San Cristobal (Classico) Review

[wayner123]

Cigar: San Cristobal (Classico)

Size: 5 x 50

Appearance/Construction: Beautiful looking maduro wrapper. Smooth and very well rolled.

Prelight Aroma: I know smelling them won't tell you much about how they smoke and in this case that was very true. It smelt slightly sweet and a bit like dark chocolate. Wonderful smell

Prelight Draw/Taste: Decent pull with a faint hay taste.

First Impressions: This was not a wham in your face type of smoke for me. It took a few puffs to get anything going.

First third: After getting it going, the smoke took on a spicy but Pepin like taste. I had read another review that said it was different and that's exactly what I thought as well. It burned very even and the two flavors were very indistinguishable. A cayenne/bell pepper taste, and a Pepin blue label taste ( the Pepin blue label is one of my fav's. Hints of chocolate, cream and tobacco.)

Second third: About the same as the first. The smoke amounts were getting larger, but the thing burned like a razor. Still couldn't get a handle on why I was not enjoying as much as I wanted. The spice/Pepin combo was really throwing me off.

Final third: This is about the only part of it that I could say I liked. The cayenne/bell pepper taste had muted back and left way for the Pepin flavor to come through. I nubbed it and it only once ever burned hot.

Final Comments: So I thought about this for while and really tried to put my finger on it. The only explanation I can give is that it was different. The flavor's both would have been good on their own, but the mixture did not work for me. Another way to put it would be to say: I like chocolate pudding and I like Spanish Chicken and rice, but to mix the two and eat them would not taste very good.

If I had not known that this was a combination between Pepin and Ashton, I think one could realize that on the taste alone. IMO, it seems two great blends came together, but failed at truly blending.

[tchariya]

I would recommend you try some of the other sizes. They have exact type of blends, but are binded and wrapped to 'emit' the peppery flavor for longer/shorter periods of time. I have found the classico to last longer in peppery-ness, but the fabulouso (thick rg and longer) seem to mute the peppery-ness sooner so you could enjoy the peppin taste longer.

I talked extensively with the Fuente rep at my local B&M the other week and he had a lot to tell me about this San Cristobal.

I personally like them a lot.

[air1070]

Hmmm. I have two of these waiting for the right occasion.

[StayingWarm]

Well, I guess honesty is the best policy. I've yet to try the San Cristobal but it's high on my list (when I return from my current week in Europe, I'm busy putting down a bunch of smokes that i won't get to try in the US this week). I hope I have a better experience than you, but appreciate you sharing yours.

Cheers

Mark "StayingWarm"

[gary106334]

Thanks for the review.

[wayner123]

Originally Posted by tchariya

I would recommend you try some of the other sizes. They have exact type of blends, but are binded and wrapped to 'emit' the peppery flavor for longer/shorter periods of time. I have found the classico to last longer in peppery-ness, but the fabulouso (thick rg and longer) seem to mute the peppery-ness sooner so you could enjoy the peppin taste longer.

I talked extensively with the Fuente rep at my local B&M the other week and he had a lot to tell me about this San Cristobal.

I personally like them a lot.

Hey,

That may be true of trying the others. But at a lower price I can get the Pepin flavor right now in a variety of sizes. So to me it would not be worth waiting or getting a size I don't normally smoke.

I really wanted to like these but the combination of flavors does not go well with me. It's not that it is too complex, it's just that flavor 1 does not mix well with flavor 2.

But that's just my , you may find these amazing. I would rank them at a 6/10 and maybe a 7/10 for good construction.

[nozero]

Thanks for the detailed review!

[Marlboro Cigars]

Thanks for the awesome review;
these sound great and are one of the top 5 on my wishlist right now.

I'll have to pick some up soon.

[mustang1]

Got one sittin' in the humi now, can't wait to try it. I'll post my thoughts too. (for whatever they're worth)

[vintagejc]

Nice review. I had a Monumento after a great day of work. I'd have to rate it as one of the better smokes I've had this year. I can't wait to continue my expoloration of this fine line of smokes.

[catfish]

I tried one the other day. It was a little too peppery or harsh for me. I could see how some people would like them. But for me it didn't live up to the hype.

[jamesb3]

Originally Posted by vintagejc

Nice review. I had a Monumento after a great day of work. I'd have to rate it as one of the better smokes I've had this year. I can't wait to continue my expoloration of this fine line of smokes.

I have been enjoying the Monumento now for some time. It is at the top of the list of my favorite smokes at the moment. The consistency of this cigar is great. My B & M turned me on to this I have been thankful ever since.

[MarkinCA]

[SIZE=3]Solid review wayner. I do agree with #2 post above in trying some other sizes. I had a Perdomo Lot23 belicoso this morning which was totally different from a Lot23 robusto I had a few weeks back. Being, I much prefer the robusto over the belicoso at this time, not to say I will try a few more belicoso's for the fun of it re consistancy. The Lot23 robustos are nice. Try some other sizes and you will most likely have a different experience (maybe pro maybe con)...[/SIZE]