Stogie Reviews: El Rico Habano Corona Suprema
9 Apr 2008
My expectations for this cigar were low, probably just another OK smoke from General. Oh, I knew the original incarnation of the El Rico Habano helped put El Credito on the map in Miami, and that the brand is said to be a favorite of Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, Jr. Still, I’d left this six inch stick in my humidor for nearly a year, having long forgotten where I got it or what I paid for it.
First things first: I was wrong about this cigar. It’s far, far better than OK. It is, in fact, a very good, complex cigar, especially considering you can pick one up for around $4 and find a box of 25 for considerably less.
The Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and filler is a little rough looking, but nice and oily. It was the quality of Nicaraguan tobacco that led Perez-Carrillo to re-blend the El Rico Habano and start making it in the Dominican Republic to introduce again in 2001. In 2004, he told Smoke Magazine that he preferred the new version over the original because it now was more consistent and “the cigar has strength, it has aroma, and it has the taste that it had at its best.â€
The prelight aroma is rich and inviting. I used a punch on the 50 ring gauge stick and the draw was just right. It began with a peppery kick that gave way to woodsy and leathery flavors. At the final third, a sweetness weaved in and out.
As a full-flavored stick, I suppose the temptation is to compare it to some of Pepin’s creations. I found the construction and burn better than I’ve encountered in a number of his, but I think the El Rico blend lacks that intangible mix of fire and ice that make the best of Pepin’s cigars extraordinary experiences.
I’ve only smoked one El Rico Habano, so I can’t say what the impact of a year resting might have been. But I plan to smoke more soon, and I’ll be sure to report back. Right now, I give the El Rico Habano Corona Suprema four out of five stogies.
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photo credit: JR Cigars
Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
Patrick Semmens
Co-Founder & Publisher
George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
Nice review, George. I've always steered clear of El Rico Habano cause I didn't know what to expect, but I'm going to try this based on your recommendation. Do you have any drink pairing advice?
I think I was drinking coffee at the time. Please be sure to let me know what you think when you do smoke it. I've been to a couple of shops since I wrote this looking for more but haven't found any. I'll keep searching.
Had difficulty finding them in my local shop, too. Looked at several online retailers and found that Cigars International (http://www.cigarsinternational.com) has the Corona Suprema in stock in a 5-pack for $18.00!
damn , i loved this cigar , i might propose marriage,no kidding ,this was the best cigar i have smoked in 5 years,and yes that includes all the peppin garcias, which i love dearly, also gran habano does it for me, but this cigar had a distinct prelight aroma, i became excited by this point,then the light kaboom, cayenne pepper intense and lingering on the pallet,this was trully a full bodied cigar ,but not the least harsh, all the way to the band consitent ,earthy notes of coffee and leather.this was trully one to rememeber, a mans cigar if there ever was one. i had trouble finding these too ,a 5 pack here and there ,boxes are always out of stock, for such an underated cigar,people must be smokin em.while i realy think about it, this was the best full bodied cigar i have ever smoked, no joke.