Quai d'Orsay Corona Claro - TUA JUL 20 (JBWP3RW)

saltbox · September 15, 2021

First time trying the vitola. I had both the No. 50 and No. 54 before and wasn't impressed with either, but I think it was Kaptain Karl who encouraged me to give these a try. Box has been resting for about 5 months now at 62RH, just over a year of box age.

Haven't smoked too many cigars recently as I was busy off getting married (peep the new bling), so something nice and light sounded good.

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First third: opens with a nice creamy shortbread with citrus, but also a surprisingly strong white pepper particularly on the retrohale. Not anything out of the norm for many non-Cuban cigars, but it was a big surprise coming from this. Shortbread and milky coffee with orange zest on the finish. Buttery texture and honey sweetness, with nutmeg vanilla and other baking spices.

Middle third: shortbread, creamy coffee, orange zest, butterscotch. Still surprisingly peppery retrohale.

Last third: creamy coffee comes forward more over the shortbread, but otherwise more of the same, with the accompanying orange zest and white pepper.

Overall: tasty flavor profile, made me think of a blend of Upmann and El Rey del Mundo flavor notes, but the intensely peppery retrohale made it hard to tease out and enjoy more flavors on the retrohale. Some age should smooth that out and allow for more flavor and complexity to come through. I would probably rate this currently lower than the No. 50 and No. 54 I've had, but with some age this guy feels like it has a way higher ceiling. 85/100