Stogie Reviews: La Gloria Cubana Reserva Figurados Felicias Maduro
21 Dec 2009
In March, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo ended his tenure with General Cigar to establish his own boutique. The move effectively left La Gloria Cubana, the brand he built from relative obscurity to industry prominence, without its leader of nine years.
Before parting ways, though, Perez-Carrillo left behind four blends in the La Gloria Cubana portfolio. One is Reserva Figurados, launched in 2004. This line of five different figurado sizes comes in either a natural Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf or a maduro Connecticut broadleaf.
The rest of the Reserva Figurados blend includes a four-year-old Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.
They are handmade at the El Credito Cigar Factory in Miami by “level seven†cigar rollers. Only 1,000 boxes of each size are produced annually before they are subjected to a cedar aging process.
With a tapered foot, a short and slender physique, and a rock-hard feel, the jet-black Felicias Maduro (4.6 x 49) looks like it could be fired from a gun. Pre-light notes are tough to come by but, if you pay close enough attention, you might notice aromas of sweet cocoa and coffee.
Snipping the cap reveals a surprisingly even draw and virtually no taste on the lips. After lighting, however, a rich and bold flavor of dry wood, pepper, and steak comes through. Medium-bodied and smooth with a rounded finish—very similar to the Flechas Especiales Maduro.
This profile is fairly consistent throughout, save for a gentle increase in spice down the home stretch. All the while, the combustion qualities are good as the straight burn works its way down the shapely cigar. The draw is easy and the white ash is solid and well-behaved.
With these qualities, and at only $4-6 apiece, the Reserva Figurados Felicias Maduro has been a staple in my humidor for awhile. And this time of year I’m thankful for that. Its stature is suited well for cold temperatures, and its flavor pairs well with warm coffee or a winter brew.
But this cigar is an excellent choice for any season. So despite lacking a great deal of complexity, this La Gloria Cubana earns four stogies out of five.
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photo credit: Stogie Guys
Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
Patrick Semmens
Co-Founder & Publisher
George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
I know you know how much I love these guys! But that said… although I bought a box of the Flechas because I usually like a longer smoke than this and feel guilty if I light up two back to back… I gotta say, profile wise i think these small kickers have a slight edge on the Flechas. These felicias are REALLY good.
Great under-the-radar smoke. Don't tell people about these, they may raise the price.
Certainly can't beat the price. I am going to check these out.