Monday, October 17 2011
Leon Jimenes Prestige Robusto
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Size/Strength: 5" x 50 / Medium - Full
Wrapper: Dominican-grown Connecticut seed
Filler: Long-aged Nicaraguan and Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Presentation: Box of 20 cigars en tubo
A couple of months ago, I received a dandy little care package with some new releases from the good folks at Miami Cigar. I'll be getting around to reviewing some other
cigars that came in the box, but since I just had the new Leon Jimenes Prestige Robusto last Friday after work at
Leaf Cigar Bar, I figured, I figured it qualified for this column.
First of all, the cigar has an attractive band, and if you didn't know the wrapper was grown in the Dominican republic, you'd swear it was genuine Connecticut Shade. The leaf is blonde, silky, practically devoid of veins, and well-packed. So, it looks like a mild cigar by appearance. However, this is no Macanudo. I decided to pair mine with a glass of Sandeman 10 Year Old Tawny Port.
The
cap was beautifully done and clipped-off in a perfect circle offering just the right amount of pull on the
draw with a wood-nutty pre-light taste. The cigar also lit evenly exposing a firm, gray marble ash.
The smoke started off on the mild side with a creamy, woody base. One of the first things I noticed was how nicely balanced it was. By the midpoint, the smoke began to reveal a more nutty flavor and had a longer finish. The cigar also picked up in spiciness, which I would attribute to (as Miami Cigar puts it), the "feisty" binder, which I presume is a ligero, and the Nicaraguan filler which is most likely Estelí ligero. Regardless, the cigar was consistently smooth, creamy, very aromatic, and never drifted too far north of medium-bodied.
In the last couple of inches, the cigar remained well-balanced, yet had gained somewhat in strength with darker, richer tobacco flavors, some oakiness, and a hint of semi-sweetness in the finish. I would add that if you've smoked some good Cuban cigars, this cigar comes pretty close in character.
Leon Jimenes cigars have always been top-quality handmades, yet you don't often hear much about them. With this new Prestige line, the brand has reinvented itself with a true luxury class cigar that's well worth trying. For more information visit the Leon Jimenes Prestige page at MiamiCigarandCompany.com.
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