Corona Gordas - Tribute/Reviews/Comparison

[TomHagen]

Esencia CG.

The end pic...



Click the pics to enlarge.

[OpusEx]

Originally Posted by TomHagen

Esencia Corona Gorda 5 5/8x46
LTD 2008

FILLER: Nicaragua
BINDER: Nicaragua
WRAPPER: Nicaragua

Esencia is the attribute or set of attributes that make an object what it is fundamentally.

Esencia is a completely handmade medium to full bodied Nicaraguan puro cigar available in four classic Cuban sizes. Each has been crafted in an old world Havana style using a traditional blend of Criollo and Corojo leaf of only the highest quality. Production of the Esencia is limited to the availability of the very best in raw materials.

Made by the BOTL behind personal favorite cutter Palio.
(Marc being my main contact there)

When speaking to the manufacturer, he said that they were going for the pre-1995 Habano flavor-profile. (According the education I recieved - This was before they began blending their cigars more "for the masses", thereby limiting the amount of ligero and leaves of criollo and corojo in the blends, making them somewhat more palatable for the average smoker. (I personally find many cc marcas do not differ from each other in their flavor profiles) Also they had to compete with blue-mold, so had to create differing tobaccos, blend etc. to keep up with production.) So the makers of Esencia tried to harken back to the previous blend of a Habano.
Anyway, the creators of Esencia definitely created a med-full bodied smoke, without skimping on the flavor. The appearance was beautiful - classic Cuban construct - triple seam cap, nice brown colorado wrapper.

(click pics to enlarge)
Attachment 1747

The pre-light aromas were at first very similiar to a Padron x000, but with some sweetness. delicious.

Attachment 1748

The initial light was very even creating a pepper colored ash that held very nicely. There was not the initial spicy-ness of a DPG, but imediately recalled the charred-taste of a Tatuaje Black, yet this was little more mellow and developed into that great sweet graham cracker taste I really enjoy.

Attachment 1749

As I began to enter the second third of the cigar the flavors started to really pick up and realized while balanced, this cigar was had a nice complexity that kept me guessing. I could identify a lot of different flavors that I enjoy. Some good tobacco, slight choco/expresso... great through the nose.

Attachment 1750

However, when I got the half-way point it needed some touch-ups and even a relight. To be fare, I only smoked 2 of these cigars, ever. The second one burned PERFECTLY throughout, leaving a beautiful solid pepper ash that only fell off cause I wanted it to, each time revealing more flavor. Very elegant.

Attachment 1751

The complexity died down a little after the midway point and picked up significantly towards the nub, which I did not want to go out. It had developed a full-bodied character and had a nice long finish that stayed with me.

This cigar was phenomenal. Elegant smoke, with complex flavors and could smoke one after the other. It recalled a Tat Black (robusto) and a fuller bodied CC. I really want to try different sizes in this blend, esp. Petite Corona and would definitely consider buying a box. One of the best "new" cigars I have had. Esencia got it right!!

Overall: out of 10
Flavor 10
Burn/Draw 9
Appearance 10
Construct 9
Value 10 (most CG's aren't cheap because they come from premium brands, and are smaller smokes, so this is relative)
Smoking Experience 10
Total Avg. 9.67

(last pic on the next page)

Excellent review sir and thank you for including the Esencia in your line up.

[TomHagen]

Originally Posted by BengalMan

This is an awsome idea. Looking forward to seeing your review on the ECCJ. Unfortunately I missed the release of these.

They have been re-released. Check with Dan at NHC.

[gvarsity]

Nice review. You have really peaked my interest. I will have Check with Dan at NHC. Great thread.

[TomHagen]

Originally Posted by gvarsity

Nice review. You have really peaked my interest. I will have Check with Dan at NHC. Great thread.

Thanks for the props. Let Dan know where you heard it from!!

[TomHagen]

La Flor Dominicana Habano Corona

This was not on my original list of Corona Gordas, nor do I have pics, but I just smoked one of these last night at my B&M and thought I should post a review. I walked into the smoke shop and the owner/mngr. said he just got in this new, rare LFD, and he knows I love CG's, so I gave it whirl, even though I really don't go for LFD's (except Coronados), mostly because they really give me a headache and I rarely smoke Dominicans, unless highly recommended. I have been wanting to try the new LFD Salamone, but it too much $ (and time) and it will give me a HUGE headache. While smoking this I didn't know it was the same wrapper as the Salamones.

After smoking it and only found 1 online source for them...
After making his Salomons and then re-wrapping the original Small Batch No. 1 Litto still had a fair amount of Salomon wrapper leaf left. What he did was blend up some Dominican tobaccos from his farm in La Canela and made some 5 3/4 x 46 Corona cigars with his Salomon wrapper. Litto couldn't make enough to have a regular production or limited edition cigar, however he was able to put together 700 boxes of 20.
These cigars were made in very small quantities.

