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Winter 96/97
Volume II
Issue 1
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Cool
Coronas
Photographs by Jeff Schnorr
It's been a years since our first cigar review hit the stands. Since then, we have given you a comprehensive and unbiased look at 144 of the world's premium cigars, from panatelas to gigantes. This time SMOKE's outspoken panelists evaluate coronas, the penultimately-classic smoke. From new brands such as JUAN Y RAMON and CUSANO HERMANOS, to old favorites like SANCHO PANZA and JUAN LOPEZ, there's sure to be a cigar that matches both your palette and your pocket in this review of 38 premium cigars...
"Many are overlooking the absolute king of cigars, the corona.
The classic, it's a great place to start your experimentation,
and not a bad place to stay."
--Dale Scott, How to Select and Enjoy Premium Cigars...and Save Money
Coronas...
JOSE LOPEZ No. 4
This corona is a real "kitchen sink" kind of cigar. As in, "everything but the ..." Dominican, Honduran, and native Panamanian filler rolled in a Mexican binder and wrapped in a silky Ecuadorian wrapper give the Jose Lopez line a tart, yet surprisingly mild flavor characteristic.
PARTAGAS Coronas
This son of the Vuelta Abajo offers a lot of rich, full flavor for its size. Although quality has become an issue in several smaller sizes in the Cuban Partagas line, a bit of uneven burning must be overlooked in favor of a truly sublime, complex flavor experience. this cigar is much easier on the palate than both the Juan Lopez and Quai D'orsay coronas, and would make for a better introduction to Habanas for the uninitiated.
CERVANTES Senadores
A straightforward, mild-bodied cigar of decent construction, this all-Honduran corona performed well in the blind tasting. Don't expect the ultimate smoking experience from the Senadores; just enjoy them. At approximately $1.25 per stick, this makes for one helluva "everyday" cigar!
EL REY DEL MUNDO Corona
There's only one word for the entire El Rey del Mundo Honduran line: consistent. these flavorful Hondurans are offered in a dizzying array of sizes, and the corona stands among the best of them. These cigars have garnered many fans over the years -- and more just recently -- for one simple reason: unlike many other cigars on the market, you can get them. Highly recommended.
JUAN CLEMENTE Corona
This classic all-Dominican corona was clearly enjoyed by the blind tasting panel. The manufacturers of Juan Clemente cigars have always obsessed about construction, as evidenced by the unusual -- and smart -- practice of placing the band around the delicate foot of the cigar to prevent cracking. this cigar is about five-out-of-10 on the strength scale, and will appeal to both novices and connoisseurs alike. Recommended.
CUSANO HERMANOS Corona
DomRey's Mike Chiusano went down to the DR with the intention of producing a world-class cigar with classic flavor and the "punch" he felt was missing in other Dominican smokes. And that's exactly what he got. The Cusano Hermanos line has tons of character, good straightforward flavor, and enough strength to appeal to the connoisseur, without overpowering the palate. Unlike many other new lines, a recent factory acquisition in the DR will hopefully assure adequate supply. Highly recommended.
JOYA DE NICARAGUA No. 6
Despite a preponderance of soft spots among the samples, panelists enjoyed this cigar's even burn and mild, light-bodied straightforward flavor. These Nicaraguans will certainly appeal to fans of mild cigars, and will also prove to be a worthy morning or afternoon smoke. the price (under $2.00 a pop) makes it hard to pass up this pleasant little corona.
NAT SHERMAN Hampshire
Nat's Landmark Selection Hampshire just can't be beat -- Dominican long-filler, a Mexican binder, and a gorgeous Cameroon wrapper combine to create a rich, yet balanced cigar of superior quality. Put down this magazine and mail-order a box right now. The Landmark Selection "Dakota" (DC) is more of the same in a bigger package. Highly recommended.
EVELIO Corona
This new line is named after Evelio Oviedo, a former employee of Havana's famous H. Upmann factory who now oversees Plasencia's production. True to his Cuban form, this is a full-flavored, yet smooth-smoking cigar of superior quality.
LA GIANNA #2
You may have seen La Gianna's familiar botticelli-style angelic label inside the "Cigar Jar," another product of Gary Scott International. The Gianna #2 is a fairly straightforward stick characterized by mildly spicy flavor characteristics, and a superior draw. A pleasing mid-afternoon smoke.
AROMAS DE SAN ANDRES Gourmet
These cigars have enjoyed the singular distinction of being the most elaborately packaged cigars in the free world -- you must open a box, remove a foiled-encased tube, unwrap it, and uncap it before a cigar is revealed. Once you get the damn thing out, you'll be rewarded with perhaps the highest-quality Mexican cigar available today.
LA DILIGENCIA Corona
Introduced in early 1996, this is another "kitchen sink"-style cigar featuring tobaccos from the DR, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the U.S.A. The La Dilengencia is a fairly mild cigar and, as such, is not suited for smoking after a heavy meal. Enjoy these after lunch, in the outdoors, or with your morning coffee.
JUAN LOPEZ Coronas
Among true Havanophiles, the Juan Lopez either remains a closely guarded secret, or a mystery. Offered in a range of five sizes, this line is in extremely limited production, and for good reason -- they are crafted extremely slowly and carefully, with a lot of attention focused on the blend. Unlike many other Cuban coronas, these are fairly mild, and would certainly make for a great introduction to Cuban flavor. However, a first experience with this world-class cigar would make for a lot of disappointments down the road.
LA REGIONAL Corona
Cigars from the Canary Islands seem to be one of two things: either really bad or exceptionally good. the Las Regional Coronas proved, convincingly, to be the latter. Exceptional construction and complex flavors were enjoyed by the majority of the panel, and several comments regarding the lush, oily wrapper were noted. Overall, a pleasant surprise. Recommended.
FELIPE GREGORIO Sereno
When we purchased these cigars, they were fresh out of the factory, which accounts for the panelists' comments. A properly aged Gegorio Sereno is one of the best Honduran coronas available on the market today. Because they are in constant demand, a good rule of thumb is to check how long your retailer has had them in stock, and then put them away if appropriate.
THE GRIFFIN'S No. 500
Like all Davidoff products, the Griffin's do not lack in quality. From the delicate and expertly applied Connecticut shade wrapper, to the meticulously applied end cap, this is an elegant cigar. Most panelists, however, felt a touch more boldness in the blend would have provided for a more enjoyable smoke. The bottom line: While lacking the stronger flavor profile of an Avo No. 8 or Davidoff 5000, these will provide a good half-hour of smoking pleasure.
DON MANOLO Corona
This all-Dominican stick provides a great medium-strength, flavorful smoke that will be enjoyed by fans of light Jamaican-style cigars as well as those who perfect more full-bodied smokes. Tabacalero Contreras' excellent V.M. Santana line, which debuted earlier this year, is also worth a smoke. Recommended.
SANCHO PANZA Coronas
Somewhat richer and stronger than both the Partagas and Juan Lopez coronas, these fine Habanas slowly develop in strength while releasing rich, complex tobacco flavor. Take one look the character on the box, and you'll know what you'll feel like after smoking two of these powerful cigars in a row. Experts Only!
LA PLATA Magnifico
Where other cigar makers merely dabble in maduro sticks, La Plata jumps in with full force. These super-dark oscuro cigars bomb the palate with enough rich flavor to last an entire week. This is a real tough-guy cigar that will be appreciated by any serious cigar smokers -- even those that wouldn't ordinarily smoke a maduro. Recommended.
PUNCH Coronas
Rolled in Honduras of Cuban seed tobacco, the Punch line is known for its high-quality construction and medium body. Current demand makes it tough to get a hold of both the popular "Deluxe Series" and the "Grand Cru" lines, but persistence will be rewarded. If you can't get these, try the No. 75 -- a bit lighter, but just as tasty. Recommended.
NORDING Corona
What do you get when you mix a guy from Denmark, tobacco from South America, and a roller from the DR? The answer is, of course, a Nording. Named after master craftsman Erik Nording, these hand rolled feature a mixture of Dominican and Nicaraguan binder and a smooth Connecticut shade wrapper, providing a mild, enjoyable smoke.
MAYA Corona
The name Maya has long been revered among maduro fans. Positioned between La Plata's maduros and the Onyx line in terms of strength, Maya maduros offer a surprisingly amount of flavor in a medium-strength stick. Many smokers are discovering, or returning to, maduro cigars as an evening smoke -- the Maya will not disappoint.
HUGO CASSAR Corona
You can't argue with Hugo's Dominican line. A bit less complex than the Honduran line, yet with the same medium-to full-bodied taste, these cigars stand among similar high-quality Dominicans in the same price range. These cigars are strong enough to be smoked after a heavy meal, but are best enjoyed during cocktail hour, with spirits. Recommended.
PETERSON HALLMARK Corona
Now in its second year in the premium cigar business, Peterson of Dublin has retained the consistency of their quality Dominican line. One of the very few makers that offers a true Claro cigar, the Connecticut shade wrappers on these cigars are well selected and of superior quality. In terms of strength and flavor, the Peterson corona is straight down the middle, and may be appreciated by any smokers. Recommended.
