Cigar Weekly

Mad Dawg · 08-14-2012, 09:29 AM

My good friend Frank Santos at Reyes Family Cigars sent me a few prototype cigars, test smokes for new blends that RFC is working on. Very interesting appearance to a couple of them, which I'll review when I get a chance to smoke to them.

One of the ordinary-looking ones was a toro with a Connecticut wrapper, and Frank asked me to try that one first. After I sent him my impressions, I asked what it was, what it will be called, and when it will be released. The reasons I asked him that should become obvious. The appearance may have been ordinary, the cigar was anything but.

---

One word review: Winner!

Vitola: Toro, 6" x 52(?), parejo.

Pre-light: No detectable construction flaws. Smooth, lightly-veined, fragrant Connecticut claro wrapper. Bunch was uniform and firm, yet the draw was perfect. Pre-light flavors redolent of fine tobacco, suggestive of a bit of Nicaraguan ligero in the filler. Very nice.

During the smoke: I don’t usually smoke a lot of Connecticut-wrapped cigars because they’re generally too mild for my tastes. This one was very different. I would characterize it as on the mild side of medium-bodied, but oh my, the flavors! Layers of complexity that moved between different levels as I smoked it. I can't claim to have picked out a lot of specific flavors, just that they changed and I enjoyed them from start to finish.

From first draws to nub, excellent. Even burn, no touch-ups required. Slow, gentle smoking was rewarded with dense clouds of flavorful smoke. Just...wow!

Comments: I've made no secret of the fact that I hate the trend towards fat ligero bombs. This cigar really hit a sweet spot with me...an extremely flavorful smoke, subtle, full of finesse. A cigar that doesn't need to overwhelm your senses with brute force, but brings you enormous joy in the smoking through abundant flavor and interest. I could enjoy this one on any occasion, from morning smoke with coffee to after a big steak dinner with a snifter of cognac.

Highly recommended!

---

Frank tells me that this is the same blend used in the Puros Indios 2012 series, but with a Connecticut wrapper. The difference made by that wrapper is astounding. I quite like the PI 2012, but this one blew me away.

When released, the line will be called Cuba Aliados Capa Clara, and that it will be offered in five sizes: Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, Churchill, and Gordo (6x60). I wish there were a corona and/or a lancero in the line, but you can't have everything. Personally, I won't be grabbing up any of the Gordos

, but I will want to add some of the others to my stash.

mcmoyer · 08-14-2012, 10:25 AM

Sounds nice! Was the release date mentioned?

Mad Dawg · 08-14-2012, 11:34 AM

Frank says the cigars are ready, but they're waiting on packaging. Should hit the market in "a couple of months."

Bobbystbob · 08-14-2012, 01:30 PM

Nice! thanks for the review. I'll look for them at my favorite cigars shop in all the US, Lone Star Tobacco, in Houston, when I'm there in Oct-Nov.

mike s · 08-15-2012, 02:56 PM

Sounds like a winner! Hope it's posted up here where to get em when they hit the retainers. I sure have been smoking and enjoying alot of nc's lately. Good thing I started reading this section of the board for suggestions of what others like and think taste good

TommyBB · 08-25-2012, 06:40 PM

Good post, Douger. It's now an article in First Look.

H311oLHD · 08-26-2012, 01:28 AM

Doug,

Great review!!! Thanks! If you liked this one, then it's a must-try for me!

Can't wait!

BigJohn · 08-26-2012, 12:36 PM

Nice. Sounds very much like my kind of cigar!
Anyone tweet this review link yet?

gumby · 08-26-2012, 05:13 PM

Great review Doug. And +1 in hoping that when they are released something gets posted here.

TommyBB · 08-26-2012, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigjohn

Nice. Sounds very much like my kind of cigar!
Anyone tweet this review link yet?

Negative. I forgot the CW Twitter password

08-14-2012, 09:29 AM	#1
Mad Dawg Administrator Herf Dog Herf God Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 34,199	Cuba Aliados Capa Clara Toro My good friend Frank Santos at Reyes Family Cigars sent me a few prototype cigars, test smokes for new blends that RFC is working on. Very interesting appearance to a couple of them, which I'll review when I get a chance to smoke to them. One of the ordinary-looking ones was a toro with a Connecticut wrapper, and Frank asked me to try that one first. After I sent him my impressions, I asked what it was, what it will be called, and when it will be released. The reasons I asked him that should become obvious. The appearance may have been ordinary, the cigar was anything but. --- One word review: Winner! Vitola: Toro, 6" x 52(?), parejo. Pre-light: No detectable construction flaws. Smooth, lightly-veined, fragrant Connecticut claro wrapper. Bunch was uniform and firm, yet the draw was perfect. Pre-light flavors redolent of fine tobacco, suggestive of a bit of Nicaraguan ligero in the filler. Very nice. During the smoke: I don’t usually smoke a lot of Connecticut-wrapped cigars because they’re generally too mild for my tastes. This one was very different. I would characterize it as on the mild side of medium-bodied, but oh my, the flavors! Layers of complexity that moved between different levels as I smoked it. I can't claim to have picked out a lot of specific flavors, just that they changed and I enjoyed them from start to finish. From first draws to nub, excellent. Even burn, no touch-ups required. Slow, gentle smoking was rewarded with dense clouds of flavorful smoke. Just...wow! Comments: I've made no secret of the fact that I hate the trend towards fat ligero bombs. This cigar really hit a sweet spot with me...an extremely flavorful smoke, subtle, full of finesse. A cigar that doesn't need to overwhelm your senses with brute force, but brings you enormous joy in the smoking through abundant flavor and interest. I could enjoy this one on any occasion, from morning smoke with coffee to after a big steak dinner with a snifter of cognac. Highly recommended! --- Frank tells me that this is the same blend used in the Puros Indios 2012 series, but with a Connecticut wrapper. The difference made by that wrapper is astounding. I quite like the PI 2012, but this one blew me away. When released, the line will be called Cuba Aliados Capa Clara, and that it will be offered in five sizes: Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, Churchill, and Gordo (6x60). I wish there were a corona and/or a lancero in the line, but you can't have everything. Personally, I won't be grabbing up any of the Gordos , but I will want to add some of the others to my stash. __________________ Gone, But Never Forgotten. ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ That which does not kill me....has made a grave tactical error.

08-14-2012, 10:25 AM	#2
mcmoyer Club Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 1,013	Sounds nice! Was the release date mentioned? __________________ Michael Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club “Don’t talk to me about naval tradition. It’s nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash.” - Sir Winston Churchill GFDS

08-14-2012, 11:34 AM	#3
Mad Dawg Administrator Herf Dog Herf God Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 34,199	Frank says the cigars are ready, but they're waiting on packaging. Should hit the market in "a couple of months." __________________ Gone, But Never Forgotten. ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ That which does not kill me....has made a grave tactical error. Last edited by Mad Dawg; 08-14-2012 at 12:49 PM.

08-14-2012, 01:30 PM	#4
Bobbystbob Club Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 1,710	Nice! thanks for the review. I'll look for them at my favorite cigars shop in all the US, Lone Star Tobacco, in Houston, when I'm there in Oct-Nov. __________________ ad majorem Dei gloriam

08-25-2012, 06:40 PM	#6
TommyBB Editor-in-Chief Herf God Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 86,639	Good post, Douger. It's now an article in First Look. __________________ +In Memory of E.Guevara(Cubano67)W.Orlando(Shadow) A.Morris (Knife) D.Odom (dodom) D.Revermann (dgr) S.Bouchard (sb1396) M.Cole (Matt76) S.Faccenda (TOJE) R.Smith(IBMer) V.Vandermeer (van55)M.Davis(boxdoctor)S.Singer(bassman)K.Doetze l (drillrk1)D.Hart(garme1962)J.Coleman(John C 81)T.Gossett(Dartplayer1)J.Bolt (jb)E.J.Ferralles(CaballoPinto)M.Cataldo(FVFanMC)K Payne(SanchoPanza)F.Seltzer(Mowee)+LB+Connor Olson+Micah Kercheval+Maggie Bonefas+Karen

08-15-2012, 02:56 PM	#5
mike s Contributing Editor Club Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Tx / Cozumel Posts: 3,917	Sounds like a winner! Hope it's posted up here where to get em when they hit the retainers. I sure have been smoking and enjoying alot of nc's lately. Good thing I started reading this section of the board for suggestions of what others like and think taste good

08-26-2012, 01:28 AM	#7
H311oLHD Herf Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Schaumburg, IL Posts: 8,248	Doug, Great review!!! Thanks! If you liked this one, then it's a must-try for me! Can't wait! __________________ -Aaron- Proud member of the 2006 Newb Coalition! Full fledged CAO whore & Pepin Ho! Rest In Peace Cubano. Charter Member, MCLC “Making others green with envy”™

08-26-2012, 12:36 PM	#8
BigJohn Chief Geek, @cigarweekly Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta (north burbs - Woodsto Posts: 14,173	Nice. Sounds very much like my kind of cigar! Anyone tweet this review link yet? __________________ Government breaks our legs, then hands us a pair of crutches and says, "You see? If it wasn't for us you wouldn't be able to walk.".... Aren't we so lucky!? Need a website? Get one from a BOTL - > PM me! *"I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine."* Help support the CigarWeekly webhost (me!) > Shop online? Start HERE: direct to Amazon.com Protect your computer from VIRUSES > Get Avast!

08-26-2012, 05:13 PM	#9
gumby Contributing Editor MOM November 2012 Emeritus Honorary MOM November 2021 Herf God Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 47,281	Great review Doug. And +1 in hoping that when they are released something gets posted here. __________________ I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson

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