearing the second, leather is up on the front alongside a bitter cocoa, the finish has actually transitioned significantly it is now black pepper forward. It is still a mixed note the red pepper is much more soft them the black, but is still notable on the wrapper. Sturdy ash and the body is maintaining a medium to full, strength is rising slowly but hasn’t yet reached medium.

2/3

As I enter the second third the burn line has been constantly good throughout the cigar, the ash is slightly flaky but holds very well, about an inch and a half. Still high smoke production smoke thickness is increased slightly. That pepper continues to rise in the finish. As I reach the end of the second third the cigar is still a medium to full body and the strength is up to a medium. Not the most interesting flavors but it is building and body and strength as the cigar burns down. Dry leather is now on the front and the mixed pepper still controls the finish. The sweetness seems to still be present but it is significantly subdued. The mixed pepper note is still black pepper forward and red behind.

3/3

In the last third the dry leather continued to be prominent on the front with the pepper notes controlling the finish. There is still an oak in the background, the sweetness is gone though. Till the end the body maintained at a medium to a full and the strength held at a medium. The nub did get squishy and hot. The burn line was not razor sharp, but held pretty straight through majority of the cigar.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 25 minutes

Conclusion: 84

This is a bit of a large ring gauge for a cigar that is box pressed. An interesting thing is that the band acts as a good grip if you normally hold the cigar between your index and middle finger. Overall it was a decent cigar, not exceptionally complex. The transitions were good, the flavors were bolder justifying the medium to full body. This would be a great cigar for a day working on the yard. I don’t want to call it a yardgar, because it is better than the usual yardgar. Decent price, this is one of those offerings that should be tried out. This line has quite a following, if you like the ring gauge I could see it being attractive as something less attention grabbing but still maintaining a good body.

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

Tatuaje Black Label Corona Gorda Review

Black Label Corona Gorda
Made by: Tatuaje
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 5 5/8 by 46

Today I’ll be going over an offering from Tatuaje. The Black Label Corona Gorda is a consistently good cigar from this company. At least that’s been my experience with these in the past. I would even put this cigar past their Brown Label line. So let’s see what this has to offer with a Tatuaje Black Label Corona Gorda Review. Remember, in previous years the black line was only available in the corona gorda size. As of this summer it is available in 5 sizes in regular production.

Prelight

Lots of tooth to the wrapper, medium size veins. The foot is closed and giving off wonderful mixed pepper, chocolate, and a lighter almost floral note. Needless to say I am expecting complexity from this blend. Superb triple cap, with a nice little bump to add to the aesthetics of the cigar. The band is simple but elegant, just the right amount of bling. You don’t even need to hold the cigar near your face to smell it, wonderful cocoa/chocolate bleeding off of the wrapper. A less developed blend would show this note as more of a barnyard/manure, but this is appropriately aged and well-balanced. Slightly spongy pack, the cut was great with just a little bit of loose tobacco. The pre-light draw shows more chocolate and mixed pepper with a bit of herbal/floral notes underneath. Let’s get this started and see how it performs.

1/3

Just as the foot let on, the front is dark chocolate with a hint of sweetness, the center is a mix of cream and light jasmine. The finish is a well-balanced fully mixed pepper (red, white, black). Great thick smoke production, with a wonderful heavy mouthfeel. Not an overwhelming amount of smoke, but it is certainly heavy and thick. Medium-plus in terms of body at the moment, the strength is at a low to medium. I expect both the body and the strength to rise. Not the straightest burn line, but I don’t foresee any touchups.

2/3

Still super heavy thick creamy smoke with a magnificent mouth feel. The burn is pretty sharp but not perfect, medium to full body and it is just reaching medium strength. Dark chocolate with a bit of sweetness remains on the front, but it has also picked up a subtle leather note. The center fades quickly but the light jasmine is still present, and the finish is still that very well balanced mixed pepper all at equal power.

3/3

The burn line is going is still going wonderfully, the smoke thickness has been spectacular throughout the experience. Leather and cocoa are not controlling the front. The floral jasmine is gone, and the finish is a mixed pepper but red pepper is forward. That red pepper is accompanied by a good amount of cream, the cream having been a great characteristic throughout the profile. Medium to full body and medium strength through the end of the cigar.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Conclusion: 91

This cigar is absolutely a great offering from Pete Johnson and Tatuaje. Wonderful burn line, and a great mix of complexity throughout the cigar. Good transitions, this is a cigar that you want to keep special. However, it would be easy to slip into the habit of picking one of these up very frequently. It is important to recognize that as with most Tatuaje lines, there is a good amount of pepper accompanied with the body. And in my own opinion, this blend does a wonderful job of balancing it’s ratios of pepper, body, strength, and complexity.

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

Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 yr Kraken Review

Cellar Reserve 15 yr Kraken
Made by: Gurkha
Country: Dominican Republic
Vitola: 6 by 60

A Gurkha review! This is a first, I have heard mixed opinions about this cigar. In the end cigars should always be tried to see if it does fit an individual. So I am going to approach this blend with an open mind. With that I do have to say, as with several of the cigars that Gurkha produces, the band is very extravagant. My question is, does the tobacco back that presentation up? Lets see with a Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 yr Kraken Review.

Prelight

In my opinion a cigar over a 52 ring gauge is a tough area to get into. At that point firmness becomes a more important characteristic. The pack on this cigar is quite acceptable for this ring gauge. Slightly spongy and a velvet like wrapper. As for the cap, this cigar has a pigtail but it is quite crude as far as the construction of these go. Never the less it is an indication of extra time being put into a cigar. As for the wrapper it is full of medium to large veins and there are many bumps from the binder. Rough looking aesthetics with a beautiful band. The wrapper has less tooth then I would expect but I do hope it maintains higher cream and a good mouth feel. Sharp bold cedar on the foot, seems almost forced, there is a sweetness underneath that shows promise for some complexity. Good cut, and not that much loose tobacco, but what was left of the cap did fall off. The biggest note on this cigar on the prelight draw is the spongy give the pack has. This cigar is packed perfectly for a 60 ring gauge in my opinion, cedar and that sweet note remain present on the prelight with the addition of a black pepper.

1/3

Took a second to light, and the first observation is that the wrapper is leaking smoke where this cigar gets back to a 60 gauge from the smaller foot on this figurado. Tons of smoke production, thick smoke but not too much in the way of mouth feel. There is cedar on the front, closer to almost a dry sawdust, and the finish is bitter black pepper. Not the best burn line at the moment, as I thought the transition from the figurado foot to the 60 ring gauge body is proving difficult for the cigar. It did need a touchup to come back to normal. I am not going to lie, at this point the best part of this cigar is the band. It is just under a medium body at the moment, and no strength at all. As I get to the end of the first third the cigar is coming together a bit more, it seems as though it needed some time to warm up.

2/3

The front has calmed down a bit, it is a mix of cedar and oak. The finish is showing more of a bitter macadamia nut, and it is more balanced then the first third. The black pepper has calmed down a lot and is allowing the other notes to get through. The best way to put it, the cigar is improving. A bit of aging may balance out the front, the sawdust/cardboard note that was present in the first third is gone which is great. The cigar is at a medium body and the strength is up to a low to medium. The burn line has maintained a lot better in this third.

3/3

The flavors are beginning to wash a bit, but in a good way. The notes are blending to be a mix of the macadamia nut, cedar/oak, and subtle black pepper. The smoothness of this cigar improved dramatically from the first to last third. The body has maintained at a medium and the strength never passed the low to medium. The burn line had no issues past the first third. Satisfying end to this cigar, very interesting transition from not something worth smoking into something that I may actually revisit after some age. I can understand how some people could develop a loyalty to this cigar.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Conclusion: 81

This cigar started off shaky but got better as it burned down. In terms of image this cigar looks rough and glorified from the band and the wrapper. It could use some rest to balance out the first third. This was a chimney from the start, really in my opinion this is a good cigar for an occasional cigar smokers or as a beautiful looking hand out to friends. For heavily developed cigar smokers this won’t really hit the flavors and expectations. Still I do have to say I did enjoy smoking this for some reason, really aesthetics add to the experience and in this case that band was helpful.

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

Curivari Buenaventura Petit BV Review

Buenaventura Petit BV
Made by: Curivari
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 4 1/4 by 54

It has been a while since I visited a Curivari blend, this particular review will cover a cigar that I have reviewed in a different vitola. These tend to be pretty good, but they do stick to pretty similar notes throughout the brands releases. That is not a bad thing, they consistently produce winning cigars. Lets see if this holds true to that with a Curivari Buenaventura Petit BV Review. Coming in at a bit more then four inches it will be shorter, but I still expect this to perform well.

Prelight

The cigar has a decent looking cap, there are a couple wrapper blemishes, small to medium veins. Nice box press and the foot is giving off light fruit, based on the nose it seems to be leaning to more of a medium body. Good cut with just a bit of loose tobacco present. Clean white pepper is present in the prelight draw, light stone fruit in the background, and light leather. Just a bit of tooth to the wrapper, but with the notes that are present cream would be a nice addition.

1/3

Easy to light and good smoke production off the bat. Medium smoke thickness but it is producing a nice mouth feel. Leather and light macadamia nut on the front, light cream on the center. The finish is a balanced mix of leather and white pepper. Medium body and low to medium strength at this point. The burn is going pretty well and overall there is a good array of notes present.

2/3

The macadamia nut is dropping, and the leather has come up and is controlling most of the profile. This cigar is mainly shifting in terms of surface notes. Cream is on the center and then a mix of white and black pepper is still coming in on the finish. Medium bodied and medium strength. Not the straightest burn line, but no touchups needed. Consistent smoke production and smoke thickness.

3/3

The mix of leather and dry macadamia nut is back on the front similar to the first third. The main difference is the dryness. There has been good balance throughout the cigar. Those notes shift into a finish that is a mix of black and white pepper (black forward) and lots of cream. No changes to smoke production, thickness, or the burn line. Great cigar, it ended at a medium body and medium strength.

Smoke Time: 55 minutes

Conclusion: 87

For a short cigar this was right on the money with decent complexity and good transitional shifts. I would recommend this for a time when you are a bit more rushed than usual. That said, this is a great cigar to keep a fiver on hand of. Not really something I would suggest for relaxing in a cigar shop, but good to keep around for after a long day of work when you don’t have a ton of time.

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

La Palina Goldie Dalia – Now IN STOCK!

The La Palina Goldie Dalia has arrived at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.  The La Palina Goldie Dalia is the latest La Palina Collection Goldie release.  All La Palina Goldie cigars are limited-edition and rolled by one cigarmaker at El Titan de Bronze in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami.  Besides their immaculate construction, the cigar features Medio Tiempo tobacco leaves in its blend. These small leaves, cherished by tobacco growers for its rich flavor, are rarely seen on a tobacco plant. If they do appear, the complex leaves grow at the very top where they receive more light than any other part of the plant.  Since 2012, La Palina has released a single size of the Goldie blend, which uses an Ecuadorian habano wrapper, Ecuadorian binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers including the Medio Tiempo leaves.

Master roller Maria Sierra, who signs each numbered box, rolls the entire La Palina Collection Goldie. Maria was one of the first women trained to roll cigars in Cuba. Her historic 32 year career at Villa El Laguito began July 22, 1967. Maria is a 95 rated, category 9 roller trained by Fidel Castro’s personal roller Eduardo Rivera Irizarri, as well as Avelino Lara, the creator of the legendary Cohiba blend. Each cigar is finished in the traditional Laguito style with a fan cap, exclusively taught to rollers at Villa El Laguito.

The La Palina Goldie Dalia was limited to 2,500 10 ct. boxes, each numbered and signed by Maria Serra.

The La Palina Goldie Dalia measures 6 3/4 x 43. Click picture to browse at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.

Illusione 2014 Singulare Review

2014 Singulare
Made by: Illusione
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 5 1/4 by 54

This is another cigar from Illusione that I will be going over, these cigars are produced at a significantly small quantity. Illusione has does a limited release “almost” every year. I say almost because the 2015 just recently shipped out at the end of March 2016. I don’t have any real expectations from this cigar. I know that several of the releases that Illusione does on a limited scale are incredible. Lets see if this falls into that category with a Illusione 2014 Singulare Review.

Prelight

Firm and even pack, mostly small veins, decent cap but it leaves room for improvement. The wrapper has an almost paper bag like appearance, barely visible seams. Very little tooth, it doesn’t look extremely impressive but it does seem well built. The foot is actually smelling like grass and hay, with light cedar and slight black pepper. I imagine this will have a good mouth feel due to those qualities, and I think it will build in body. Lets see what this has to offer, it seems like this will change big once lit.

1/3

Low to medium smoke thickness and medium smoke production. Mild to medium body with low strength. Dry cedar on the front with a mix of grass and hay on the center. The finish is a red pepper with just a bit of black mixed in. Really light and airy mouth feel, pretty light smoke. Overall this would be a good pick for a mild cigar smoker looking for something just a bit heavier than usual. The aftertaste is a bit odd, leaving dry cedar and light black pepper lingering. Straight burn line, no issues there.

2/3

Cashew is coming up lightly alongside the dry cedar on the front, hay controls the center and the finish remains the mixed pepper. Body is rising very slowly, it hasn’t got to a medium yet. Still holding at low strength, the burn line is going wonderfully. Still this is coming in at an odd place in terms of body. It wouldn’t quite be something I would recommend to a medium bodied smoker, but this would be pushing the upper limits of a mild preference. However, this is a good cigar for a medium or even a full bodied preference if attending an event or get together where the cigar is not something you want to focus on.

3/3

Body is just hitting a medium as I get into the last third. Cedar and cashew on the front, the dryness is gone. The hay and grass that were present earlier in the cigar have dropped off. The pepper finish is now bleeding into the center. Strong red pepper and lighter black pepper remains that blend. The smoke thickness has increased, this has given the smoke a better mouth feel. Strength went up a bit barely reaching low to medium level. The burn line stayed consistent throughout the cigar. The end trade off was complexity for body. First two thirds had more complexity then the last third, but the last third manages to reach a satisfying medium body while losing complexity.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 5 minutes

Conclusion: 85

My conclusion for this cigar is a bit unusual. This is perfect for the upper limits category for a mild cigar smoker. On another note this is also a good event or casual cigar. Something that doesn’t demand attention and that is light. Light in the way that a person that likes fuller bodied cigars wouldn’t be turned away by this. Give it a shot, it could be right on target of you haven’t reached a medium bodied cigars as your standard.

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

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

E.P. Carillo EL 2013 Review

Edition Limitada 2013
Made by: E.P. Carillo
Country: Nicaragua, Brazil, Mexico
Vitola: 6 1/8 by 54

If you click on the picture it will take you to the webpage where the discounts are applied. This review is actually something I am really looking forward to. As I was walking through the humidor I saw a box of these, and they looked like they were aging wonderfully. I recall when these came out they needed some time, well lets see what 3 years did for them. They released 1500 boxes back in 2013 so they are getting harder to find. Lets see if this is a hidden gem with a E.P. Carillo EL 2013 Review.

Prelight

This wrapper looks delicious, thick and tons of tooth. The pack is slightly spongy and lumpy, visible seams, and medium sized  veins. This is not a cigar that is trying to be pretty, this looks rough but the construction is perfect. Wonderful cap, and the foot is giving off tons of cocoa and leather. Not the most unique flavor notes, but with heavy cream profiles like this are amazing. Good cut, but definitely some loose tobacco. The prelight draw shows more leather and cocoa holding consistent to the foot. Lets get this started.

1/3

Dry cocoa on the front, as that fades to the center cream comes in and leather and black pepper are mixed on the finish. Medium plus in terms of body and the strength is at a low to medium. Lots of smoke production and medium smoke thickness. As I get into the first third the burn line going well, and the ash is white and slightly flaky. Oily smooth mouth feel, not particularly thick like I was expecting.

2/3

The draw has a nice amount of resistance on it, this cigar tastes matured. The dry cocoa remains on the front the center is a mix of salty nuts and cream, and the finish remains leather and black pepper. Not much in the way of changes, but not bitterness and no sour notes. The cigars probably would have done better release after some more aging because now, 3 years after their release they taste fairly complex with a good strength to body ratio.

3/3

The dry aspect of the cocoa fell, heavy dark chocolate as I reach the start of the last third. The salted nuts note dropped and now the transition into the finish is a quickly fading cream, then leather and red/black pepper take over. The finish is very well balanced. Still no issues with the burn line. No changes to smoke thicknesses or production. The body never reached medium to full and strength has stayed at a low to medium. As I reach the nub the finish is rising, black and red pepper with a lighter leather than was present in the first two thirds. The dark chocolate/cocoa front has fallen but is still present.

Smoke Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Conclusion: 87

This cigar didn’t really burn quickly, I definitely enjoyed it which probably caused the shorter burn time. You could certainly get 1 hour and 35 minutes of you took the cigar slow. This is the kind of cigar I wish I could smoke every day. The score may not show that, but this is just a solid offering from E.P. Carillo. This would be a cigar I would recommend trying before you purchase it. However, if you keep up with the reviews and the cigars that hit a similar leather/cocoa profile are ones you like. This comes in above a lot of those in complexity which is a plus, but they do come in at an average higher price per stick in comparison.

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Oliva V Melanio Robusto Review

V Melanio Robusto
Made by: Oliva
Country: Nicaragua, Ecuador
Vitola: 5 by 52

I previously reviewed another size of this cigar, however in my personal opinion this is the best size that they put out. The only thing that would contend with this Oliva V Melanio Robusto Review would be if the company did a lancero label Melanio. Wishful thinking, but in either case let’s see what distinguishes this compared to its other brothers.

Prelight

Medium veins and a slight box press to the wrapper. In general Oliva does a pretty good job with the caps on their cigars. However, on the Melanio line the caps are near perfect. Firm even pack throughout the cigar. The foot is giving off a sweet milk chocolate with light white pepper and almost graham cracker note. There isn’t a ton of tooth to the wrapper, but I know from experience this is going to be a  creamy cigar. Easy cut, very little loose tobacco. Pretty easy prelight draw, with only a slight amount of resistance. The prelaw draw is showing more nutty notes alongside the sweet chocolate. Let’s see how it performs.

1/3

Sweet dark chocolate on the front with clean floral jasmine and white pepper on the center. The profile rounds out to a bitter hay and leather on the finish. Interesting organization of notes, the fact that the finish is lacking pepper is spectacular. Medium smoke production and medium smoke thickness. Low to medium strength and the body is currently at a medium but it is slowly rising. Pretty good burn line, I don’t foresee any touchups.

2/3

Smoke thickness has increased to medium to full, smoke production remains at a medium. The burn self-corrected and is almost perfect at the moment. Cream and woodsy notes are mixing to give the cigar the graham cracker note on the front and it is delicious. Lots of cream and leather on the finish with a tinge of sweetness, almost reminding me of “McClelland red cake” pipe tobacco. The floral note is still present, but much more subtle. White pepper makes a soft appearance on the center as I get to the end of the second third, but gets overtaken by the leather note.

3/3

Body is up to a medium to full, strength is pushing medium, but isn’t quite there. Leather comes up and takes over the profile, with cream mixed in throughout the front and center. White pepper has reappeared on the finish with a little more influence. The complexity that was present for the first and second thirds begins to dwindle. Smoke production held at a medium and smoke thickness was at a medium as well.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 5 minutes

Conclusion: 88

Shorter smoke time, but really nice and unusual organization of flavors. It is a great cigar, not quite into 90’s territory, but at its price point it comes in quite high in terms of score. That floral note is actually surprising, all the flavors mesh wonderfully, but that one note stands out. Deem that a good thing or bad thing, either way it creates uniqueness for this cigar. If you haven’t had one of these I am not sure where you have been hiding. A must try, and if you can find a good box price it could command a box buy. As always it comes to personal preference, but I believe this cigar won’t disappoint.

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