Saint Luis Rey Serie A

[Colt45]

No codes - assume recent production

Construction: excellent - firm, not too heavy or light in the hand.

Wrapper: Medium brown, smooth, modest veining, with a delicate sheen.

Draw: very slightly tight, but lots of smoke with an excellent burn.

Taste: light in body, the first half was sweet and sour spice, with light

overtones of powdered cocoa and cherry coughdrop (no other way to describe it)

At the halfway mark or so, it became more earthy and straightforward tobacco.

From the get-go, though, it did show the sourness of youth. Not overpoweringly

so, but there throughout. I did enjoy it none the less. My gut feeling is that

these will mature into either something refined and flavorful, or something

on the bland side. Once again, time will tell.

[The Privateer]

Thanks for the review.

I'm working my way through a box of '97s and find them to be a very refined and subtle smoke. The crossover at midpoint is very enjoyable for me.

[Bluesky]

Thanks for the review, I was gifted a few of these by a friend and just put them down in a humidor to rest a few months ago. Will try one tomorrow during the Super Bowl.

Mike

[DocRKS]

Very nicely presented review - thanks !!

I love this Corona Gorda - super smooth - one of the most pleasing aromas of any Habana cigar - and while smooth, always presents a complex and balanced flavor profile. I have also found these to be some of the best made cigars - never had a production issue - burn razor clean and straight and slow..... I really enjoy this stick.

[El Presidente]

Well done Colt

I can't drink Cognac. I have had some of the worlds finest Cognac and I still hate it. I have had Cognac aficionado's explain to me how it should be loved, carressed, savoured. How it is the ultimate of spirits, the nectar of the Gods. To me....it is Pig swill.

ST Luis Rey serie A is much the same for me. I struggle with this stick more than any other. It is a hate hate relationship...I don't like it and it doesn't like me. We try to get along....and occasionally I will take it our for a dance and we will pretend to like each other....but we won't speak again for a year.

Get on great with her parents SLR DC and Churchill + her Brother Regio is pretty damn cool. Little brother Petite Corona takes after A's charachteristics .

I have a ton of friends who think "A" is a great bird. Charming, multi layered personality with style and class. I just think she needs more Jolie and less Doris Day.

[Colt45]

Guys, thanks for the input. Another one to put on the "get more to stash away

for later" list!

I'll be happy to meet the parents when they become available!

[tey]

I love these. Great taste for the price. And possibly one of the best aromas around

[cigardawg]

I like the SLR Serie A, but don't love it. Never enough substance for me. Not that it is too mild, just not enough of the flavors that match my palate. I would not call it a bad cigar by any stretch of the imagination, just not my bag. As far as corona gordas go, I can think of at least half-a-dozen that I prefer.

[jjisaacson]

nice review...

i have some from a cab from '01... wonderful smokes! i find them sweet, complex and oh so smooooooth...

[FatDaddy]

I was gifted one of these and still have not tried it. Great review though...

[Well Armed]

El Presidente took the words right out of my mouth. I thought I was the only one who doesn't like this cigar at all. We don't get along. Maybe we are two much alike or something.

[idesign]

I've never had the A, only the Regio which turned me off from this marca.

[Fatshotbud]

» El Presidente took the words right out of my mouth. I thought I was the

» only one who doesn't like this cigar at all. We don't get along. Maybe

» we are two much alike or something.

To each his own - if everyone loved these then who would need anything else.

Thanks for the review :-)

[Colt45]

OCT 02

Construction: looked and felt nice, though a slight hard spot near the head

was revealed after lighting. A more pronounce box press than a more recent

sample of this cigar.

Wrapper: beautiful deep caramel color. Smooth with a nice sheen. Minimal

veining.

Draw: a bit tight, but not by any means plugged. Lots of smoke and as straight

a burn as one could hope for.

Taste: This one started out all honey sweetness - very nice. It quickly developed

a core of straightforward tobacco, with earth and musk being the secondary

components. The honey sweetness stayed as a subtle overtone for the duration.

Overview: This was my second A, my first being a younger sample. I think DocRKS

summed up my latest experience perfectly with his assessment. In some ways I

can agree with those who may not care for it as much - maybe not the cigar I'd

grab for a night on the town, but perhaps perfect for a quiet Sunday afternoon.

To expound on Rob's Jolie/Day analogy, I think I'd look at it as a pair of fine silk

stockings versus a pair of fishnets (and no, not to wear - sorry). All in all, a very

nice cigar.

[habanolover]

Nice follow-up Colt. As one that digs a woman in silks sometimes and fishnets at others, to use your analogy. I really appreciate the A for what it has to offer, especially with the appropriate age.

» OCT 02

»

» Construction: looked and felt nice, though a slight hard spot near the

» head

» was revealed after lighting. A more pronounce box press than a more

» recent

» sample of this cigar.

»

» Wrapper: beautiful deep caramel color. Smooth with a nice sheen. Minimal

» veining.

»

» Draw: a bit tight, but not by any means plugged. Lots of smoke and as

» straight

» a burn as one could hope for.

»

» Taste: This one started out all honey sweetness - very nice. It quickly

» developed

» a core of straightforward tobacco, with earth and musk being the

» secondary

» components. The honey sweetness stayed as a subtle overtone for the

» duration.

»

» Overview: This was my second A, my first being a younger sample. I think

» DocRKS

» summed up my latest experience perfectly with his assessment. In some ways

» I

» can agree with those who may not care for it as much - maybe not the cigar

» I'd

» grab for a night on the town, but perhaps perfect for a quiet Sunday

» afternoon.

» To expound on Rob's Jolie/Day analogy, I think I'd look at it as a pair of

» fine silk

» stockings versus a pair of fishnets (and no, not to wear - sorry). All in

» all, a very

» nice cigar.

[tey]

It is interesting how I also get the a slightly tight draws but with huge smoke volume. They are awesome when the draw is perfect.

[Colt45]

Not to drag this out, but I had another from the '02 box.

Construction/wrapper/draw match the previous description, but the taste is

changing. This one started a bit creamy, but was mainly toasty and nutty.

There were some intermittent floral and anise hints throughout.

The sweetness was there as well, but was most noticeable as an after draw

surprise - very nice.

This one seems to be turning into Audrey Hepburn

[tey]

» Not to drag this out, but I had another from the '02 box.

»

» Construction/wrapper/draw match the previous description, but the taste is

»

» changing. This one started a bit creamy, but was mainly toasty and nutty.

» There were some intermittent floral and anise hints throughout.

» The sweetness was there as well, but was most noticeable as an after draw

» surprise - very nice.

» This one seems to be turning into Audrey Hepburn

this cigar sems to have alot of cult status lately. can we just say its an inconsisitent stick and thats why there are so many mixed reviews on it?

[Havana Joe]

Thanks for the review, I may edge one when I get home tonight... ;-)

[Havana Joe]

I did enjoy a Saint Luis Rey Serie A when I got in the other night. Your review was similar to my experience. The smoke was gifted to me so I'm not sure on the production date...but the draw was a bit on the tight side and the overall body of the cigar was light (at least for my taste) Anyway, I did enjoy the smoke...;-)

[Guest crossbow]

SLR SERIE A (PUL00)

WOW. This is a sleeper. Dare I say....

that it compares to the taste of a siglo 2? The draw was perfect and quite effortless and the burn did not need any retouching. Beautiful Colorado wrapper color, The flavor was so tasty, made losing at the slot machines more acceptable.. If I had a box of these, I wouldnt let go. Beany Coffee and vanilla flavors. It was so good that I nubbed it. An old lady beside me said "arent you going to put that out..you might burn your fingers." I smiled at the lady and said "You're right" and finished the nub. It was quite tasty-I couldnt get enough of it. Ashes were grey to greysih black and held on for three inches until it fell.

Just smoked this in one of the Atlantic City casinos 3 days ago.

[NJLimoDriver]

» No codes - assume recent production

»

» Construction: excellent - firm, not too heavy or light in the hand.

»

» Wrapper: Medium brown, smooth, modest veining, with a delicate sheen.

»

» Draw: very slightly tight, but lots of smoke with an excellent burn.

»

» Taste: light in body, the first half was sweet and sour spice, with light

» overtones of powdered cocoa and cherry coughdrop (no other way to describe

» it)

» At the halfway mark or so, it became more earthy and straightforward

» tobacco.

» From the get-go, though, it did show the sourness of youth. Not

» overpoweringly

» so, but there throughout. I did enjoy it none the less. My gut feeling is

» that

» these will mature into either something refined and flavorful, or

» something

» on the bland side. Once again, time will tell.

Recently bought a 1/2 of a box of Sep 03 manufacture. From the ones I have sampled they are rounding into form - doubt they will make it 5 years but purchase of replacements is definitely in order.