El Credito Medium - cheapo review

[Siamang]

I bought an El Credito at Holt's more than a year ago, based upon the price and the fact that LGC cigar master Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. looks Lex Luthorishly intense in a way that I relate to. The 5.5x43 maduro was right around two bucks. After a year in my tupperdor I finally took it out for a smoke tonight, and was pleasantly surprised.

Construction seemed fine. I use a Kershaw knife to cut my cigars and the only ones I've had any sort of unravelling problems with are Sancho Panzas(a pity considering I like them a lot). This El Credito had a fairly loose draw, which I prefer, and had spent enough time aging for the band to slide freely.

Burn was even in spite of the 40F temp and sporadic trips inside to refill my drink. The taste was surprisingly good for a 2 buck cigar. I could go into details about cream, cedar, leather, whatever, but to be honest the thing I taste in a well-aged maduro that I really savor is only describable as "wet stone" and "slightly sweet tobacco." This one had both in spades, and I even liked it more than the AF 8-5-8 maduro I smoked fresh-purchased. My only major complaint was that I got a *huge* hit of bitterness as soon as I got close to the band. It was like accidentally inhaling ammonia vapors in chemistry class, although it may have been a result of me simply smoking too quickly.

For comparison, I tend to prefer mild or medium cigars. My favorites are AF Hemingway, Gurkha Ancient Warrior and Legend, HDM Excalibur 1066, 5 Vegas A, Sancho Panza Dulcinea(bit of a crapshoot with these, I've gotten some horrid ones), Private Stock - when they're something close to a Davidoff -, and the old Oliva Serie O.

[Greenwit]

Originally Posted by Siamang

I bought an El Credito at Holt's more than a year ago, based upon the price and the fact that LGC cigar master Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. looks Lex Luthorishly intense in a way that I relate to. The 5.5x43 maduro was right around two bucks. After a year in my tupperdor I finally took it out for a smoke tonight, and was pleasantly surprised.

Hehe....yep, Ernie has that intense look from the pictures I've seen.

Are these El Creditos the same as LGCs and just made by junior rollers? Or is the tobacco different/lower grade. Been curious about these.

[Papichulo]

Thanks for the review.

El Creditos are LCG Serie Rs.

[Siamang]

Sort of. Same tobaccos, wildly differing sizes. I was surprised at how good this was, although it has been aging for a while.

[doctorcue]

My buddies smoke these & Serie Rs like there is no tomorrow. I don't know if they are EXACTLY the same but both are full bodied and have similar taste. Personally, a little too strong for me. I need 2 plates of pasta before I try to smoke one of those.

[Papichulo]

Originally Posted by doctorcue

My buddies smoke these & Serie Rs like there is no tomorrow. I don't know if they are EXACTLY the same but both are full bodied and have similar taste. Personally, a little too strong for me. I need 2 plates of pasta before I try to smoke one of those.

And a quart of Listerine