Seemingly pretty rare, cost $10, which at a B&M is not soo overpriced nowadays, but it is kinda high for a CG.

So first glance it had a very nice triple-cap Cuban style and a interesting very nice dark wrapper, not maduro though, more dark colorado. The pre-light was kinda tight and "thick/wet?" tasting like I find most LFD's (and some Opus), but perfectly manageable. THe burn started pretty uneven but corrected itself and maintained a razor sharp burn with a nice size ash throughout, though slightly flaky.

The cigar tasted like typical LFD, but perhaps more balanced, good amounts of smoke throughout and pretty nice, solid flavor. It was relatively complex, but not dynamic in that it didn't change/evolve, which I find with many LFD. It was slightly more Cuban-eque, but still recoginzable dominican. In general though, it was very enjoyable smoking experience.

But alas, when I began to get up (after watching the Sox sweep the Yanks TWICE!!) and drive home vitamin N kicked in and by the time I got home I had to raid the kids juice for a sugar kick and had a disgusting headache that I associate with LFD's, some Opus and many strong Dominicans. Yeah, call me a light weight, but I smoke TONS of DPG, including one of my favorites, Tat Cojonu 2003, and occasional Gran Cojonu, with a slight enjoyable buzz, at most. I don't know why but I just can revisit Litto's sticks, and it's a shame, cause I respect his approach, his product and all, and I know many really love 'em, but I hate the headaches!!

Anyway, I really can't rate this cigar on my typical scale, but if you like LFD's and you can get your hands on one of these, enjoy! It was nice to see more Cuban-esque cigar coming from LFD.

[BlackIrish]

Yet another outstanding review. I've also found that Litto's nicotine really does seem to hit me harder than others' but he sure makes great smokes.

Thanks!

Good idea for a thread. I cannot wait for the La Aroma review. thanks for the effort too.

[gnukfu]

This is an excellent thread! I was going to mention the Definace Lonsdale at 6x46 but it is a little too long to qualify. You are smoking some of my favorite cigars here. The Esencia really surprised me the first time I ever smoked one. What a great cigar!

Loving this thread! Thanks!

[alfbacca]

Thanks for the review. Will have to go looking for some of these.

[TomHagen]

Originally Posted by nozero

Loving this thread! Thanks!

Originally Posted by gnukfu

This is an excellent thread! I was going to mention the Definace Lonsdale at 6x46 but it is a little too long to qualify. You are smoking some of my favorite cigars here. The Esencia really surprised me the first time I ever smoked one. What a great cigar!

Originally Posted by alfbacca

Thanks for the review. Will have to go looking for some of these.

Thanks for the props fellas!!

I also want to add the new Alec Bradley Tempus CG to the list. He just added this size to the line up.

[TomHagen]

I am adding these two wonderful looking sticks by Warped Cigars to the line-up. Thanks for the sticks Kyle!


Anubis Madruo

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Maduro
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Strength: Medium
Hand Made in Little Havana
Retail Price: $6.00 each

AND

Private Blend

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Maduro
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Strength: Full
Available, mid Feb for general release. They are aged in airtight foil bundles for a minimum of 3 months, then stored in cedar cabinets for the rest of their aging time.

[colimo]

i smoked the tatVI hermoso today and i agree with your review, excellent smoke!!! didnt have the cut issues you did which is good....also smoked the guapa w/in the last week as well with equal enjoyment....

look forward to reading the rest of this thread

Thanks Rabbi

[warpedcigars]

Your welcome. Hope you enjoy the 2 blends!

[Trace63]

I was considering posting a review of this stick at first but I just got soooo drawn into it, I decided not too focus too much and just enjoy it.

A La Riqueza! ( I THINK its a #3)

This was my second and last (tear) one. The first was so-so. Well, after a good 9 months of it sitting in the humi this thing is magnificent to say the least. Im not a big pepin/johnson fan at all. The DPG series is a hit and miss with me. Tat reds and whites are ok, and the one brown label that Ive had wasnt a hit either. However, this stick totally fits the bill.

Just the right amount of sweet sweet spice, with cinnamon and nutty flavors lingering in the back, and it has a quick smooth finish. The burn is a little wavy, and it cant hold an ash for dear life, but wow, purely amazing cigar.

[TomHagen]

Warped Cigars Corona Gorda Review

This cigar was delicious from start to finish it kept me intrigued. Spice, Leather and Balance.

[emopunker2004]

Originally Posted by TomHagen

[IMG]file:///C:/Users/Rabbi/Pictures/Warped%20Cigars%20Collage.jpg[/IMG]

no worky

[TomHagen]

As you can see this oily stick burned like a champ all the way down.

[warpedcigars]

Originally Posted by TomHagen

Warped Cigars Corona Gorda Review

This cigar was delicious from start to finish it kept me intrigued. Spice, Leather and Balance.

I smoked one the other night, they are coming along beautifully.