TROYA No. 27 Corona
Here's one example of a cigar brand that outmatches its Cuban namesake (the Cuban Troya line is now comprised of two third-tier machine-mades). Roundly praised by our blind panel, the Troya No. 27 Corona is one of very few cigars that can provide loads of complex flavor in a mild smoke. Generally speaking, it's tough to make a cigar that will appeal to everybody. This corona is a pleasant and highly smokable exception. Recommended.
FONSECA 8-9-8
The Fonseca cigar range, originally introduced to compliment the Port of the same name, has steadily improved over the last several years, and now stands with the top of the Dominican class. A cigar of this depth, character, and -- most importantly -- consistency, could command a much higher price. A beautiful, true colorado wrapper lends elegance to this outstanding cigar. Highly recommended.
TABANTILLAS Condado Real
After entering the market earlier this year, the Tabantillas brand has earned a small, devoted following. Characterized by medium strength and straightforward, somewhat spicy, taste characteristics, the Tabantillas line offers a good quality for the price.
PROFESSOR SILA Presidente
These top-quality smokes from Spain's Canary Islands were first introduced in 1934. After many years in hiding, the Professor is back, with a range of five sizes, selling in the five-to-ten dollar range. Offered in humidified cabinets of 25, Professor Sila cigars provide a very even and mild smoking experience in a slow-burning cigar of superior construction.
QUAI D'ORSAY Coronas
One of SMOKE's panelists calls cigars "heaters," and this may be the reason why. Unless you've been smoking Havanas for a long time, you probably don't know too much about this strong Cuban brand. Well, know this: there's enough ligero in the blend to curl the nose-hairs of even the most hardcore leaf devotee. If you can blaze one of these with your cornflakes in the morning, you'll make Schwartzenegger look like a "girlie man."
LA NATIVE Cetros
Can flavor make up for bad construction? To many, the answer is yes. Although several of the panelists couldn't get past the look of these Hondurans, the majority felt the pleasantly spicy flavor more than made up for it. Additionally, the soft roll and rough looking wrapper didn't seem to affect smoking performance. Priced reasonably, these might make for a good golf cigar.
BAHIA No. 4
Tony Borhani has what a lot of new cigar manufacturers don't: patience. Constructed of 5-year old Nicaraguan tobacco, and aged an additional 11 months after rolling, the Bahia 1990 Vintage line is characterized by deep tobacco flavor that only time can imbue. Although panelists noted a slightly tight draw on this batch, a little extra effort won't kill you. Recommended.
CANONERO Corona
Like other hand-rolled Brazilians, Canonero's blend is characterized by a light sweetness which complements its more full-bodied, spicy undertones. This stick starts out slow, steadily building in strength and complexity until the end, without every becoming too "hot." LIke the Don Pepe line, the Canonero offers the distinct flavor of traditional Brazilian dry-cured cigars in a more refined format. Recommended.
CAMORRA Genova
Since its introduction in 1995, Camorra has steadily increased in construction quality and has become more refined in its blend. The result is a full-bodied, traditional Honduran cigar with spicy, complex flavors and a slightly sweet finish. This cigar will go well with a cold Budweiser or an '85 Lynch Bages. Not recommended for fans of milder cigars, or for new smokers.
REGALOS Corona
1996 has produced a veritable bumper crop of new hand-rolled cigars, and the Regalos line is certainly one of the best. Panelists praised its medium-bodied strength and loads of flavor, and commented extensively on a very enjoyable aftertaste. Let's hope the manufacturer can maintain the quality and, more importantly, keep up a steady supply! Recommended.
JUAN Y RAMON Corona
Another outstanding entry in the freshman class of '96! Panelists roundly praised the Juan y Ramon corona, a traditional Dominican cigar of high quality and mild strength and flavor. Many manufacturers, in the effort to make a mild cigar, create one that is bland. Not so in this case. Lovers of light-bodied Jamaican and Dominican sticks should definitely give this cigar a try.
DON ALBERTO Corona
Unfortunately, an overly tight roll detracted from what is otherwise an acceptably constructed corona. This is an extremely light-bodied and straightforward corona that will appeal to fans of Jamaican-style cigars. A good breakfast smoke.
PADRON 30th Anniversary Series Corona
While many manufacturers speak of "hand-rolling cigars in the old Cuban tradition," Padron is actually doing it. 'Nuff said. Highly recommended.
Editor's note:
Our online summary of each review serves as a handy guide of our panelist's comments. Any "recommendations" within are made solely by the panelists, and DO NOT necessarily represent the opinions of SMOKE's editorial staff.
For complete details of this month's reviews, see the Winter 96/97 issue
of SMOKE Magazine - available at a tobacconist near you.
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