Dia De Los Smokezebo: Gran Habano Azteca Jaguar

Posted by Tony Blake on Nov 2nd, 2010 | 2 comments home title

Cigar: Gran Habano Azteca Jaguar
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Vitola: Toro
Wrapper: Mexican San Andreas Maduro
Binder: Mexican San Andreas Maduro
Filler: Nicaraguan & Panamanian

It’s a fiesta!… Heck, it’s “Dia De Los Muertos” (Day Of The Dead), the day that Mexico pays honor to those that have passed on with incredibly colored, yet macabre art pieces, “ofrendas” (food items prepared for the deceased) as well as a time to celebrate their loved ones lives…

So, what better day than today to smoke & review George Rico’s new full-flavored, medium-bodied Gran Habano Azteca Jaguar (Toro)… Gran Habano makes some tasty cigars such as the Corojo #5 & the 3 SLS (and a secret “shaggy” private blend I will be reviewing soon)… now they’ve killed 2 lines (the aforementioned 3SLS & Cabinet Selection) in order to introduce a new line, the Gran Habano Azteca…

Encased in a pyramid shaped, bright orange box, once you open the lid you are presented with cigars wrapped in a deep oscuro Mexican maduro wrapper, each encircled with a golden band embossed with the Aztec calendar (shades of 2012?)… the sticks are nicely wrapped, lightly veined and quite firm, with a semi-oily & inviting sheen to them… underneath is another layer of the San Andreas maduro used for the binder… this adds even more flavor to the cigar…

The pre-draw has a sweet cinnamon, cocoa nib, coffee & apricot note to it… it invites you to light it up and discover the flavors hidden inside & within it’s smoke…

Upon lighting the Jaguar produces nice amounts of creamy smoke, and the flavor notes literally perform an aficionado fiesta in your mouth – dark, pungent coffee, cinnamony Mexican chocolate (like the “Abuelita” brand used for hot chocolate), tamarind, dried plum, sweet roasted chili-spiced almonds, cereza negra & uvas pasas (black cherry & raisins), mole poblano, Spanish leather, piloncillo (coned unrefined cane sugar), champurrado… the flavors roll one after the other, each puff providing a new one to discover and enjoy…

I was amazed at how delicious this cigar was… I’ve smoked tasty cigars before but this cigar was a true treat… it burned well, with a grey/white ash and good burn ring… I didn’t have to touch-up this cigar once… the Azteca line comes in 3 vitolas – The aforementioned “Jaguar”, the “Aguila” (5.5×52) and the thick “Puma” (6×60)… it is a cigar that those that are looking for a good full-flavored stick will truly enjoy… pricing is not bad at around $6 – $8 MSRP… and yes, this is a box-worthy cigar… Grab one, enjoy it and celebrate El Dia De Los Muertos whenever you want!…

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