Origin : Dominican Republic Format : Robusto Size : 4.5 x 50 Wrapper : Honduras Filler : Dominican Republic Binder : Dominican Republic Hand-Made Price : $85 per pack of five ($17.00 each)
My rating system has changed to a numerical scale ranging from 50 to 100 points, which readers of various wine and cigar publications should immediately recognize. I elected to discard the five star system because I found a slight but unacceptable variation in quality between cigars with identical ratings. The new scale offers the reader a superior benchmark for comparison among the other cigars I review. As always, the detailed tasting notes accompanying the score give the best insight into the unique character of each individual cigar. – Nathan
It isn’t every day that a long out of production cigar hearkening back from the boom years of the ‘90’s falls into your lap. The Texas Cigar Brothers company of Bedford, Texas recently stumbled upon a long forgotten stock of El Sublimado and El Incomparable cigars in the warehouse of a Honduran cigar factory and is making them available on a limited basis. The El Sublimado brand launched in 1993 and is unique because the tobacco used to make the cigar was cured in rooms with 50 years old Noces d’Or Cognac.
This cigar does not possess an overpowering aroma of cognac; the spirit’s scent on the wrapper is unmistakably present but is well balanced by the natural aroma of tobacco. The prelight aroma is a subtle mix of vanilla, toffee, spice, cedar, and tobacco. Deftly rolled with a beautifully uniform look and feel, it is clear that the El Sublimado was manufactured with care. The Connecticut seed wrapper remains rich in appearance and sill exudes a modest amount of oil.
Unlike the majority of infused cigars, the El Sublimado’s flavors are nuanced and delicate. The flavor of the Cognac is even less pronounced while smoking than it was in the aroma of the unlit wrapper. It remains rich and full of undertones but strikes a refreshing balance with the other flavors one would expect to find in non-infused tobacco. The smoke tastes of nuts, vanilla, and spice with a lingering finish of cedar. The 50 ring gauge robusto burned very evenly with a draw offering modestly firm resistance.
At around $17 per cigar, the El Sublimado is not inexpensive; however, it is very unique and worthy of purchase due to the unusual flavor combination. Lovers of an elegant cigar brimming with vivid flavors and a mellow texture should consider purchasing a package of five while they last. I would like to thank Texas Cigar Brothers for submitting this cigar for review. Additional information on these cigars can be found at http://www.texascigarbrothers.com/.
By far the best cigar. I used to smoke the cigar rolled in cognac when i lived overseas but i cant find it anywhere in Ontario Canada.
Nathan
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I had not smoked a flavored cigar that I enjoyed until the El Sublimado. It is important to remember that this isn’t a flavored cigar in the traditional sense. The cognac flavor is a demure companion to the natural aged tobacco taste that we look for in premium cigars. There really isn’t anything currently on the market with a similar profile that I am aware of.
Litto
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A flavored cigar for $17? This is steep! A lot of top quality competitors in this price category…
Nathan
Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Robusto
Size : 4.5 x 50
Wrapper : Honduras
Filler : Dominican Republic
Binder : Dominican Republic
Hand-Made
Price : $85 per pack of five ($17.00 each)
My rating system has changed to a numerical scale ranging from 50 to 100 points, which readers of various wine and cigar publications should immediately recognize. I elected to discard the five star system because I found a slight but unacceptable variation in quality between cigars with identical ratings. The new scale offers the reader a superior benchmark for comparison among the other cigars I review. As always, the detailed tasting notes accompanying the score give the best insight into the unique character of each individual cigar. – Nathan
It isn’t every day that a long out of production cigar hearkening back from the boom years of the ‘90’s falls into your lap. The Texas Cigar Brothers company of Bedford, Texas recently stumbled upon a long forgotten stock of El Sublimado and El Incomparable cigars in the warehouse of a Honduran cigar factory and is making them available on a limited basis. The El Sublimado brand launched in 1993 and is unique because the tobacco used to make the cigar was cured in rooms with 50 years old Noces d’Or Cognac.
This cigar does not possess an overpowering aroma of cognac; the spirit’s scent on the wrapper is unmistakably present but is well balanced by the natural aroma of tobacco. The prelight aroma is a subtle mix of vanilla, toffee, spice, cedar, and tobacco. Deftly rolled with a beautifully uniform look and feel, it is clear that the El Sublimado was manufactured with care. The Connecticut seed wrapper remains rich in appearance and sill exudes a modest amount of oil.
Unlike the majority of infused cigars, the El Sublimado’s flavors are nuanced and delicate. The flavor of the Cognac is even less pronounced while smoking than it was in the aroma of the unlit wrapper. It remains rich and full of undertones but strikes a refreshing balance with the other flavors one would expect to find in non-infused tobacco. The smoke tastes of nuts, vanilla, and spice with a lingering finish of cedar. The 50 ring gauge robusto burned very evenly with a draw offering modestly firm resistance.
At around $17 per cigar, the El Sublimado is not inexpensive; however, it is very unique and worthy of purchase due to the unusual flavor combination. Lovers of an elegant cigar brimming with vivid flavors and a mellow texture should consider purchasing a package of five while they last. I would like to thank Texas Cigar Brothers for submitting this cigar for review. Additional information on these cigars can be found at http://www.texascigarbrothers.com/.
Appearance/Structure – 14/15
Smoking Characteristics – 22/25
Flavor – 21/25
Overall Impression – 33/35
Total – 90
Marcel Taillefer
By far the best cigar. I used to smoke the cigar rolled in cognac when i lived overseas but i cant find it anywhere in Ontario Canada.
Nathan
I had not smoked a flavored cigar that I enjoyed until the El Sublimado. It is important to remember that this isn’t a flavored cigar in the traditional sense. The cognac flavor is a demure companion to the natural aged tobacco taste that we look for in premium cigars. There really isn’t anything currently on the market with a similar profile that I am aware of.
Litto
A flavored cigar for $17? This is steep! A lot of top quality competitors in this price category…