My review of Tabac Especial Negra Toro

[veteranvmb]

I purchased this for way too much money a couple of months ago at the local b and m, because of the way it smelled and looked. I think I paid about 7.50 for it.
I didnt realize at the time that is was a drew estate cigar.

Anyway, I have been coveting this cigar and letting it rest for 2 full months at 68rh. Everytime I opened the humidor, that smell of this cigar blew me away. I had such great hopes for it. I looked great, it smelled great, I couldnt help myself just going to it to smell.

Well today was the day. I went to the park. It is a nice cool, breezy day in the park, and once inside the park it was pretty chilly(I like that)
Leaves were falling left and right, and acorns were smashing down onto the picnic table with great thuds. I was hopeing one didnt smash me in the head. I guess all the baby chipmunks were collecting acorns for the winter.

I had my bottle of water with me. This cigar is suppossed to be coffee infused(I have never had an infused cigar) with tastes of coffee and chocolate. Yummee.

The dark brown maduro wraper(extra dark connecticut broadleaf) was slick and a bit oily to the touch. A few veins, and I noticed a small crack towards the head. I dont know if I did this over the few months by handling. It was naked in the humidor.

I gave it a cut with my guillitine as I always do, and put the flame to the foot. It took a while, but she finally lit up. I brought it to my lips and said "darn". It has that same cherry infused tip, that I hated in the Kuba Kuba. Only a bit milder, but way not enough.

So I took a couple of puffs and noticed volumes of smoke from the foot. I have never had a cigar with so much smoke volume at the foot. However this didnt translate to the smoke from the head.

I then thought to myself, to take another snip off the cap, to see if I would get a better draw and get rid of some of that cherry taste.
Didnt do either. The cigar went out at this point.

I relit the cigar and it lit quickly with huge volumes of smoke. At this time, I took my bullet punch and took a small wad out, hopeing to increase draw and smoke volume. Very moderate change.

Okay, so I am smoking the cigar, and licking my lips between each puff, to get rid of that sickly sweet cherry flavor left on lips. The cigar has a very , very mildness to it , which was enjoyable. All cedar, not complex.

I was wondering what happened to all that coffee and chocolate. ? If I concentrated real hard, I guess I could have tasted it, but if I didnt know, I wouldnt have known except for initial smell of cigar.

The volumes of smoke it produced was a very mild aroma. I think this would be a good cigar to smoke where you wouldnt want the smoke smell to disturb anyone. But definatley produces a lot of smoke.

Half way down, I had to do another relight, and parts of the wrapper are peeling off, but not to badly. Ijust wrip the small pieces off. The crack at the head is still there and getting larger, but so far not being any trouble.

I am half down now(about 40 mintues) and I start to get a tiny bit of spice, but the cedar and cream intensifies till the end.

I put it out with about two inches to go, to take it apart as I always do, with a new cigar to check it out.
Construction was very decent. Not as good as the kuba, kuba, but better then most cigars I have taken apart. Time smoking an hour and fifteen minutes.

Would I buy this cigar again? I would try a smaller size and only if it wasnt cherry flavored at the tip.
Its a good cigar, but flawed to me. If you like flavored tips, I would give this cigar an 8, if you like a mild cigar. For me , I am giving it a 6.5. Not a bad cigar, but I can do better for myself.
For 4 bucks I can do a r.p. vintage 90 and have a flawless , more complex smoke, with no problems.

Much regards Jerry