Wrapper: Dominican Habano Ligero
Binder: Dominican Habano Ligero
Filler: Dominican Habano Ligero
Size: 6 x 54 “Toro-Infamous”
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $6.00

While I was researching my review for the SWAG Limitado ’99, I came upon a bunch of reviews for the original SWAG. And they weren’t very nice. But they came from the cigar forums. So I gave them no mind. A very good friend gifted these to me which had lots of humidor age on them. I smoked one last night and liked it a lot. Here is why.

The line of SWAG cigars comes from Oliveros Cigars. It’s a Dominican puro as the name of the cigar implies. And gets some very nice reviews from the expert reviewers. Cigar Aficionado said this: “A dark, oily cigar with a rounded head and good overall construction. This is a notably spicy smoke with some hearty leather notes and light fruit flavors.” And it was rated a 90.

Rafael Nodal, the owner of Oliveros is a friend on FB and a very nice man who is down to earth and loves to meet people that smoke cigars. He was even in my small FB cigar group. Rafael could always be counted on to answer anyone’s questions about cigars. A real mensch.

The leaves come from the same farm in the Dominican Republic. And the name of the cigar comes from Hip Hop slang. I just can’t see Rafael with his jeans hanging down so his drawers show. Just can’t picture that.

The presentation is a work of art. The main cigar band is loud and boisterous. The foot band is the same red and white with the name of the blend. And then there is that gorgeous butcher’s paper tube engulfing ¾ of the cigar. With the SWAG name imprinted on it over and over. It is such a shame to have to remove the foot band and the tube to smoke it. The foot band and the tube slide off easily.

The construction is exposed now. The cigar is solid. Seams are tight and there are lots of small veins with a couple honkers. The cigar has a triple cap; which is hard to detect. The coffee bean wrapper has a very oily sheen and possesses that mottled look that I find quite attractive. Same color as my brindle colored boxer dog.

I clip the cap to enjoy the aromas. And they are intriguing….very sweet, sweet red wine, cinnamon, cocoa, and loads of cedar, earthiness, and some nuttiness. And lastly, cotton candy. This is the second cigar I’ve gotten that aroma from. The other one was so long ago, I fear I’ve forgotten the brand. The cotton candy is intoxicating and I dare any smoker not to be brought back to their childhood on this one.

Time to light up.

The smoke spews from the foot. The draw is perfect. And the first puffs are muted with flavors of spice, cocoa, nuts, toast, and cedar. The body starts off immediately at medium. The char line is wavy from the start.

The stick is very smooth due to the muted early flavors. The spiciness begins its 40 yard dash. It rears itself like Roy Rogers on Trigger. With his faithful dog, Bullet, at his side. You’re going to need a Way-Back Machine for that comment, Mr. Peabody.

At the half inch mark, the flavors divulge themselves from being muted, and begin to shine. The cedar is very nice. The earthiness grounds (pardon the pun) the other flavors; like the cocoa and toastiness and nuts. It forms a ball of flavor.
The creaminess arrives much earlier than it did last night. I’m only an inch in and the flavor profile is stretching its legs. The burn is different than last night’s as well. This morning, I am having burn issues that will require a touch up. It’s minor, but required.

The black pepper continues to rise as if it were on the first step of riding a roller coaster. There are some herbs present. More tea-like than baking herbs. Although, there is a slight pie crust flavor in the background. The creaminess causes a buttery flavor that enhances the other flavors in different ways. As this is a DR puro, I don’t expect much cocoa. And I only get a modicum of that flavor. Instead, it focuses on the sweetness, creaminess, and other aforementioned components.
I find myself pleasantly surprised by the big flavor of this cigar. Yes, it has a lot of humi time on it, but I usually don’t see this amount of flavor in a cigar this big. The ash is very flaky and falls off in bits and pieces. The char line is more than acceptable now.

The first third ends with a flourish. Lots of enticing flavors and medium in strength. A new component arrives. Trying to put a finger on it. Whatever it is, it takes the cigar to a new level. Some of it is oak. Charred oak giving the cigar a campfire aroma and flavor.

And the other element, having such a strong impact, is the nuttiness. It is a combo of several nuts. I can taste sweet cashew, almond (or marzipan), and hazelnut. Very impressive.

I enjoyed the hell out of the Limitado ’99. This is a different cigar altogether. This cigar found its way to the public at the 2012 IPCPR trade show.

The first third ends. And I am anxious to see what the second third brings to the table. There is a dichotomy in my tiny little brain. While I enjoy the intensity of flavors from the robustos and smaller, a bigger cigar with that same intensity, is a joy to smoke. For the simple reason that there is more of it. The toro just pushes the limits of the robusto size. It doesn’t have a behemoth ring gauge. Something about hitting over 52 or 54 that seems to stunt the flavor intensity and requiring the cigar to need a lot of humidor time.

The sweetness becomes syrupy. And the creaminess lurches to the front of the line with the subdued cocoa right behind. I remember my days in England, and visiting the violin player’s mother in the West Country. Very close to Wales. She lived in a storybook house that was generation’s old. She sat us down for tea and served scones and clotted cream. It sounds kind of squeamish but it is the most delicious version of whipped cream I have ever tasted. And that flavor is being pumped out by this cigar; minus the scones. In England, it is pronounced: scons. There is your history lesson for the day.

I am tremendously enjoying this cigar; more so than last night. This morning, my palate is fresh as a daisy and I can taste the nuances and finesse with more aplomb.

The halfway point arrives to an avalanche of intense flavors. The nuttiness is strong. The pepper has turned into red pepper and my tongue tingles and my eyes water. The cigar is perfectly balanced with a very long finish. Lip smacking finish due to the sweetness character. This cigar is a great study in character. The flavors do the dance from “Fantasia” and I’m the dancing hippo. I am very glad that I am only halfway through; which has taken a good 45 minutes to accomplish.

The last third begins. And I should add that the triple cap has done its job nicely. No detritus or loose tobacco since we began. The draw has remained perfect and the waviness of the burn line has remained in check.

One note of caution. Do not smoke this cigar right of the brown truck. I suggest allowing it to rest at least a month. Longer if you can stand it. I once tried one a week after I got it and it was blah. So that resting period is all important.

The body, at this point, begins to accelerate. It is much closer to full. And I can feel the change in my gut.

This last portion of the cigar is about finesse and nuance. Balance continues to be perfect. The long finish is syrupy. All of the flavors are on the same plane now. Each complementing the other. It is very smooth.

This is a hell of a cigar for only $6. Kudos, Mr. Rafael. He could have charged in the $7-$8 range and it would still be worth it. I admire manufacturers that think of their customers first. It is a tribute to their compassion for people like me who the recession slammed into a brick wall. I checked Cbid and you can get these sticks on auction for a little over half the retail price making it the bargain of the century.

The last couple of inches see the stick really ramp up, strength-wise. Yet, it doesn’t overwhelm the flavor elements.
I put on my custom made anti-nicotine glasses so the laptop screen isn’t fuzzy from the buzz.

The stick continues to be as smooth as glass. The creaminess makes one last charge for the front of the line. It is sweet and luscious.
I highly recommend this cigar. And at the Cbid prices, everyone can enjoy this fine stick.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS