Origin : France Format : Short Robusto Size : 105 x 19.84 mm Ring : 50 Wrapper : France Filler : France Binder : France Hand-Made Price : 7.5€ each
For a few months I was aware of the fact that the first French puro, Le Navarre, has seen the day but I never had a chance to try one. On a business trip in Beijing, I was offered a Le Navarre Short Robusto by a friend who personally knows the manager of the brand. Of course, I could not pass on this opportunity and we had a great smoke together on a warm Beijing night.
Le Navarre tobacco is grown in the south west of France, next to the Spanish border. With the help of a Cuban tobacco grower from Pinar del Rio, “Le Comptoir du Tabac des Gaves et de l’Adour”, the company behind Le Navarre, is looking to create a blend able to match the best Cuban stogies.
Appearance : [rating:4.5/5]
This cigar has a beautiful shiny wrapper and a triple Cuban-like cap. The band is quite simple and proudly indicates that the cigar was produced in France. Feels very good in hand and definitely a pleasure to the eye.
Construction : [rating:4.5/5]
Cigar rollers from Cuba were specially hired to teach local workers the art of rolling. The result is a very skillfully rolled stick, consistent and with decent burn and draw.
Flavor : [rating:4.5/5]
What I liked the most about this cigar is that it was not really designed to taste like a Cuban (which is probably impossible, anyway). Using Cuban knowledge base, aficionados from Navarrenx (small town where the factory is located) managed to create a unique flavor. The first third is dominantly cedary, without these spicy notes that usually mark the beginning of Cuban sticks. It made me think of a mild Dominican cigar, particularly Avo or Davidoff. As I continued smoking, the power increased and I detected delicious cinnamon notes as well as a taste of roasted coffee. In the last third, strong wood and leather. Overall, I really liked it, especially the first two thirds.
Value : [rating:4/5]
I’m curious to see how competitive Le Navarre cigars will be, especially considering the fact that they are in the same price range as good Cubans.
Overall Rating : [rating:4.5/5]
I’m very happy that yet another country has started to produce high quality cigars. I’m sure that the Navarre has a good future – good construction skills, fine weather conditions and an original flavor will take care of that.
Helpful?
0
0
Bulcao
–
Hi, I did not taste it but I have visited the company and the tabaculteur ( tabacco producer ) last week. It is a very nice people who is running the company now, with some cubans rolling the cigar. I am a journalist, photographer, and I was very glad with the result of the photo story.
If I can help you about the contacts there, let me know.
All my best,
Stewart Hoffman
–
Dear Sir:
I am inquiring about cigar tobacco being grown in France.
Do you have any idea were the farms are and can you tell
me who own those farms.
Please get back with me.
Thank you
Stewart
Inspector
–
Hien, as far as I know the company behind Le Navarre – sadly – went bankrupt. I think there is little chance you can find it online.
Hien Tran
–
Hi,
I am looking to buy Navarre cigar. Any suggestions where I can find dealers on line?
Thanks,
hien
Inyector
–
Hallo everybody! Yesterday we hade a nice tasting of Navarre cigars in Moscow. It was quiete interesting to try a new cigar producing country. The most interesting that the biggest part of smokers feeled a taste of “Davidoff” (the same as a gentleman here). Frankly speaking it wasn`t the best cigar in my life, but anyway better than more popular brands from latin America.
Regards,
Sergey,
Moscow, Russia
Cigar Inspector
Origin : France
Format : Short Robusto
Size : 105 x 19.84 mm
Ring : 50
Wrapper : France
Filler : France
Binder : France
Hand-Made
Price : 7.5€ each
For a few months I was aware of the fact that the first French puro, Le Navarre, has seen the day but I never had a chance to try one. On a business trip in Beijing, I was offered a Le Navarre Short Robusto by a friend who personally knows the manager of the brand. Of course, I could not pass on this opportunity and we had a great smoke together on a warm Beijing night.
Le Navarre tobacco is grown in the south west of France, next to the Spanish border. With the help of a Cuban tobacco grower from Pinar del Rio, “Le Comptoir du Tabac des Gaves et de l’Adour”, the company behind Le Navarre, is looking to create a blend able to match the best Cuban stogies.
Appearance : [rating:4.5/5]
This cigar has a beautiful shiny wrapper and a triple Cuban-like cap. The band is quite simple and proudly indicates that the cigar was produced in France. Feels very good in hand and definitely a pleasure to the eye.
Construction : [rating:4.5/5]
Cigar rollers from Cuba were specially hired to teach local workers the art of rolling. The result is a very skillfully rolled stick, consistent and with decent burn and draw.
Flavor : [rating:4.5/5]
What I liked the most about this cigar is that it was not really designed to taste like a Cuban (which is probably impossible, anyway). Using Cuban knowledge base, aficionados from Navarrenx (small town where the factory is located) managed to create a unique flavor. The first third is dominantly cedary, without these spicy notes that usually mark the beginning of Cuban sticks. It made me think of a mild Dominican cigar, particularly Avo or Davidoff. As I continued smoking, the power increased and I detected delicious cinnamon notes as well as a taste of roasted coffee. In the last third, strong wood and leather. Overall, I really liked it, especially the first two thirds.
Value : [rating:4/5]
I’m curious to see how competitive Le Navarre cigars will be, especially considering the fact that they are in the same price range as good Cubans.
Overall Rating : [rating:4.5/5]
I’m very happy that yet another country has started to produce high quality cigars. I’m sure that the Navarre has a good future – good construction skills, fine weather conditions and an original flavor will take care of that.
Bulcao
Hi, I did not taste it but I have visited the company and the tabaculteur ( tabacco producer ) last week. It is a very nice people who is running the company now, with some cubans rolling the cigar. I am a journalist, photographer, and I was very glad with the result of the photo story.
If I can help you about the contacts there, let me know.
All my best,
Stewart Hoffman
Dear Sir:
I am inquiring about cigar tobacco being grown in France.
Do you have any idea were the farms are and can you tell
me who own those farms.
Please get back with me.
Thank you
Stewart
Inspector
Hien, as far as I know the company behind Le Navarre – sadly – went bankrupt. I think there is little chance you can find it online.
Hien Tran
Hi,
I am looking to buy Navarre cigar. Any suggestions where I can find dealers on line?
Thanks,
hien
Inyector
Hallo everybody! Yesterday we hade a nice tasting of Navarre cigars in Moscow. It was quiete interesting to try a new cigar producing country. The most interesting that the biggest part of smokers feeled a taste of “Davidoff” (the same as a gentleman here). Frankly speaking it wasn`t the best cigar in my life, but anyway better than more popular brands from latin America.
Regards,
Sergey,
Moscow, Russia
Guy Buscéma
Dear Inspecter,
Living in the south of France I was
Quit surprised to see “Le Navarre” reviewed
at Cigar Inspector and I was truly pleased.
Le Navarre has been around for some
time now,say a few years. It is an enjoyable
cigar. Since almost a year now le navarre has
come out, on the french market, with a double corona with the old cuban size which is much longer then the double coronas of today,I hope you get to try it someday.I am the founder of
a cigar club in the south of France called
“L’AFICION DU HAVANE” and we are 35 members.
We are mostly Habanos smokers but we do enjoy
other cigars too such as “Tatuaje” or “Henry
Clay” etc… Thank you for reading me out,
I enjoy reading your site, keep up the good
work. Best regards,
Amicalement,
Guy Buscéma
Calvisson, France
Lisa B.
France? Who knew. Thanks for bringing this interesting smoke to our attention.