Rico Club, 5.5" x 54 ring gauge, approx. $7The El Rico Habano was originally created by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, Sr. in 1970. It was a well-received and popular cigar until it was forced out of production by a tobacco shortage in 1994. Ernesto Jr. re-introduced this full-bodied, full-flavored stick to the General Cigar family in 2001. It features Nicaraguan filler and binder and a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper (Ecuadorian Sumatra for the natural version). At least until the time Ernesto Jr. left the General fold earlier this year, this was his favorite cigar--"the cigar in his pocket."
This beastly cigar has been sitting in my humi since last November's Big Smoke. While I have loved every El Rico Habaho I have smoked, I always find them a bit intimidating as they are usually exceptionally strong. The wrapper is dark and oily. There are a few big veins and a chunk of tobacco is missing, but that could be due to bad handling by me during or after the show, so I will not count that against it. The smell from the body is earthy and leathery; from the foot there is a little sweetness along with some barnyard. Being a strong cigar, I prepared well: I ate a couple home-grilled burgers beforehand--plenty of premium beef on the gut to combat the effects of premium cigar nicotine kick!
The cold draw was perfect and the flavors were mostly dark chocolate with a significant spicy tingle on the lips. It was so good, I felt like just continuing to cold-puff on it for hours...but I didn't! I lit 'er up and it sprang almost immediately into a mouth-coating, full body with flavors of espresso and earth. There was also a hint of cocoa from time to time, especially on the retrohale (which was surprisingly smooth for such a powerful stick).
By the mid-point of the second third, one word could sum up my thoughts on this smoke: dark. The flavor was still predominantly espresso, with some dark, rich, composty aroma and an increasing amount of dark chocolate. The body was very full and the smoke is oily and heavy, leaving a coating on the inside of yourmouth. Construction was superb--the burn line was straight, the smoke was cool and the cigar burned slowly and consistently.
Into the last third, the body and strength of this stick was formidable. Unlike other stogies with this kind of strength, though, the flavors of this cigar were fantastic still. It may not be the most complex smoke out there, but it definitely does pack the flavor as well as a punch. Great stick--attempt to smoke this only if you are an experienced smoker!
Body: 10/10
Strength: 9/10
Complexity: 7/10
AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
This is indeed a rich, full-bodied cigar that should be smoked on a full stomach, and not by a newbie. At the modest price point($7 to $8) it can be a mocho man's everyday smoke.
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