In any discussion of budget cigars, the name Sancho Panza is certain to come up. Often, it’s the Double Maduro line that generates high praise. But I recently rediscovered the Extra Fuerte (Spanish for “strong”) and plan to make it my faithful companion.

I was in a cigar shop I visit occasionally, following my usual habit of spending so much time in the humidor I expect a search party to come looking for me. Up in a corner, I noticed an open box holding only a couple of Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Madrids for $4.50 each. I brushed the dust from the cellophane and decided to give it a try.

What a fine cigar. The reddish Honduran Havana seed wrapper was a perfect complement to the spicy core. I found it mild to medium in body, with a slow burn that produced volumes of smoke. While not complex, the cigar did develop and change as it went along, creating occasional sweetness and cedar notes.

Intrigued, I tried several of the four other sizes of the Extra Fuerte. I experienced some minor burn problems with the smaller ring gauges, though they all performed pretty well. Overall, though, I found myself agreeing with Cigar Aficionado, which dubbed the Madrid, a 6 and 1/4 inch by 54 ring gauge, the best in the line when it ranked it No. 19 in its list of best cigars for 2005.

It’s somewhat a shame that the lines have become so firmly established as budget smokes. The truth is the Extra Fuerte is a good cigar, whatever the cost. I think General Cigar’s overall quality control also contributes to greater consistency than you’ll find in many lower-priced sticks.

Yet the price cannot to be ignored. You can easily find them at box prices for considerably under $3 each. Overall, this cigar earns a rating of four out of five stogies.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

-George E

Tags: cigars