Cigar Review: Cain F

Robusto, 5" x 50 ring gauge, $33.50 for 5 pack ($6.70 each)
The Cain line of cigars was introduced in 2009 as the newest brainchild of Sam Leccia, creator of the Nub. He wanted to see how much Ligero leaf could be stuffed into a cigar and still have it combust. The answer appears to be: 82 percent. The original Cain sticks had a certain percentage of 3 different ligero tobaccos and was very full-bodied and strong, although not as strong as everyone expected. While not a cigar for beginners or sissies, it is still remarkably smooth and flavorful. Available initially only as a special stick for those who purchased boxes of the Maduro or Habano, the F series ("F" for "Fuerte" meaning strong) still has 82 percent ligero, but the amounts of the 3 types has been tweaked with Esteli getting the biggest role here. Currently they are available in robusto size in boxes of 5, with a red band on the foot Word is they will soon be available by the stick in 3 different sizes (perhaps by the time you read this). I also heard an unconfirmed rumor of a Nub Cain...although we're still waiting for the Nub Miami a year and a half after that was first announced, so this could be yet more vaporware.

The wrapper had a slightly oily/slightly "soft" look to it, which went right along with the oily and velvety touch. The oily was very visible, but I could certainly feel it. There were a couple medium-large veins but probably nothing to worry about. The aroma from the wrapper was barnyard--no cello wrapper, so it wasn't very strong. From the foot there was more barnyard as well as hints of coffee and cocoa. The prelight draw was very good and had flavors of dried fruit, molasses and a little chili pepper spice.

Before lighting up...what's the deal with the band on the F? I've seen references to them having no band at all (I'm guessing the initial release that went with box purchases), a friend of mine posted a Twitter picture showing one with a black band, and the box I bought had red bands. Who knows what it all means? The Cain website certainly is not a good place to find out as there is very little actual information of use there...basically just the same marketing pitch that has been given since the original Cain introductions.

Lighting up the Cain was surprisingly easy for a cigar that sports this much ligero. The initial flavors were, again, dried fruit and a little chili pepper spice. The smoke is smooth on the tongue and rather biting on the nasal passages when retrohaled. Shortly into the burn, the Habano wrapper begins to show itself a little more with leather and earthiness along with a little less sweetness. There was plenty of peppery punch to be had in there, too. The first third continued to be very flavorful with notes of strong, black coffee and occasional hits of bitter cocoa to go along with the leather and spice. The smoke was uncommonly smooth, too, owing to the triple fermentation process they use. So far the draw was great and the burn line very even.

Coffee and leather were the dominant flavors in the second third. The smoke was quite full in body and oily with a very long finish. Full-bodied and full-flavored is sometimes a hard balance to strike, but Sam did it very well in this cigar.

In the end, the Cain F was as flavorful as it was full-bodied. There was plenty of leather and coffee still along with a return of the spice in the last third. This was a strong cigar and definitely not for the weak, but it also had a wonderful smoothness and elegance. It's hard to imagine all those qualities in the same cigar, but this one achieves it, and at a very reasonable price, too.

Body: 9/10
Strength: 8/10
Complexity: 9/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 10/10