Wednesday, August 24 2011
Tabacos Baez Favoritos
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Size/Strength: 5½" x 52 (Mini Belicoso) / Medium
Wrapper: U.S. Connecticut Shade
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Presentation: Box of 20 cigars
A few months ago I was fortunate enough to snag a box of Tabacos Baez Favoritos on CigarAuctioneer.com at a pretty decent price. Though I'm not a regular smoker of tapered head cigars, the Favoritos have a beautifully finished cap, and since the taper is a little shorter it has a more consistent draw; at least that's been my experience. This was also my first box of Tabacos Baez, and so far I've been very impressed by this Don Pepin-blended selection named for the Cuban city where he was born.
The blend consists of Nicaraguan longfillers and binder rolled in a silky, yet slightly veiny U.S. Connecticut-grown wrapper. The natural smoothness, sweetness and lack of bitterness in this domestically-grown leaf takes some of the edge off of the smoke; consequently, this cigar is more medium in body and less spicy than Pepin's typical peppery fare.
The smoke is creamy, earthy and primarily woody with excellent balance and some sweet notes on the
finish. It's also mighty consistent. I've smoked through more than half the box to-date and have yet to find a clunker; moreover, it's not surprising given Pepin's reputation for quality construction.
The strength and flavors ramp-up a little in the last act, making this more of a medium to full cigar. Whether you're a fan of Pepin's oeuvre, or have a fondness for Nicaraguan blends, you would do well by having a stash of these in your humidor.
See pricing and applicable offers for all Tabacos Baez cigars.
(Note: This series should not be confused with the Tabacos Baez SF selection, which is made with a mix of medium and short fillers.)
(_[GK]__{{{~
