Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Nicaraguan (Corojo)
Filler: Nicaraguan (Criollo, Viso)
Size: 5.5 x 44 “Corona”
Body: Medium
Price: $8.20

Today we take a look at the Entrada Classic. It is made by the Casa De Entrada Cigar Company.

The cigar comes in four sizes: 6×60 Gordo, 6×54 Toro, 5×52 Robusto, and 5 1/2 x 44 Corona.

From the Casa De Entrada Cigar Company web site:
“The Entrada cigar was hand crafted exclusively for Casa de Entrada by Casa Fernandez. Using Cuban seed in their fertile Nicaraguan fields, Entrada is born from over three decades of experience. Entrada was specially blended only for Casa de Entrada by the master himself, Arsenio Ramos.”

Gleaning what I could from the web site, this is their first cigar. And it lists only 3 places in the States where you can buy them…all in Nebraska. But aha! You can purchase them at Cigar Federation Store.

The cigar band is by far the most unique one I’ve ever seen. A postage stamp that overlaps the cigar. The foot band says “CIGARCIA.” It is a little frustrating trying to find out who Garcia is. I read every line on the web site and the owner does not identify himself in his own biography and that of the cigar’s.

This is a beautiful cigar. A gorgeous soft box press with a very oily coffee bean color wrapper. Tight seams. Few veins. And my favorite part: the mottling. Like a brindle colored dog. The triple cap is near flawless. And the wrapper feels silky smooth.

I clip the cap to find aromas of dark espresso, dark cocoa, spice, earthiness, barnyard, and potent leather.
Time to light up.

The draw is perfect despite the cigar being so jam packed. Chocolate and coffee with a quickly building avalanche of red pepper.

There is a wonderful tropical sweetness. Very nutty as well. Salty peanuts.

Smoke billows and is blinding me. I’m trying to remember not to chomp while I review as I recently got a comment asking me why I destroy all the caps shown so vividly in my photos. I’m a chomper but today I shall to leave the cap as intact as possible. But I’m an old dog and you know the one about us and new tricks.

The cigar is burned ½” and is moments away from becoming a flavor bomb. I bitched about a recently reviewed cigar that is almost $13 a stick. And it was nearly flavorless. I told you, my lovely readers, that for that kind of dough, that stick should have become a flavor bomb in the first 1/8”.

Now the Entrada Classic is what I’m talking about. I’m also a sucker for a Casa Fernandez blend. Like who isn’t?

Flavors are mounting like shingles on a roof. I will try and take a stab at them: Creaminess, coffee, cocoa, mango, salty peanuts, extreme earthiness, lots of leather and wood, black cherries, and a nice smokiness.
Whew.

I hope that the Casa De Entrada Cigar Company continues on their journey of making fine, affordable cigars because they have a winner right out of the chute.

The strength is right at medium body.

With 1-1/2” burned, complexity settles in. The balance of flavors is achieved. A nice long finish is the cherry on top.

The pepper began to dissipate but then comes back stronger than ever. I like that. I’m a peppery kind of guy.
The chocolate and coffee are slamming it home but I don’t hear any moans of ecstasy. Oh wait. Here they come. They are coming from my dog who is at my feet and dreaming of before she was spayed.

The Entrada Classic is a very complex smoke. There is a big mixture of flavors and I cannot keep up with them. They flash in and out like laser beams past my head teasing me with droplets of flavor. No. I am not experiencing a flash back. Those stopped decades ago.

The mango is ever present but the creaminess twists and turns the mango into a fluffy soufflé. Like me.

The second third begins.

The price point. Finally. A cigar worth the cost. The good news is that you don’t have to drive to Nebraska to buy the Entrada Classic. Just mosey over to Cigar Federation. Membership is free. And that membership entitles you to a standard 10% off your entire purchase and you get emails with even better specials.

So instead of $8.20, the Entrada Classic is only $7.38. And shipping is very cheap at $4.00.

As a member for the last 6 months, I’ve watched CF grow into a formidable web site for cigar lovers. They are quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in terms of one stop viewing.

The CF Cigar Store is something else. Boutique brands and blends galore. I’ve gotten to try blends I’ve never heard of and found new favorites. I counted and they carry 59 brands of boutique cigars…hard to get cigars, boxes, 5 packs, and singles. They have a terrific Cigar of the Month Club. I do believe the best online.

Back to the Entrada Classic. While I was typing, a huge tsunami of caramel washed ashore. I think I can taste walrus.

This is just a killer cigar. Every puff is overloaded with flavors of every creed and religion. In fact, I think I can taste some Hebrew National Salami. (Just kidding).

I will try and delineate the flavors once more: Caramel, cocoa, creaminess, coffee, peanuts, mango, black cherries, leather, wood, and that nice smokiness.

And that’s just the whipped cream. There are other nuanced flavors lurking beneath the bold flavors I can’t get a grip on. My palate is pretty good so I can usually nail all the flavors but I am having real trouble here. Instead of the flavor profile of the Entrada Classic being a tightly rolled disco ball shooting lights into the room, it is like the movie, “2001: A Space Odyssey.” That last scene where all the heads bought tickets for the front row when the movie came out on January 1, 1968 at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. I was there. But a doob was plenty. The first 6 rows were all tripping big time.

That is my lame description of the flavor profile.

I am at the halfway point.

The strength has maintained its medium body throughout the smoke.

The Entrada Classic is a pure delight.

The delicate and fragile cigar band comes off without a hitch. Kudos.

This Entrada Classic is the absolute best size-ways. I have now declared that my fave size is 5.5 x 44. It is the perfect wrapper vs. tobacco ratio. I’ve never been a 6 x 60 smoker. Too much tobacco and not enough wrapper. But I’ve been found to be wrong before. In fact, I’d like to try the Entrada Classic in the Gordo size. I bet Casa De Entrada Cigar Company proves my theory wrong.

I’ve invested a good 45 minutes in the Entrada Classic and I’m barely past the halfway point. Two snaps for packing this baby tight making even a small cigar like the one I am reviewing a real experience…and not an errands cigar.

I don’t remember a cigar this flavorful. Really. And if it were not for the good folks at Cigar Federation, I never would have been able to enjoy this treat.

I highly recommend this cigar. I direct you to go to Cigar Federation and buy some. Trust your Uncle Katman on this one. This is a great cigar and should go into my Top 25 Cigars list.

The flavor profile shifts a bit as the last third begins.

There is a smoked meat quality that hitches a ride. Sort of a cross between good beef jerky and a Slim Jim…dunked in a caramel and chocolate fondue pot.

I’ve slowed down considerably on taking puffs so I can really savor the flavors.

The Entrada Classic is just that: A Classic. I cannot believe the price point. As a CF member, just a tad over $7.00. Now if this cigar had a big PR campaign, it would have added a few bucks to the stick price. I can easily see a big manufacturer asking $10 for the Entrada Classic. And it would still be worth it. You know me and I don’t like double digit price points. But some cigars are just worth it, plain and simple.

As far as I am concerned, you are getting a $10 stick for $7.

I’ve run out of adjectives to describe the Entrada Classic. Do yourself a big favor and snag a 5 pack, or a couple singles.

Cigar Federation carries three sizes: 5.5 x 44, 6 x 54, and 5 x 52. The last two are sold out leaving the 5.5 x 44 the only one available. Don’t dawdle.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: cigar review, cigar reviews by the katman, cigars, entrada cigars, Entrada Classic by Casa De Entrada Cigar Company Cigar Review