Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Brazilian, Dominican, Nicaraguan
Size: 4.5 x 50 “Robusto”
Body: Medium
Price: $6.34

Addendum 2-4-2014:
These were samples that Miami Cigar & Co. kindly sent me. Some confusion as to whether I was supposed to review them or just smoke them. Today, I received the finished releases. These have cigar bands. I was told that they were somehow different. To what extent, I don’t know. I was informed that I should judge for myself. I do know that this is a fine cigar and the new release should be the same, or better. After smoking it, I think I like the pre-release samples better.

Addendum 2-4-2014: This review was basically a pre-release review. The cigars are now available and Barry Stein of Miami Cigar & Co. was kind enough to send me cigars with the cigar band. Barry told me that the blend has been tweaked so I will review the new version very soon.

Barry Stein, assistant director of marketing, who I must thank over and over again for being so kind, sent me a sampling of the new Casa Miranda Chapter 2 that will make its official debut at the July, 2013 IPCPR Trade show.

He sent me sticks without bands. Barry keeps things very close to the chest and I couldn’t glean any other info from him through emails, that wasn’t on the PR sheet that came with the cigars.

I begged him to tell me what the binder is and all he said was he couldn’t tell me.
The PR sheet only provided the most minimum of info but this time, the Chapter 2 is being made at My Father Cigars in Esteli…instead of Chapter 1’s origins at El Titan de Bronze.

And in case you did not know this, Miami Cigar & Co. also distributes the La Aurora brands. And are the owner/distributor of Tatiana, Don Lino, La Sirena and Nestor Miranda line of cigars.

You can check out their website at http://www.miamicigarcompany.com. They are also on Face Book…at http://www.facebook.com/miamicigarcompany.
Let’s get down to it.

Construction is rustic only due to the amount of veins on the stick. Seams are beautiful. The stick is very solid with the right amount of give. The triple cap is done flawlessly. The wrapper has a nice, even oily sheen.

I snip the cap and go to work finding some aromas. Lots of eye watering spice, cocoa, earth, baking spices, cedar, and nicely worn leather.
I light up.

The first puffs are delightful. Hot cocoa with marshmallows. And then a blunderbuss of red pepper hits my palate. My nose clears immediately. Always have a stuffy nose in the morning. And this worked better than a Claritin. The cedar is strong. The draw is perfect and the char line is on the money.

And then more flavors show themselves: creaminess, tobacco sweetness, and cinnamon. I gotta tell you that this red pepper is strong. I love spicy so I’m good with it. But I have a Kleenex box close at hand because my nose is running. Potent element.

I can tell at this point, the cigar will be a flavor bomb. I am very happy to report that the MSRP is only $6.35. Great, and compassionate, price point from Miami Cigar & Co. I could smoke these sticks all day long. So flavorful.

The body started just shy of medium but after one inch it hits the bull’s eye of classic medium.

The creaminess usurps the spiciness and calms it. It brings out the other flavors to the surface. There is also a coffee component now.

That hot cocoa is still there, but bolder. The marshmallows are gone, replaced by the creaminess. The tobacco sweetness becomes more treacle-like. Syrupy.

Halfway through the first third, the cigar is officially a flavor bomb. I’d love to know the specifics of the leaves but that will eventually be revealed later. The ash is still hanging tough and needs a punch to remove it. But I don’t.

The Chapter 1 was an excellent cigar and had an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. It had its specific characteristics but 2 is much different. Not better, just different.

The first third ends and the cigar continues to boast a boatful of flavor. Complexity begins to inch itself in.
I received three cigars from Barry, the robusto, the Toro, and the Gran Toro. The following are the four sizes the cigar will be available in:
Robusto: 4.5 x 50 $6.34
Corona Gorda: 6 x 46 $7.00
Toro: 5.5 x 54 $7.66
Gran Toro: 6 x 60 $8.00

I chose the robusto due to its size and knew, from experience, that it would be a little firecracker of flavor and character. The others will need some humidor time before they flourish like the robusto.

The second third sees the spiciness moving to the background. The creaminess, cocoa, and sweetness move right to the front. I can taste a nuttiness now. Cashew-like. The earthiness is much stronger adding to the balance of the cigar. And the cigar has remained at medium this whole time. Although, I would say it is closer to medium/full.

The nicotine level is rising and I have two laptops in front of me.

The char line remains perfect, as well as the draw. The burn is very cool.

Miami Cigar hit gold with this blend. It is going to be a big seller. The prices make it very affordable to most people. I am a robusto fan and first on my wish list when they are released is a box of these cigars.

The halfway point just intensifies the flavors to a new level. The creaminess is most definitely leading the charge and the spice is now just an afterthought…either that, or I swallowed my palate from the early onslaught of pepper.

This is one of those rare cigars where the vein pattern approximates an art deco design. Very attractive.

I begin the last third with the cigar hitting the complexity the blender wants us to experience. With the exception of the large looming creaminess, the flavors are all balanced perfectly. The finish is very long and lip smacking. I’d love to get my hands on a box right now. The cigar is that good.

But I can console myself with knowing that I have two left that I can enjoy later. You are going to see a lot of gushing by the other reviewers.

During the last third, the body becomes stronger. Almost hitting full bodied, but just shy of it.

The cocoa makes a giant leap and is in tandem with the creaminess. It’s like a chocolate milk shake now. All of the earlier described flavors are in the background working together to make this cigar so complex. I would love to know how the leaves were aged and how.

All I can leave you with is that when this cigar is released, go get some. Your Uncle Katman totally endorses this cigar line. Marvelous blending. Kudos to Miami Cigar & Co. and Casa Miranda.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS