Saint Luis Rey Serie A

[mm12]

The wrapper on these is very nice. Somewhere between colorado and colorado maduro. Silky smooth with a nice oily sheen. Construction is great. The cigar is hard from head to foot, and the prelight draw is spot on. Aroma at cold is barnyard.

The cigar opens right at medium. The predominant flavor is grass/dry hay. There is little to no spice on the palate or through the nose.

1/3

Medium bodied. The first third starts out with dry hay and maybe a little bit of wood. As the cigar progresses through the first third, a rich milk chocolate flavor begins to develop over the hay. Toward the end of the first third, I get some distinct mint notes.

2/3

The hay and chocolate profile begins to fade, and the smoke turns creamy with a saffron flavor to it. A cayenne pepper spice builds in strength on the palate, but there is just a slight hint of white pepper through the nose.

3/3

Still medium in body, sugar cane and white cake flavors emerge, and the cayenne spice pulls back a bit. I get few more hints of mint, a bit of coffee, and some vanilla. As the cigar comes toward the end, the cayenne pepper builds again, and the cigar finishes off with a burnt sugar cane and cayenne pepper flavor profile.

I think this cigar has improved quite a bit since I last had one 6-8 months ago. I liked it then, but I absolutely love it now. Very flavorful and complex. I'm not really sure how consistent these are, but IMO this is one of the best of 08. Right up there with the Lusitanias and Upmann Connie 1s.

93.

[ucla695]

I picked up a sampler of these almost a year and a half ago and liked them so much that I picked up a box. I haven't smoked one since, so I'll have to try one soon and get reacquainted with it. Thanks for the review!

[jfury76]

Recently picked up a 2006 dress box from Czar in November and had my first one on Christmas. The flavors which I experienced were similar to what you described. A stellar smoking experience at any age.

[thechenman]

The SLR Serie A is a great cigar, so is the Regio.

[PigFish]

The SLR Serie A is a great cigar, so is the Regio.

I smoked a 2001 on New Years Eve. Nice cigar, average +. -Piggy

[anacostiakat]

Recently picked up a 2006 dress box from Czar in November and had my first one on Christmas. The flavors which I experienced were similar to what you described. A stellar smoking experience at any age.

I too got a box of NOV06 Serie A's. I am enjoying them quite a bit. My first box actually. I will be acquiring more.

[bassman]

I've been smoking a lot of SLR As over the years & have been quite disappointed by my ABR 06s. Very herbal & vegetal- not a taste I like. Loved the 02s & early 03s- and the late 08s are a fine return to form. I'd buy more 08s, but got hooked up with a couple DBs from 97 instead.

[bolivr]

Inspirational review, thank you

[cigarros]

Thx for review! SLR Serie A really great cigars! I've smoked one from ENE 07 last weekend - fantastic smoking!

[Alberto_Magnus]

I smoked an incredible 1999 Serie A in March, then got a month later a box from 2006, which I found far from being ready to smoke. Tried one again a few days ago and we are on the right track, still I am looking forward to trying it again in a year or so and find the typical SLR trademark.

[Quint]

Great review thanks. I wish I could resolve the flavors the way you do but don't seem to have the capability. I've had mixed experience with these, when they were good they were fantastic.

[frenchkiwi]

I got a box of 08s - had a couple and from memory were nice 'n woody flavour, a little bit earthy almost, not as sweet n smooth as an aged single that got me to purchase the box. Satisfying rich taste, in a "hearty" way, with a little bit of evolution over the length of the cigar. But no great complexity or refinement yet. In a roundabout way, seemed very similar to some young Upmann Mag 48 and Mag46s I had recently - you know that kinda upmann profile?

Need to sit down at some point and do a proper comparison with a 97 DB and some 03 cabs traded with Mr. Bassman - when wife and 2monthold boy allow!