Cigar Review: Santos de Miami Haven Parejo

At Cigarnival, I made a point of asking various cigar makers what they had planned for the upcoming IPCPR Trade Show. When I posed the question to Brad Mayo of Jameson Cigars, he pointed at a box he had displayed on his table.

Thinking it was the Santos de Miami, which was released at last year’s show, I had overlooked that this cigar was different and new. Brad explained that one of his many experiments was set for release at the show: a non-pressed version of his Santos de Miami blend.

The difference, he explained, is more than just the shape (which, in addition to shedding the extremely sharp box-press, loses the pigtail cap). The round parejo shape’s blend is stronger, he said, because it contains more filler because the box-pressed shape has to be rolled looser in order to be so sharply pressed.

According to Jameson’s website, Santos de Miami is “inspired by the spirit of Miami, particularly Calle Ocho. [It] features all Dominican grown tobaccos with a Havana corojo wrapper, criollo ’98 binder, and corojo and criollo fillers.” The original box-pressed line comes in two sizes: Haven (6 x 54) and Alma (5 x 46). Brad gave me two of the new non-pressed cigars, apparently in the same Haven size.

It’s a well constructed cigar, with just a bit of shine on the corojo wrapper, which is framed by the sharp-looking art deco-style band. The firm construction produces a stiff but not difficult draw and a sturdy ash that holds for an inch and a half. I was worried about possible draw issues since the cigar is so tightly packed, but they never came.

Once lit, the cigar produces charred oak and unsweetened chocolate flavors. It’s medium- to full-bodied with just a hint of spice. As it evolves, there’s a bit of molasses and clove added to the dry coffee and nutty core. It has a unique, very clean, almost minty finish.

It’s been a long time since I had the original Santos de Miami, but I definitely agree that the shape change creates a slightly different flavor profile. The cigar changes only a little from start to finish, but it’s a very tasty, if not overly complex. Assuming this is the same packaging as the original (boxes of 10 for $80), it’s a fair price for a good cigar. With enjoyable flavors and excellent construction the Santos de Miami Haven Parejo earns four stogies out of five.

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–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys