Wrapper: Ecuadorian HVA
Binder: Sumatran
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano Ligero, Dominican Andullo, Nicaraguan Estelï, Pennsylvanian Ligero
Size: 7.125 x 58
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $11.00 in 2020 ~ $12.00 in 2026

SMELL THE GLOVE:
Big floral notes followed by some potent black pepper. After that, my nose can hit on some caramel, malt, cedar, barnyard, chocolate, jalapeno pepper, creaminess, and baking spices.

The cold draw presents flavors of black pepper, malt, milk chocolate, caramel, nuts, creaminess, cedar, and barnyard.

FIRST THIRD:
Ever since it became easy to adjust the draw on my cigars with the use of the PerfecDraw draw adjustment tool, I’ve become very picky about the whole thing. The resistance on this stick isn’t bad considering how big it is; but, I want a little easier draw so I plunge the tool up to the cigar band and voila…now I have the draw I prefer.

The first thing to impress is the finish. It builds slowly and then lingers appropriately. It’s buttery, creamy, peppery, and sweet. Nice.

Flavors spread out. Very peppery…but smooth. Even keeled balance. I have high hopes for this stick as I’m a fan of Fratello.

Strength is a potent medium.

Flavor elements start off slowly providing more flavor from the aged tobacco than specific palate flavors. It’s nice. Only 7” to go. (When I tell my wife that, she laughs).

I’ve made it clear I’m not a fan of ginormous cigars, but Cigar Aficionado says it’s the rage. I have lots of friends who prefer big cigars. I go to a cigar lounge, and I see guys grabbing the biggest cigars they can find. Me? Give me a Corona Gorda anytime.

Early on, there are faint notes of complexity; but mostly subtle nuances that are very pleasing. If this baby is this strong so early in the battle of wits, I expect to be having acid flashbacks from nicotine by the second half.

I promised my therapist I would no longer smack disabled people in wheelchairs.

There is a flavor leap…the blend becomes very creamy with accents of caramel, malt, fried plantains, some savory notes of smoky wood, smoky beef, and peat with overtones of espresso and ginger.

The cigar is packed solid. It’s taken me more than 15 minutes to smoke 5/8”.

I’m enjoying the cigar. It is flavorful and the complexity is rising to the occasion.

I really like the flavor of all those tobaccos…they come through loud and clear. I find it odd that sometimes I review a cigar with a panoply of different country inserts and the cigar is nothing special.

Creaminess comes to the forefront. The balance of savory v. sweet is on the money. The spiciness is in perfect proportion to the other components. We have oomph.

Thank God this wasn’t a 7 x 70. There is no way I would have reviewed it or even purchased it.
I expect big things from the second half…when I get there sometime tonight.

SECOND THIRD:
Lordy…only took an hour to get here. Gawd…this is going to be a 3-hour smoke. Figure in my prep work, the photos, and transferring this from Word to my blog…this will be a 5-hour ordeal. I want a raise.

Here we are…perfectly balanced, subtleties abound, nuances do the light fantastic, complex, a nice flow of transitions, a gorgeous toothy finish, and I dig the tobacco.
Only 2 more hours to go.

I can probably use the time to shave my back so I don’t ramble on incessantly.

First sip of water…blam. Licorice, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom…damn, we have a curry…

Strength is medium/full. The flavors totally shift to a curry based meaty dish. No more chocolate. No malt. A tiny bit of espresso. The sweetness factor has lessened. The balance is now slightly off kilter. But then I have all day to see what happens next.

We are getting our first taste of winter in Wisconsin this weekend. A blizzard is on its way tonight. It’s been very cold but no real snow. One nice thing about downsizing to an apartment as our bodies give out is that this place has a secure underground parking garage that’s heated. I love that.

Fratello The Texan is an excellent blend. My timing was good.

Halfway point.
I can now allow the cigar to rest in my mouth while typing and not be afraid my false teeth will end up on the floor.

Balance returns in the second half. The sweety factors return: Caramel, milk chocolate, gingerbread, and a nougat center.
Strength is now full tilt.

As predicted, the second half surges. The tobacco goodness excels. Very complex now. The blend has settled into its higher aspirations. I’m convinced that with an extra 3 months of humi time, this cigar will shine brighter.

One reason I don’t care for huge ring cigars is that my mouth is too small. I wouldn’t survive in prison…although, my asshole could be a calling card. Do I have to choose? But then, I don’t think they fuck old guys…they just shank them when they arrive and problem solved.

Unless something happens in the last third, I can say that this blend will never be a flavor bomb. It stands alone on the inherent beauty of the leaf stats. Fratello really nailed the blend.

“Strawberry Fields Forever” is playing. Stewart Copeland and I had a flat about 5 doors down from Abbey Road Studios. We would sit on a nice day on the stoop and watch as tourists tried to get the famous crosswalk shot. Back then, the Brits would try to run them over. I believe that has changed. BTW- In England, it’s not a crosswalk, it’s a zebra crossing.

And you cannot park within 10 feet of either side or you get a ticket. I came out of a diner once to see two Bobbies giving me a ticket. I pleaded ignorance and this was the conversation:
“Officers. I’m an American. I didn’t realize.”
“Ignorance is no excuse. What would happen if a Brit did something like this in America?
“The cops would probably shoot you.”
The cops did not appreciate my comment and handed me the ticket and left.

I mailed in the fine. Bur a week later, I got a letter telling me I had to include my driver’s license and they would return it. I called them and told them I have a California driver’s license, and I’m worried someone will keep it as a souvenir. I was assured that would never happen. So, I reluctantly did as directed. Never saw my license again.

LAST THIRD:
Great cigar. An even better stick for a nice spring day when you are outside. You can relax and put it down whenever you pleased and come back to it. An all-day sucker.

The halfway point saw big changes in terms of the blend expanding its reach on my palate. But now, it’s a behemoth of flavor. Complexity is dense.

Due to its strength, I’m going to say that this is a blend perfect for those with sophisticated palates. Might be too much for newbies. The blend is now a swirling compendium of intense moments. I have one stick left. I will save it and smoke it in 3 months. I may, or may not, return and amend my comments…unless I’m just too damn lazy to do so.

I had decided my rating by the halfway point but now I’m reconsidering. Killer cigar.

Focusing is a chore. My brain goes squishy. Now we’re having fun.
The strength is now nuclear. Holy shit.
Newbies…Run!

If you like smoking Clydesdale wieners, this is the baby for you.

A memory just came flashing back. 1984. Charlotte and I, and some friends, drove from Lake Tahoe to Sacramento for their County Fair. They had the Clydesdale horses there. They were in their stalls. I had never in my life seen such huge horses. But then we noticed that a bunch of women were standing in front of one stall. We moseyed over.

The horse had a boner that was at least 3 feet long and touching the ground. The men would come over to see what was up and just shook their heads and walked away. So, either the men had a good time that night…or…the women were terribly disappointed.

At this point, the flavors are going Bozo crazy. Everything is in play. More flavors than you can shake a stick at. Complexity is through the roof. Savory v. Sweet is perfect.

Just don’t fuck up if you get some and smoke them early. This is too good of a blend to waste it. And since they are so limited, there is no return for more.

April 26, 2026 Update: I found a deal. That’s why I’m here. Non-sponsor Best Cigar Prices will sell you the Toro (6 x 50) in a box of 20 for $93.99. It brings the price down to $4.70 per cigar. GO TO BEST CIGAR PRICES HERE.

RATING: 95

And now for something sad:

My old bandmate from Curved Air, guitarist Mick Jacques died. Complications of meningitis.

He stayed on with the band for a year after I left and then was dismissed as is the Curved Air way. His playing was considered too bluesy. Those bastards. He was hired for just that reason, but you can’t predict the moods of egomaniacs. I was hired for the way I played and then that was used against me 2 years later.

Mick got so disgusted with music, that he moved to France and raised horses. He wanted nothing to do with Curved Air, or anyone associated with them. Those people in the band could steal your soul if you allowed it.

An anecdote…
We were touring with Soft Machine. Guitarist, Alan Holdsworth and Mick grew up together. One day during sound check, Alan told Mick and I he had an offer from iconic drummer Tony Williams of Miles Davis fame. He hated being in Soft Machine, but this was a big step to move to NYC. He asked us if he should go? We both bellowed, at the same time: “YES!!!” And that’s what he did.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS