Quick Smoke: El Tiante La Leyenda Julieta

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

Almost exactly three years ago, when it first came out, I acquired the Julieta size (7 x 47) from El Tiante’s La Leyenda line for $9. The blend celebrates Louis Tiant’s 1968 season with the Cleveland Indians, a year in which he won 21 games. It sports a Sumatra-seed Ecuadorian wrapper and a Nicaraguan Habano binder with three different ligeros from Nicaragua and seco tobaccos from both Nicaragua and Honduras. The result is a lot of red and black pepper spice on the palate with background notes of coffee, sweet cream, and nut. The resting smoke and finish have a mushroom component that reminds me of Davidoff and Paul Garmirian cigars, and the construction is excellent. Time has improved this zesty Nicaraguan; I wish I would have purchased more back in 2009.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys