When I smoked my very first El Borracho, I knew the Drunkard and I were going to be friends for a very long time. And not only because of the name – but this cigar does know how to party.
There were a couple cigars that gave me this premonition last year, but El Borracho struck a caramel vein of tasting notes that had me losing my mind for the first couple weeks.
And then there was the interview with Ian Reith! This guy knocked it out of the park. He didn’t phone it in with one sentence answers… he took serious time out of his schedule to explain the history, thought process, and creative minds behind his cigars. It blew me away, and I turned again to El Borracho for inspiration.
Read our interview with Ian Reith of Dapper Cigars
Somewhere along the way, this box got tucked into one of my coolidors to take up residence in the land of the forgotten. I can’t think of an excuse good enough, except that there were a lot of new releases dropping that got shoved to the front of the queue.
In retrospect - I did myself a favor as these cigars are cash money right now, earning dividends on what was already a great investment.
Today, this cigar opens up with what I can only describe as musky leather, fresh chocolate chip cookies, subtle fruit, and a touch of earth for balance. Reflecting on my tasting notes from last year, it’s lining up perfectly except for the chocolate chip cookie. The leather is quite different from before, though, reminding me of the distinctly funky leather notes from La Madrina.
What used to be milk chocolate and mocha at times now presents a deeper presence on my palate. When I say chocolate chip cookie, I’m talking about that homemade dough cooked until the edges are golden brown. I’m talking about flavors all the way down to the vanilla extract and brown sugar, just the way your Momma used to make. I’m talking about the simplicity of being a child before all the responsibilities of life got in the way. El Borracho is hitting me in the feels right now.
An hour later, and I never did get my caramel buffet that I was looking forward to, but there was so much dessert in this cigar that I need to go for a jog. Where there used to be a lot more going on in the background, tonight I was experiencing a fantastic trio of flavors on repeat like a custom playlist.
Read our Blind Review of El Borracho
Recommendations:
I truly believe that the Toro is the most dynamic vitola for this cigar, but I have friends that prefer the Robusto by a large margin. As always, I’d put money on a sampler being the right call for today’s cigar of the week. If you have a preference, please drop us a comment below!
There seems to be a polarizing effect between El Borracho and La Madrina. I haven’t met anyone that doesn’t have a strong preference between the two, so if you aren’t a fan of the Drunkard I’d suggest giving the Godmother a try. And, if you weren’t impressed with La Madrina, definitely check out El Borracho.
And if you’re a Padron fan, Ian Reith literally put money on the table that you’d enjoy his take on this San Andres / Nicaraguan blend. You can read more about it in his Small Batch interview.
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