Stogie Reviews: Argenese CL3 Torpedo

18 Nov 2009

Arganese CL3 Magazine editors have forever believed that green is a bad color to put on their covers. After looking at the unpleasant gummy bear green tones in the CL3 band, it’s hard not to think that cigar makers might want to adopt the same shibboleth.

Of course, bands don’t count when evaluating a cigar. But they do help create a first impression and influence the decision to buy or pass. Who, for example, can really take a Helix seriously?

Another problem with the CL3 is trying to find out about it. Argenese’s website reveals almost nothing except that it is grown from “100% first generation Cuban-seed corojo.” Checks on other sites indicate the CL stands for Corojo Ligero and that it is a Dominican puro.

With the emphasis on ligero, this line touts strength and spice. If you’re looking for a Pepin-style stick on steroids, though, I think you’ll be disappointed. I found the CL3 a little slow to develop and not really all that powerful throughout.

Pepper predominates early, but backs off about halfway down to give way to leather and cedar. The biggest drawback is a sharpness that sometimes creates an unpleasant taste and finish.

The torpedo is six and 7/8 inches long with a 52 ring gauge. The price is low, with specials on boxes of 20 hitting down as low as $40. For that, they’re a bargain. They also would seem to have good potential for aging. Maybe that would smooth out some of the rough edges.

All in all, this isn’t a bad cigar. It just isn’t outstanding, either. I didn’t enjoy the Arganese CL3 Torpedo as much as my colleague, so I’d rate it three and a half stogies out of five.