La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Miami Sabroso

[Jack Straw]

More of an experience, than a proper "review." Sorry for the length.

Well, I'm stuck at a hotel 20 minutes from my house at a conference (how does that happen?), and last night I decided to enjoy the La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Miami Sabroso which I purchased from a B&M about a month ago. This size is for all intents and purposes a robusto.

What drew me to this cigar in the store was the appearance. It has a great band - white with an attractive but not flashy olde-timey lady on it, and gold accents. She has great eyes, and in between her red lips is a smoldering cigar. The wrapper looks like a corojo/habano in terms of color, but not really sure what it is. It has a nice oily sheen, and appears to be very well wrapped. It is firm, with just a bit of spring. The foot has a nice aroma, we'll call it "rustic tobacco bale" with a little pepperiness.

So, as my luck would have it, I call down to the front desk, and "No, sir, we don't have any outdoor smoking tables, and you're an idiot for wasting my time by asking." "Great - thanks!" [hangup] Sigh.

I decide to make an expedition of it and walk around a bit and find a good place to perch. I light it as I step out of the door with my Lotus, and notice that it takes the flame easily and has a nice even burn right off the bat.

Now, at this point in the evening, it had become fairly windy. I try to avoid smoking in the wind, because you lose a lot of the flavor, and the pleasure of seeing and smelling the curls of smoke drift away as you release them from their duties. I have a feeling this may have affected my perception of the cigar, at least at this point. I found it to be on the smooth side, but it had a nice sweet richness, but with a medium, maybe medium-full body, similar in strength to the Camacho Corojo I smoked last week. Very nice blending of the peppery-spiciness in with the creaminess.

As luck would have it, a few blocks away, I found a nice wooden bench, and sat down. The other bench was occupied by a fellow who looked to be down on his luck, and went across the street to CVS after a bit. I sat there smoking, enjoying the contrast between the crisp air and the mouthfuls of smoke I drew from the cigar, and watching cars drive by. After about 10 minutes, though, I found that due to my lack of foresight in packing a beverage (all I had was Yuengling, not really suitable for street consumption), I was beginning to get a bit parched, and the cigar was starting to taste dry and bland.

I walked across to CVS, and picked up a sprite. Fssstchhhhh glug glug glug. After that, the cigar came alive. Not only was the resin starting to build up nicely and give the cigar a much richer, deeper flavor, but the cleansing of my pallete renewed my enjoyment, and brought out the flavors more. I'm not particularly good with cigar flavors, so I'll just say, it had a great full and rich golden brown flavor. I can recall exactly the flavors in my mind, but for the life of me I can't put it in words. Shrug, you'll have to try one yourself.

I started walking back, and found an alcove with a bit of wind shelter, and finished most of the cigar before I received a phone call at 8:45 and had to help this guy with his presentation for the conference that by all accounts should have been done at home, by him, and not a suitable hour of the day.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this cigar, and would certainly buy again, maybe in a larger size to flesh out that richer second half. It's definitely not an everyday cigar, it was costly at maybe $9-10 at the B&M.

[gvarsity]

Nice review. I picked up one of these at the factory in Miami and have yet to try it. I hadn't seen them anywhere else before.

[golfermd]

Thanks for the review. Like you I'm not particualrly great in describing the individual flavors. However, I am very fond of the La Gloria Cubana cigars. I have had a few different types. I love the flavor and aroma. I guess at my age my pallette isn't as discriminating with distinct tastes as it used to. But I do know what I like, and I like these cigars!

[GlockG23]

"Sorry for the length."
I say don't be, thanks for taking the time to type this review / story out.
In this fast pace world, most people want a "quickie review" (example - 89, taste good - )
when it comes to a review of a cigar, thats what I want. I might choose that cigar to
smoke, and I want as much information that I can get on that "new to me cigar". If do choose
that cigar I plan on spending 45 minutes to an hour and a half of my life with that cigar!

Thanks again
Bill

[tx_tuff]

Great review and story, thanks for posting it!

[Jack Straw]

I will be sure to post more!

[orca99usa]

I really appreciate the review. I am a big fan of LGC cigars. If you ever get the chance, try the Serie R Limitada 2006. They're rare and expensive (if you can find one), but it is hands down the finest cigar I've ever gotten my mitts on, and I've smoked Cubans. One thing I found strange: It it large ring gauge and made in a figurado shape, but both ends are capped. I have one in the humidor right now, from a CVM Cigars special in which they had one each of every Limitada LGC ever produced (nine cigars total) for $150.

[DBCcigar]

Great review.

I have not tried that one YET.