Cigar Review: Azan White Premium Campana

I confess that when I first got an email about a cigar coming from Roberto Duran I thought it was being put out by the boxing legend, much like those sporting the names of Mike Ditka, Gary Sheffield, and Luis Tiant. It isn’t.

These cigars are from Roberto Pelayo Duran, a Cuban who worked in the industry. His Azan Tobacco has a fascinating history. You can—and should—read it here. The story starts in 1870 when three brothers migrated from China to Cuba. It includes Azan winning the state lottery and him investing the winnings in his tobacco business, only to have the business nationalized by the government during the Cuban Revolution.

The Campana is a torpedo measuring 5.5 inches long with a ring gauge of 52. The wrapper is a beautiful Corojo grown in Ecuador, with filler from Nicaragua and Brazil, and a Nicaraguan binder.

Rolled in Nicaragua, Azan debuted in Hong Kong before being presented at the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas, where it was introduced to the U.S. market. The company sent me three samples for this review.

In addition to the wrapper’s striking appearance, its pre-light aroma is mouth-watering. It makes the White nearly irresistible. Construction and draw are also good, and smoke production is strong. The burn generally is good, but it does get off kilter every once in a while.

The cigar is medium in strength with a bit of spice, a deep tobacco richness, and occasional sweetness. The flavors are nicely balanced and the tobaccos seem well-aged and fermented.

The suggested retail price on this stick—one of three vitolas in the White Premium line—is $7.50, and Azan says they’re making their way into stores now.

Pick one up and give it a try. I think you’ll want to smoke more than one. I award it four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys