Review of El Rico Habano Club Maduro

[donp]

I won a 5'er last week and got em in yesterday. When I got home last night I fired one up out of curiosity, they will need more time at rest.

What I found was great though! The construction was solid with no blemishes or soft spots. The wrapper was veiny with some toothiness.
It smelled strongly of barnyard (I was encouraged).
The pre-light draw was sweet and easy; even though I fouled up the light it self corrected w/o any difficulty.
Within the first inch I tasted sweet and subdued chocolate, and spice; a lot of spice. But then it settled down to a smooth and creamy flavor with tastes of leather, and cedar through the first third.
The second third of it changed again and, there was a stronger spice taste along with leather, cedar and an earthiness. The aroma reminded me of sweet floral scents. All the while this smoke was very smooth and full.
The final third showed yet another change, and much more spicey. The spice in this final third was well up front and predominant. There was also a stronger cedar taste and leather. I reliazed that my drags on it were too strong and I would need to take lighter pulls; I did this, and found it to be more manageable. I had it with a glass of Port and found the combination to be pretty good; it would probably have been better if I had a nice Stout though.
Overall this is a damned fine smoke and full in body. I liked the complexity and the balance it presented. The combination of the Maduro wrapper and the fillers made for a good blend. I have several more of these and I'm glad I do; I recommend them highly.

[steelheaderdu]

Thanks for the report. I see these advertised quite a bit, but haven't seent them in any local shops. Definitely going to try them after your review. Thanks!!

[Corona Gigante]

Sounds like an enjoyable smoke. Thanks for the review. Keep 'em coming!

[Bob]

These are either the one offs or seconds of La Gloria Cubana.
I think El Credito is another of one of these too...can't remember which is which.

[donp]

Originally Posted by Bob

These are either the one offs or seconds of La Gloria Cubana.
I think El Credito is another of one of these too...can't remember which is which.

They are neither. They are a brand made by Ernesto Carillo, recently revived by the maker of La Gloria Cubana. The El Creditos are the LGC version of seconds.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by donp

They are neither. They are a brand made by Ernesto Carillo, recently revived by the maker of La Gloria Cubana. The El Creditos are the LGC version of seconds.

Thanks for clearing that up for me...rather muddled brain..

[DETROITPHA357]

I love the El Rico Habano, I try not to keep those in my box long cause I love the power it has. Very nice on a full stomch. Enjoy the sticks

[donp]

Originally Posted by DETROITPHA357

I love the El Rico Habano, I try not to keep those in my box long cause I love the power it has. Very nice on a full stomch. Enjoy the sticks

I love the taste, flavor and fullbodiedness of them.

[Baric]

Intersting sounding cigar, thanks for the review!

[G-Man]

I have been intruiged by these for a while, but have yet to pick one up. Thanks for the review and giving me more incentive to pick one up.

[Mister Moo]

Spot on review.

I love the very peppery snork of the natural as much as the slightly sweeter muted maduro. Not sure why these fine cigars (at maybe $5) don't get more play. I try to keep a box in the cooler and a couple in the desktop ready to ignite. They don't seem to smoke or taste as well above 68% and go better on top of a little food.

[donp]

>>They don't seem to smoke or taste as well above 68% and go better on top of a little food.<<

I will keep this in mind Mr. M.

Thanks

[rborrell]

I got one of these Maduros free when I visited a shop in Buffalo before Labour Day. I smoked it this past weekend and it knocked me on my a$$. I made the mistake of having it on a empty stomach (before dinner).

[donp]

Originally Posted by rborrell

I got one of these Maduros free when I visited a shop in Buffalo before Labour Day. I smoked it this past weekend and it knocked me on my a$$. I made the mistake of having it on a empty stomach (before dinner).

Hehe, the good news is, ya get to get back up, dust yerself off, and get after em again with a little more respect for em the next time
OTOH, if you're just starting out, it will take a while to get your palatte developed to where you can really appreciate them.

[donp]

Well, it is seven months later and I just fired up another one. Man it was good Now it is even better with a sweetness which wasn't detectable 7 months ago. In addition, it had a very definite Nicaraguan twanginess to it which is great. It retained it's fullness, leather, cedar and spiceiness. The wrapper was solid and smelled of barnyard (I was surprised by this), and it had a faint look and feel of plume to it along with more defined toothiness.
It was good the first time I wrote about it, it is even better now.