Stogie Reviews: Sosa Wavell Natural
4 Jan 2011
Robert Levin founded Ashton Cigars in 1985 when he left Holt’s Cigar Company, a Philadelphia retailer his parents founded in the late ’50s. He has since grown Ashton into one of the world’s most respected cigar manufacturers.
Today, in partnership with the Fuente Family, the company’s portfolio extends well beyond the Ashton brand, including San Cristobal, La Aroma de Cuba, and Sosa. The latter rarely shares the limelight with the other two, and it definitely doesn’t command the attention of such Ashton notables as Cabinet Selection, Virgin Sun Grown, and Estate Sun Grown.
But Sosa, made by the Fuentes in the Dominican Republic, is a fine selection if you’re looking for Ashton quality but don’t want to pay Ashton prices.
That’s what you get with the Wavell Natural (5 x 50). It can be found for less than $5, especially if you’re buying by the box. It features an oily, sepia-colored Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, Dominican binder and filler tobaccos, and soft pre-light aromas of honey and cinnamon.
The cinnamon note carries over to the first puff, where it is accompanied by flavors of dry cedar, cashew, and earth. This is a satisfying, albeit familiar, combination that’s toasty and medium in body.
Sweetness, ginger, and graham cracker spice help expand the Wavell’s profile past the first third. Here, the robusto-sized smoke displays a balance that’s lacking from many cigars twice its price. As an added bonus, the resting smoke is fragrant enough to keep my mouth watering between puffs.
Complementing the taste are top-notch physical properties. The band removes easily, the burn progresses evenly without touch-ups, the draw remains consistent and smooth, and the white ash builds solidly off the foot.
Despite short flickers of bitter notes in the final third, the Sosa Wavell Natural is a wonderful value and a strong candidate for a box purchase. I look forward to sampling Ashton’s two other Sosa varieties: the Ecuador Sumatra-wrapped Exclusive Series and the Mexican maduro-wrapped Super Selection. Meanwhile, this affordably priced creation 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
These are a great value. I have a box that I bought back 3 years ago, and at 90 bucks they are great sticks. The Maduro Super Selection I did not enjoy as much though.
How have I missed this?! This seems like a dream?!
At Downtown Disney in Florida there is a Sosa Family cigar store there where the Sosa's sell their cigars, plus others such as Rocky Patels, Padrons, Fuentes etc. But expect to pay tourist trap prices. These Sosa's can be found online for much less $$$
Sounds like an excellent value stick- I need to give these a try! Just out of curiosity, do you know if these are blended by Fuente ( like Ashton-named products) or Garcia (like San Cristobal and Aroma de Cuba)? With all of the Dominican tobacco and flavor profile you describe they sound like Fuente…
Oops. Sorry- I just went back to the review and answered my question. I read too fast! I will be trying these- thanks for the great review!
Another on the mark review. This is very much in the Fuente Hemmingway flavor, mild tobacco, slightly nutty and a little sweet, without the perfecto shape. This cigar is firm with a great burn that required absolutely no correction resulting in a bit under an hour if smoked somewhat liesurely. Add to this the quality of an Aston/Fuente manufactured stick at $5 or less and you have a compelling buy. I recommend Fuente fans to try this and buy two with the savings.