Wrapper: Connecticut Habano
Binder: Connecticut Habano
Filler: Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Kentucky fire-cured
Size: 5.625 x 46
Body: Medium
Price: $8.00

The only thing I know about this cigar is what came to me in the form of a press release. Here it is:

“G.R. Tabacaleras Co. Cigar Factory announces the release of George Rico S.T.K. Miami “American Puro”.
June 26, 2013 (Miami, Fla.) – G.R. Tabacaleras Co. Cigar Factory of Little Havana, announces the release of the George Rico Miami “American Puro” cigar. This will be Rico’s first release from his new George Rico S.T.K. Miami line, made in his factory in Miami. The “American Puro” is 100% all-American, boasting tobaccos from Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Kentucky, and manufactured in the U.S.A. The American Puro cigar will come in a 4 3/4 x 52, 5 7/8 x 54, and a 5 5/8 x 46. MSRP prices will range from $8 to $9.00 a stick.
G.R. Tabacaleras Co. is also manufacturer to the Barracuda from the S.T.K. Miami line of cigars created by George Rico and the G.A.R. Deli custom made-to-order cigars. The Barracuda also comes in three sizes: the Robusto 5 x 50, B-54 6 1/2 x 54, and Corona Gordas 5 5/8 x 46. MSRP prices for the Barracuda run between $7.50 to $9.00.”

Now you know as much as I do. The Gran Habano web site does not yet reflect the addition of this cigar.

So we will start with the construction. It is a solid cigar but certainly on the funky looking side. The wrapper, which is beige, has quite a bit of discoloration and inconsistencies. I was only sent one cigar for review so I have nothing to compare it to. There are some small veins and there are some tree trunk veins. While mottling of color looks good on a very dark wrapper, it doesn’t look so hot on such a light colored wrapper. The cigar must have been squished a little at some point because it is more of an oval than a round circle. There is a nice little half pig tail on the triple cap. I don’t know if it was meant to be this small or it lost the rest of its tail on its way to market. There is a slight oily sheen and the cigar feels very smooth.

The cigar band is very attractive with a U.S.A motif shown on a main band and secondary band.

I clip the cap to search for aromas. I smell hay, cinnamon, and something unusual. It’s BBQ!!. It is smoky and full of hickory. Wonderful. I damn near had the stick half way up my nose before I was able to identify it. Now I can’t stop putting the cigar to my nose.

Time to light up.

The first puffs find themselves in the unusual element as well. There is definitely sweetness. Instead of hickory, I taste charred oak. There is also leather. Not charred. The burn goes nuts on me right away and I am forced to do some major touch ups or this stick is going to canoe on me.

A small dose of cream is apparent. The draw is absolutely perfect and it is impossible to type and smoke at the same time. I’m an inch in now and the stick begins to canoe on me again forcing me to touch it once more. This is not good. I think I have it under control. The burn issues are preventing me from truly discerning the flavors.

For an $8 stick, I expect better than this in its construction.

The cigar settles down halfway through the first third. Feels like I’ve charred my palate from all the touch ups.
OK. Back to flavors. The gist of the stick is about the heavy sweetness and the creaminess. The leather and oak add a nice counterpart. And as the first third ends, I find that the cigar tastes like pancakes, or waffles, without the syrup. Interesting. I am getting a nice element of vanilla bean.

With all the trouble the beginning of the cigar gave me, the ash is hanging tough. The burn line is still exceptionally wavy…with little indentations on the back side.

I begin the second third with the opinion that this is a nice, pleasant cigar. Nothing special. Just pleasant.
The pancake flavor increases. And it is just as potent as the sweetness and the creaminess. The sweetness becomes syrupy. And creates a long finish.

At the halfway point, I must remove the secondary band. It is all Americana.

The flavors are expanding now. They are bolder and there is an addition of light coffee. And marzipan. I’m sure the flavors would have showed sooner if not for me constantly torching the foot of the cigar.

The char line has corrected itself to the point that it is more than acceptable.

At this point, the body of the cigar has barely reached medium and spent most of its young life more in the mild field of endeavor.

I’m sure that Mr. Rico intended for this cigar to be a real flavor bomb. The halfway point leads to that conclusion.

I’m getting a salty pretzel flavor now. I don’t usually like a salty taste in my cigars but this is very light and complements the other sweet flavors nicely.

TA-DA! The char line reaches perfection as we head towards the last third. Huzzah!

The cigar continues to have a perfect draw spreading smoke throughout the room. So much so, that every time I put the stick in my mouth and try to type, I am blinded by the effluence of smoke. Must be those American tobaccos.

The cigar finds some complexity during the last third. It is barely medium bodied. But very flavorful. In a simple sort of way. This is not your typical flavor bomb with every flavor but the kitchen sink. It relies upon the sweetness, creaminess, the wood, leather, a dose of nuts, my beloved pancakes, and the salty pretzel. It is certainly an unusual flavor profile. There has not been a lick of spiciness in the components. I think this is a first for me. At least outside the realm of mild cigars.

Instead of spicy, the cigar is earthy.

The cigar finishes out nicely. But hardly worth $8. In my long experience as a cigar smoker and reviewer, I would have to say this cigar is in the $4-$5 range. It’s just not a special cigar. I had really hoped it would be as I recently reviewed the other STK blends and they were spectacular. This cigar is like their little orphan brother. Trying to keep up behind its big brothers but whose legs are not long enough quite yet. Maybe a few months humidor time will cure what ails this cigar. I hope so.

At this time, the cigar is not for sale yet. So keep an eye out for it and remember to give it lots of humi time before smoking it.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS