Cigar Review: VegaFina Sumum Edición Especial 2010

VegaFina is a brand made by tobacco giant Altadis that usually takes a backseat to the more prominent names in the Altadis portfolio, including Montecristo, H. Upmann, and Romeo y Julieta. The Sumum Edición Especial 2010 aims to change that.

Released last month in the U.S.—it is already among the most popular Dominican cigars in Europe—Sumum is a 2010 vintage that’s made at Tabacalera de Garcia. It is crafted “with the best premium tobaccos, hand-selected for their unique characteristics and aged with care, for a one-of-a-kind smoke with distinct body, toasty aroma, and rich flavors,” according to the Altadis website.

The Sumum (Latin for “summit”) recipe calls for a dark, two-year-old Ecuadorian wrapper, a three-year-old Dominican binder, and a three-year-old filler blend of Nicaraguan, Peruvian, and Dominican tobaccos. It is sold in only one size (5 x 54) for $6.75.

The Sumum Edición Especial 2010 is an incredibly attractive cigar with an oily wrapper, a finely constructed triple cap, and a firm feel from head to foot. The pre-light aroma smells of syrup and musty earth. After cutting, I find a moderate draw that imparts some sweetness on the lips. A profile of coffee, citrus, cream, and roasted nuts emerges after establishing an even light. There’s also a fair amount of raisin present, an all-too-rare flavor that’s usually reserved for the likes of Fuentes and Padróns. The texture of the smoke is thick and silky and the aftertaste has a dry, woodsy spice.

Into the midway point and beyond, the aforementioned core flavors are complemented by notes of French vanilla and caramel. There’s plenty of complexity in the mix—enough, in my opinion, to merit a higher price, which makes the Sumum Edición Especial 2010 an excellent buy. All the while the physical properties are good, including a solid white ash and a mostly straight burn.

Altadis is a large company, and that tends to make its sticks less favorable among seasoned cigar veterans in contrast to many of the smaller, more fashionable boutique outfits. Perhaps justifiably so. But I’ll go out on a limb and say the Sumum Edición Especial 2010 is one of the finest smokes I’ve had from Altadis in a long time, especially when you consider its affordable price. I can only feel remorse for those who pass up on this outstanding creation, one that’s worthy of four stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys