Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
Price: $6.00
This is a newer stick that is quite a bargain. The prices of this cigars in this line range from about $5.00 to $6.50. When I was talking to the owner of Xhale Lounge, he mentioned that he just got these cigars in and that they received excellent ratings. I figured I would grab the Gran Toro and see if it, to me, truly earned its high rating.
The cigar looks great. The medium brown wrapper if flawless except for the 2 small veins on the side of it. The cap is multiple layers, and perfectly flush with one another. The stick is solid, except for a very small soft spot just below the band. The cigar gives off a sweet earthy smell that is similar to that of the couple Cubans I have had.
The flavor is amazing right off the light. There is a nice mild spice that is quickly met with some earthy and wood notes. The spice quickly dies down, leaving the earth and wood to be very strong. After about an inch or so, the spice was almost gone, and the cigar became a solid medium bodied smoke. Throughout the first third, the wood and earth notes kept growing and became more potent.
Just shy of the halfway point, there were some coffee notes that came out. The coffee was a nice compliment to dull down the earthy tones. Around this point, all the flavors mellowed out and blended evenly. Just after the halfway point, a slight, sweet undertone came out. This sugary flavor stayed on the palate for the remainder of the cigar.
The finish was where the flavor really kicked up. The combination of wood, earth, sweetness, and the little bit of spice was amazing. The four flavors could all be picked out for the last two inches or so.
The ash on this cigar was a medium shade of gray and nicely layered. It also held on for about two inches at a time. The burn was relatively even. It was wavy at times, but always evened out. The draw was easy throughout, which is always a good thing. The smoke was thick and white with s slight brown hue to it. And the aroma was very woody with a little bit of spice. There was nothing harsh about the aroma.
This is a great stick. For the price, you cant go wrong. Is it a A+ cigar? No. But it is a great cigar. This is a great medium bodied cigar. I feel that it deserves a 8 out of 10. I recommend this to anyone who smoke. If you smoke mild cigars and are looking to step up, this could be a nice stepping stone. And for someone who smokes full bodied, try this one, because it isn’t a huge step down.
Enjoy,
Zack the Stogie Man
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