Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Vitola: Robusto (5x50)
Purchase Link: Herrera Esteli Miami
HERRERA ESTELI MIAMI REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: The draw is a tad loose even with a punch. Baking spices, cherry, caramel macchiato (the sweetness hits first and the savory notes follow). Vanilla.
Tapped the ash off just as the second third begins. Lots of herbs and a lingering sweetness. The retro hale is starting to develop more of a red pepper spice to it. Finally, something less than stellar: the burn goes sideways and requires a touch-up.
Caramel and red pepper in the final third. Delicious.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Babes in summer dresses.
Pairing Suggestion: Cask strength rye.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.
HERRERA ESTELI MIAMI REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: This smoke started out with notes of nuts, oak, leather, bread, pepper, spice, and a tartness on the tongue. In the second half, it switched things up to focus more on coffee and chocolate notes, keeping the pepper and spiciness.
The draw and burn were both good. There was something about that tartness (maybe sourness?) on my tongue that just didn't do it for me, personally, on this cigar.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: A bit of a sour tartness in your cigar.
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
HERRERA ESTELI MIAMI REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: Dried apricot and mild spices come from the cold draw of this Robusto beauty. The cold draw has perfect resistance too.
Walnut, leather, lemon zest and a ton of black pepper spice all show up to check in. There is a slightly bitter finish to the profile. The retro hale is just sick with pepper spice. Getting a transition from strictly walnut to a handful of your favorite mixed nuts along with a reduction in the heaviness of pepper spice.
As I move towards the middle of the cigar, I’m picking up a bit of sweetness on the front end; especially in the retro hale. The main profile continues to be dominated by flavors of mixed nuts and leather. Sensing the introduction of a little bit of coffee in there as well. While the pepper spice has backed off on the palate, it remains quite bold in the retro hale.
This final section is mellowing out with the same sweet lead-in followed by mild tobacco, leather, coffee and a strange, almost menthol sensation... which is weird.
The mechanics of this stick are perfect. Light gray, solid ash throughout and voluminous smoke from front to finish.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Bold and decently complex cigars.
Pairing Suggestion: A nice 43% bourbon.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
Participants in this blind review were completely unaware of the cigar they were evaluating until all submissions were received and processed. Each participant was asked to answer a summary paragraph, an if/than statement, a pairing suggestion, and a purchase suggestion. Cigars were provided by Small Batch with only the expectations of candid responses. All pictures, information, and formatting were completed by a Coordinator outside of the reviewing process.
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