Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro
Binder: Costa Rican Corojo
Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran, Mexican
Size: 6 x 54 “Toro Grande”
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $7.00
From the Fuego web site:
“The Fuego family has been in the business of growing, blending, and rolling cigars for five generations (since 1876 when J.Fuego was founded as a leaf growing company) in “El Corojo” farm, Cuba.
“It was in 1995 when the family migrated to Central America. In 2006, after years growing, blending and making cigars for other companies, Jesus Fuego launched “Tabacos S.A.” with the release of the “J. Fuego” brand with his Natural and Gran Reserva lines. This, as a celebration of 130 years of his family in the cigar industry.
“Since then Tabacos S.A. has introduced the J. Fuego Delirium, the 777 brand with Maduro, Corojo and Zero lines. The Origen brand was also introduced in 2010 with great acceptation from the consumers.”
This is a big cigar. I got a 10 pack from CI’s Daily Deal. I paid $28.00. Can’t beat that with a bratwurst.
While this cigar size is not my preferred size, I like what Fuego blends and for the price point, I figured that I couldn’t go wrong.
The cigar is packed solid. The wrapper is near black in color. I can’t find a single seam and the veins are miniscule. There isn’t a trace of oiliness on the wrapper. In fact, it looks slightly wrinkled and has a matte finish.
I find aromas of bittersweet cocoa, spice, sweet cedar, leather, some tart fruit, and sweet peaches. The more I sniff the clipped cap and the foot, the stronger the peach aroma gets. The peach takes a lot of nose to cigar before smelling it. Oddly, the strongest aroma comes from the body of the stick as opposed to the foot or the clipped cap.
Time to light up.
The draw is tight. The cigar feels like a steel chisel. But as I puff away, causing my cheeks to go inside out, the cigar breaks free of its restraints and the draw is much better. And then I hit a plug making me use my cigar awl tool to ream it. I find the plug and hear a cracking sound. Not good. I’ve smoked one of these cigars and didn’t have this problem. I think I will sacrifice this stick to the gods and light up another one.
I fire up a second one and zero problems with the draw. A damn plug can ruin the whole experience.
A few puffs in and I get a blast of pepper. Eye watering/sinus clearing/runny nose red pepper.
The draw is spot on. Immediately after the spice, black cherry shows up. A combination of sweet maduro leaves and fruit. Good start.
The maduro also brings bittersweet cocoa and coffee to the table. The cigar is pumping out flavors at the half inch mark like there is no tomorrow.
The cigar is rich and earthy. A dark sweetness, like molasses, enters the fray. And I am sticking my neck out by saying that this is a bona fide flavor bomb at the 1” mark.
I near the end of the first third and the red pepper is still going strong.
Due to the tight packing of tobacco, I took a break from typing to move things along. This is a very slow smoker. It took me a good 40 minutes to get to the beginning of the second third. While I am smoking this part of the cigar, the cap comes loose and the wrapper unravels. I am forced to use cigar glue to fix it.
There is sweetness from the tobacco, molasses, and fruit. Cocoa and coffee. Earthiness. Potent spiciness. And a bit of creaminess.
At the midpoint, more sweetness appears in the form of buttery smooth caramel.
And then I notice that the entire wrapper starts to wrinkle. Not a good omen.
The char line has been wavy throughout the experience. I don’t care how vigilant you are about lighting the cigar…some cigars are just destined to be wavy.
The construction problem is really plaguing my cigar experience. Slowly, the wrapper begins to crack. Starting at the cap and moving on down the length of the stick. By the time I am in the last third, the cigar is quite ugly. It isn’t affecting the flavors but I’ve had to use my cigar glue twice to keep the wrapper from unraveling. Normally, I would toss the cigar but since I am reviewing it, you should know the facts.
I hit the sweet spot where the complexity meets the flavor profile. The body has been medium/full this whole time. No nicotine at all. Cocoa and sweet coffee really surge towards the front of the line battling it out with the sweetness components. The spice does not relent. If you don’t like spicy cigars, well…this stick ain’t for you. But if you like the Teacup ride at Disneyland, then this is your cigar.
The creaminess really explodes.
The strength, like a light switch, is turned on. It goes from M/F to full bodied in a blink of an eye in the last third.
While the cigar is very flavorful, I cannot recommend it. Of the three I smoked, one was fine, one had a plug in it, and the third has severe wrapper issues. The cigar is inconsistent and in no way does it deserve the $7 price tag. Sorry Mr. Fuego.
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
I have had the same experience with Fuego cigars. They make a great petite and regular corona. But when the size increases something just gets wonky! Either the flavors just go south or the construction just is not up to par. I would urge you to try this cigar in there originals series. (petite corona size) I think you will enjoy those much better.
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