5 Vegas Limitada 2018
Belicoso
Honduras 6.25” x 52 Medium 92-Rated
Aged Dominican and Nicaraguan long-fillers mingle inside this Belicoso to deliver layers of cocoa, nuts and cedar. A milk chocolate brown, Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper glistens with oils, lending a long finish filled with earth and spice. Expect a full-flavored bouquet that’s medium in body, balanced throughout and complemented by a zesty aroma on the nose. I’ve burned a dozen of these Belicosos, and each has delivered exactly like the last: deliciously.
Diesel Whiskey Row
Toro
Nicaragua 6.0” x 54 Full 93-Rated
One word: unique. This hefty Toro employs bold tobaccos patiently aged in oak barrels once used to craft Rabbit Hole bourbon…and you can tell with every last puff. 3 types of vintage, Nicaraguan ligero leaves are balanced by a 5-year-old Ecuador Habano wrapper. The cigar is rich throughout, offering dense notes of earth, wood, and sweet spices. Big flavors, eclipsed only by sweet, oaky nuances and aromas from the bourbon barrels. Diesel Whiskey Row, a must-try.
Gurkha 130th Reserve
Churchill Tubo
Dominican Republic 7.5” x 52 Medium-Full 95-Rated
The 130th Reserve had me at hello, thanks to an impressive crystal tube enclosed by wax. The oversized Churchill sports an oily, Ecuador Habano wrapper and sits heavy in my hand. Upon lighting, a super-smooth bouquet blankets every last taste bud. Oak and leather dominate up front, preparing my palate for hints of toast and white pepper. The hearty wrapper dishes out a rich peppery-sweetness that lingers long after each puff. Exquisite. Luxurious. Worth it.
Macanudo Inspirado Black
Toro
Dominican Republic 5.5” x 54 Full 92-Rated
Inspirado Black is bold in flavor from start to finish. I notice some spice up front, which eventually subsides to present a soothing series of unsweetened cocoa and roasted espresso bean flavors. Common flavors from superior Nicaraguan long-fillers. Midway through, a toasty, nutty character shines, just before a spicy finale. The dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper keeps things rich and smooth throughout. This is not your Dad’s Macanudo.
Romeo y Julieta Media Noche
Robusto
Dominican Republic 5.0” x 54 Medium 91-Rated
For Romeo’s Media Noche it all begins with the Mexican San Andres wrapper. This beloved maduro leaf offers a dense, spicy-sweetness that’s earthy and almost chewy on the palate. Aged long-fillers from the Dominican tame this wrapper’s profile, adding a smooth core of coffee, nuts, toast, and a honey-like sweetness. There’s a lot going on here, and the slow burn provides ample time to both realize and enjoy every touch of complexity. This Romeo is complex yet easy-going.
