Stogie Reviews: Toraño Exodus 50 Years Blend Short Churchill
31 Jan 2011
Last year was a big one for Charlie Toraño and his family, as they renamed their company the “Toraño Family Cigar Company†and exercised their option to retake distribution from a deal with CAO. “It belongs in the family,†Charlie told us.
These days the company is getting a lot of attention about its newest creations: Master, a bundle line called Brigade, and Single Region. But the Exodus 50 Years Blend, launched in 2009, still has the cigar community talking. And, as I was told by a Toraño representative last week, it is still selling very well.
This blend is rolled in memory of the Toraño family’s 50-year exile from Cuba. It comes dressed in a Brazilian Arapiraca sun-grown wrapper with a Honduran binder and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos from Estelà and Pueblo Nuevo. The four regular production sizes—Short Churchill, Torpedo, Robusto, and Box Press—are handmade in Nicaragua, retailing for $6-8 apiece.
I picked up three Short Churchills (6 x 48) at a recent Single Region Tour event in Arlington, Virginia. I got them for about $5 each, since they were on special. This firm, slender vitola sports a moderate cold draw, pre-light notes of cocoa, and an exterior leaf as oily as it is dark.
A couple wooden matches gets the foot thoroughly toasted and lit. From there, the flavor displays a profile of black cherry, cinnamon, leather, and pepper. It’s bold, but decidedly medium-bodied and well-balanced. The thick smoke is cool—never hot or harsh—making for a smooth experience.
Despite its length, the Short Churchill’s taste doesn’t change much from light to nub. What you see at the beginning is pretty much what you get throughout, and that’s OK with me. All the while the burn is straight and the gray ash layers evenly and sturdily off the foot.
The Toraños make some excellent cigars, and the Exodus 50 Years Blend may be their finest. Don’t let all of their newest creations prevent you from trying this line if you haven’t already done so. The Short Churchill is an outstanding value and worthy of four and a half 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
Given it's recent ranking I'm sure few will be passing it up at these prices. I agree though. It is a great cigar. Would I have ranked it where CA did? Probably not. But good nonetheless.
Love this cigar. The finest vitola in the blend. Worthy of 4.5 stogies, indeed.
I have had a few of these in robusto and most recently the box press. Always for me, a bit tight for combustion, but the rest was great as in your review. I will note that under the first band on the box press there was almost a dime size patch that had been covered by the band. I was surprised it passed inspection, and felt jipped a bit at $7 for the stick.
I had another today and I totally agree with CJ. The ones I've tried have been tight. Todays was just over tight for optimum, but I have had one that needed to be draw poked as well. None so far that were "just right."
I totally agree with your 4 1/2 stogies rating and your review, this was my most recent box purchase in the torpedo and I'm just dying for warmer weather to enjoy more of them. Though I'm sure a little age will only improve them
:} Cheers !
Chuck
Just finished my 2nd one I've ever had. THey are worthy of your rating. Mine seemed to mellow out a bit in the middle, but first and last third were as you described. May have to do a box of these!