El Rico Habano Rico Club (Maduro) Review

[smokemifyagotem]

First off let me say I am a big fan of strong smokes. (I am a admitted JDN Antano addict.) I have been reading about these El Rico's for over a year now and have always wondered how they'd compare to my first love the Antano's. Well, I finally got to try one tonight and I was not dissapointed.

The maduro wrapper on this cigar was just beautiful IMO. VERY toothy and had that "hard shell" like appearance that you see in well aged cigars. VERY oily as well. It almost looked like motor oil was painted on with a brush..Mmmm.

Pre-light draw was very "Anatano-ish". Spicy to the lips - just how i like it. Ever so slightly tight draw, but didn't take away from the smoking experience.

Now before I go on, let me say that every time I read about a "powerhose" cigar I always go out and find one hoping I will find an alternative to my "everday smoke" the Antanos, and until now I have always been dissapointed.

Upon lighting I was hit with a real nice burst of spice. What struck me the most initially was how good this thing tasted right off the bat! Kind of tasted like an Antano, but with other flavors I couldn't quite pinpoint at first, but were very familiar. As I smoked it I realized this thing was tasting more and more like a PAM! I sat there on my deck looking at this smoke in disbelief saying " can this possibly taste like an Antano AND a PAM all at once?!?!

Well, I continued smoking just waiting for this great flavor to go away, but it never did. It mellowed a bit in the middle, but in the 2nd half that spice picked right back up. Even at the nub I was enjoying this guy.

In the end I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this. I was really expecting to light this up and have another strong, but one dimensional smoke, but the complexity of this was shockingly good. I am curious now to try the natural wrapped ones as well. I would highly recommend these to anyone who likes full bodied smokes like Antanos, etc.. I will definelty be buying more of these!!

Has anyone else had a similar experiance with these? I'm hoping I just didn't get a "good one" and these are generally inconsistent, etc..

[omowasu]

I have seen these advertised like crazy lately, and the October CA had a coupon for a freebie if taken to a B&M. They have yet to hit the B&M's near me though, but I am awaiting their arrival.

They are marketed as a full-bodied contender, and based on your excellent review, I have no reason to doubt that.

[Puffin Fresh]

I've heard the old ones (they went on hiatus for a while) were VERY good aged, so I have one in the humi I'm giving a half year or so. I'm looking forward to it.

[yayson]

the great dock herf 06 saw okierock smoking one of these bad boys and I must say it looked impressive and he was clearly enjoying it immensely.

I've never seen such a shiny gar up close and personal, like somebody waxed and buffed it. I'd like to catch some on sale somewheres, they've seem to come out of nowhere without the "check-me-out" pricing so far as I can tell

great review, you've bolstered my resolve to find purchase and burn one, now off to fire up the Antano in my laptop bag...

thanks bro!

[okierock]

AH... the great dock herf of 06. Such fond memories.

This was actually my first and only Rico but man was it a good one and big, it must have been 7x52+. I bought this at my local B&M, the box (a 5x5) was stuck on a high shelf in the corner all by itself and when I looked in it all I saw was these huge black oily sticks. I said to myself "nothing that oily and dark can be bad" so I picked one up. It stayed in my humi for several weeks and was sacrificed at the dock herf.

I really had no expectations when I lit it and was pleasantly surprised when it was emediately a nice smooth gar with some spice. My experience with the gar was very simular to smokem's but I hadn't placed the PAM simularity, I do agree with it to a point. This gar was very smooth for its strength like a PAM but the flavor was more spicy and IMO not as complex.

Unfortunately when I went back to the B&M (I don't go often) the box was gone. I did find a B&M in Dallas that carries them and recently purchased a piramide that is resting atm. I hope it lives up to the expectations created by its big brother that night on the dock. If it does a box may be in my future.

[mastershogun]

i do like the el rico habano's. my stock of ten has dwindled to 3
but they went down in a blaze of glory

[lenguamor]

You can never go wrong with an Ernesto Carrillo cigar.

This cigar really does qualify as a POWERHOUSE...I smoked a churchill taking a drive recently, and when I got out of the car I had to steady myself - it took me a little by surprise, I knew while I was smoking it that it was strong, but not this strong. And I'm no noob to smoking.

Full, rich pepper flavors all throughout; this brand is up there with the Antaño and the Opus in terms of strength and flavor.

[kansashat]

Smoked a torp last night.....what a nice full bodied spicy cigar.

[Bob]

I like this one also...