Cuesta Rey Sungrown - Centro Fino Belicoso No. 11 Review

[MCSmarties]

My second review. Take my "flavor" comments with a grain of salt!

Cuesta Rey Sungrown - Centro Fino Belicoso No. 11

Size: 4 3/4" x 50
Shape: Torpedo
Body: Mild-medium
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Price: $5.50 in my local B&M

Appearance: 6/10
Nicely tanned, sun-grown wrapper but with rather big veins.
Even looked a bit wrinkled. Definitely not a "gorgeous" stick.
Texture felt normal I guess, no knots or loose spots.

Construction: 9/10
Cap clipped very neatly, no tobacco fuzz, wrapper stayed firm.
Toasted the foot and then lit it - didn't do a perfect job so I left it to sit about a minute.
Burn evened out pretty quickly and stayed A1-perfect throughout the stick!
Very good construction, stick never went out, not even when I left it unattended for about 5 min.
Firm light grey ash but fell off already after about 1/2".

Flavor: 4/10
Started out very mild, kept a fairly sweet taste throughout (honey, caramel?).
First 1" had some (mild) flavor but except for that sweet taste, it almost disappeared after that.
I honestly felt I had some honey on my lips and a slight scratch in my throat, but otherwise a mouth full of warm air!
Stayed pretty bland during the first 2/3, only in the last third did it become really tasty.
I think I tasted coffee and some spice, maybe clove (besides that ever present sweet tinge).
Unfortunately by that point, there was less than 2" left.
Smoked it down very slowly, with long pauses because it would obviously get rather hot and bitter.
It went out on me with only about 3/4" left and I figured re-lighting it at that stage wasn't worth it. Too bad!

Other comments:
Overall, I was rather dissappointed.
Didn't think it was a dog rocket by any means but most of the smoke was just so bland...
The last third was good but with a stick that size, just far too short!
Maybe a larger cigar from the same manufacturer would taste better, but I can't stomach a whole Churchill... yet?

In general, I've been mostly dissappointed by the D.R. cigars I tried.
Probably just bad luck so far, but Nicaraguan sticks have been much more to my taste.

[Boston_Dude05]

Good review. Thanks!

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by MCSmarties

In general, I've been mostly dissappointed by the D.R. cigars I tried.
Probably just bad luck so far, but Nicaraguan sticks have been much more to my taste.

Nice review and I agree that they are rather bland. Let me ask you, out of all the DR smokes you have tried, how many are made by Fuente? I like DR cigars but most made by Fuente, I do not care for.

[tzaddi]

What a concidence my wife bought me 2 of those Cuesta Reys as we strolled the humidor of the one and only B&M in the area, just yesterday. I had read that they tend to be a mild smoke and lately I have look for those mild smokes with full flavor. This particular line is "expertly hand-rolled by A. Fuente in the DR".

So I can look forward to a little sugar and spice.

You have written a great review. The format is easy to follow and your flavor perception is well developed. Not just spice but clove, excellent. Not just sweet but honey.

Although the smoke was a bit of a dissapointment I would try a few more, perhaps as you suggested something larger. IMO a smoke that can deliver the flavor you talked about 65% or more of it's length that would be delicious indeed, something to pursue according to my taste buds.

[berk-m]

Nice detailed review, Thanks
I have tried these several times in different sizes, always disappointed, I have finally given up. To me they just taste bland with some burnt notes.

[Coffee Grounds]

Great review

I enjoy the Cuesta rey sungrown lines. The #1 is a teaser smoke.
Maybe try the Centro Fino Pyramid #9. I think its a great smooth smoke.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

Nice review and I agree that they are rather bland. Let me ask you, out of all the DR smokes you have tried, how many are made by Fuente? I like DR cigars but most made by Fuente, I do not care for.

I have to agree with the bro. here. I have yet to find a Fuente that I really, really liked. However, I am open to suggestions. For some reason I have not been able to find one that fits my tastebuds. I have been letting a few Fuente bands set of different gars by them but waiting to find one I really like. Sorry to have to say that but it is just my opinion and my own taste lately.

[bayleybrown]

Nice review, I have had a different experince with these however. They are one of my favorite smokes, I love the sungrown line in general.