Monday, June 13 2011
J. Fuego Gran Reserva No.1 Corojo Robusto
Size: 5" x 52
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Honduran Sun Grown Corojo
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras, (Costa Rica)
Binder: Costa Rican Corojo
Last night I had a cigar that I haven't smoked in a while. Plus, while doing a little research on it today, I couldn't find one entirely negative review. I'm referring to the J. Fuego Gran Reserva No.1 Corojo Robusto. I've been a big fan of Señor Fuego's work since he was working for Consolidated Cigar, and he's partly responsible for my deep appreciation of Honduran cigars. The Gran Reserva Corojo No.1 edition, which debuted in 2007 (also referred to as the "Gran Reserva"), is also one of his most complex blends, and often compared to his similarly blended Delirium cigars.
The cigar has a three nation longfiller blend consisting of Nicaraguan, Honduran, and - although the J.Fuego website notes the third leaf as "undisclosed" - other sources list it as Costa Rican. The binder is a Costa Rican Corojo and the cigars are rolled in lush, flavorful Honduran Corojo leaves that shimmer with a brick-red patina.
My Robusto was well packed, clipped perfectly, and had a woody, leathery and semi-spicy pre-light taste. Although the
draw was a little tight and took a bit longer to light evenly, once it got going it was sublime. Thick creamy smoke came easily through the
head with dark tobacco flavors, a note of herbal spice and some underlying sweetness. Moreover, the aroma was magnificent, especially when you put the cigar up to your mouth and pick up that little waft of smoke. I also let the cigar rest a bit longer between puffs, retrohaling every so often which offered plenty of spice but was not overpoweringly peppery.
As the cigar burned on, I noticed the ash was very firm just beyond the first inch, yet I tapped it off intentionally to avoid an accident on my brand new carpet. The cigar required a couple of touch ups early on. At the midpoint the flavors began to caramelize exhibiting flavors of sweet cedar, nutmeg, and some espresso on the finish.
I smoked it down to the last inch-and-a-half. Just before reaching that point the smoke was still creamy, well balanced and very robust. I would suggest that newbies wait a bit on this cigar until their palate has had a chance to develop. There's a lot going on in this cigar that ranks with some of the best out there. If you haven't already had the pleasure, add it to your must-smoke list.
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