El Rey del Mundo Tainos (RPO JUN 01)

[stever]

I selected a gorgeous looking El Rey del Mundo Tainos from a two layer SLB with a box code of RPO JUN 01. The cigar has a nice rich brown color oily wrapper, and is superbly constructed. It has a nice weight in hand and has a firm, not hard, resiliency to the touch. The cigar has a light plume in spots. Some of the other specimens in the box have quite a bloom, but I decided to let those continue to age undisturbed. The odor of the Tainos is rich and heady, with aged leather, chocolate and honey aromas.

I used my Xikar scissors to carefully separate the outer cap from the perfectly constructed triple cap. In so doing, I exposed a noticeable dimple, and was greeted with a perfect draw with just the right amount of resistance. This is truly a testament to the quality of the cigar and the expertise of the roller.

The draw at cold was of honeyed, toasted tobacco, dark fruit, and old leather. I also picked up a light mustiness, similar to what emanates from a very old, well worn book. The taste of the cigar left a spicy, almost peppery tang on my lips.

The cigar lit very easily and I was immediately hit with a dense rich smoke of toasted tobacco, warm spice, sweet wood, honeyed nougat, and toasted nuts. The body is medium from the get-go, not light, as I have often experienced at the start of an ERDM Tainos. The cigar produces a heady perfume of floral notes, sweet wood and leather.

Smoke production is excellent from the onset, something I have not typically encountered with examples from other years. The smoke has a warm, lush mouth feel and produces a spicy, but soft tingling sensation in the nose. At one inch in, the after-taste is very rich, with the leather and tobacco flavors having a sweet and, at times, slight smoky edge to them.

By the two inch mark, the honeyed nougat flavor develops a slight citrus or lemon-aspect, and the nut flavor becomes more delicate and subtle, with hints of lightly toasted almonds. The cigar is definitely displaying the characteristic Tainos complexities and subtleties, but its underlying richness and heaviness indicates that it has tremendous aging potential. It’s hard to describe, but it’s as tough there’s a liquor-infused richness and strength to the nut, leather and tobacco flavors.

By the halfway mark, the predominant honeyed nut, tangy leather, and toasted tobacco flavors become more rounded out by a slight fruit flavor. There’s also the occasional hint of an exotic spice flavor. At this point, the cigar is very nicely balanced.

In the last third, the cigar continues to build in strength and richness. For a short time, a sweet grassiness develops and helps to balance out the stronger wood and coffee flavors that continue to build in strength, almost to the point of being full-bodied. The cigar is beginning to lose some of its subtlety as it nears the end, but the aftertaste continues to be sweet and long lasting, and tasting of high quality tobacco.

The smoke lasted for nearly two hours and I smoked it down to less than an inch. I think the ‘01 Tainos have tremendous aging potential, perhaps more so than the ’97s or ’98s that I have also smoked. I recently smoked a ’05, which also displays the richness, but, not in my estimation, the strength of the ’01.

I can not recommend enough owning Tainos from whatever vintage. It’s a high quality smoke that can appeal to novices and seasoned smokers alike. :-P However, its complexities and subtleties are best revealed in well-aged samples and best appreciated by those who have the time to give the smoke their full attention. Unfortunately, the ERDM Tainos were discontinued in ’06, and are becoming more difficult to acquire. :-( I’m not even sure if a ’06 vintage was even produced.

[aavkk]

Really nice review, thanks. Sounds like it should be on my radar if/when they are on the next vintage list from PCC.

[marco polo]

Nice review, pics ! :-)

[Professor Twain]

Great review, thanks. I have one of these that I received in a box pass, maybe I will dig it out this week and give it a try.

[CoryOllis]

WOW! Looks like a blast. Thanks for the view. :-P

[avid toker]

» a dense rich smoke of toasted tobacco, warm spice, sweet wood, honeyed nougat, and toasted nuts.

Nice review Steve! These are wonderful cigars and with serious age, they become even more complex and sublime. At the 10yr mark they still show legs for improvement. Have patience for at least another 10yrs and you'll be greatly rewarded!

[stever]

» »Have patience for at least another 10yrs and you'll

» be greatly rewarded!

Shane:

I guess I'll need to find more of the vintage Tainos to smoke now so that I'll keep my paws off the stuff I should be aging!!:-D