LGC Deliciosos

[Habana Mike]

To celebrate the arrival of my new humidor, I decided to go with a rarity in my collection, the La Gloria Cubana Deliciosos RE Cuba - this from the jar released in 2010.

This hefty little Hermosos No. 4 was solidly built with very minor veins on a smooth oily wrapper the color of worn saddle leather. No soft or hard spots, perfect triple cap, very well bunched foot - this is as pretty and well constructed of a cigar that I have seen.

The only detractor for me is the silver and brick red of the RE band clashing a bit with the gold and bright red of the band. Gives it some character though.

Very faint bouquet of straight cured tobacco about all I got from a sniff, we'll see about the aroma.

Prelight draw provides perfect resistance and reveals marzipan, green tea notes.

Fired it up about 3:20PM with a cedar match, glass of ice water on the side. Sugar cane, almond and orange peel at first light - ash an almost solid black with a bit of white toothiness. Started to run just a hair, we'll see if it evens out of its own accord.

Lighter side of medium bodied, creamy on the palate. Finish is long leaving a sweetness on the roof of my mouth and a touch of saltiness on the tongue, very nice.

Smoke production is good but not extremely dense. Light smoke trails off the foot as it rests.

Aroma's quite pleasant, like a light orange blossom eau de toilet.

Very dense and solid ash, still black with hint of gray and those little white specks. Burn still a little wonky, slight touch-up with the jet.

First ash drops of its own accord at 3:48, flaky but holds together.

First third wraps up around 3:56, not much change from the onset so far.

Burn line has straighened out since the touch-up and it's moving along nicely. Orange peel moves to the forefront, the sweetness subsiding. Slight tingle through the nose.

While lighter in strength and body than my typical picks I am enjoying this as a late afternoon cigar.

Picking up the pace a little as it's starting to grow chillier - it will be time to move to my indoor smoking space soon I believe.

Got preoccupied, had to relight about 4:10. No deleterious effects.

Picking up a little strength at the halfway point, light cocoa coming through, orange peel is gone.

Finish seems to fade more quickly than earlier, perhaps my palate has adjusted.

Getting some toffee notes and spices coming in as the second third wraps up around 4:35. 1" ash drops as I set the cigar in the ashtray.

Final third strengthens with leather and cedar.

Set this down around 4:50, a solid 90 minute smoke.

Finish is holding on with caramel, cedar and that orange peel again.

A thoroughly enjoyable cigar. Need to keep my hands off the last couple for a while, or find more!

[ajgagnon]

Great review! Nice looking ashtray, and mighty fine sounding cigar!

[Hiroshiro]

ARGH! very "jealy" here.... What my dreams are made of haha

[Bartolomeo]

Great review and stick!