Doc’s Cigar Corner: Viejo Corona by Puros Indios

Doc of Doc’s Cigar Corner

The featured cigar is the Viejo Corona (6 1/2″ x 46) by Puros Indios.

This is an intriguing cigar in many ways. As most cigar smokers know, Puros Indios (Reyes Family Cigars) blends tend to be an acquired taste, so don’t be too surprised if you do not like this selection as much as I do. At least it is not expensive, though it is rare and may be hard to find in less than box quantities.

The Viejo (Spanish for “old”) is appropriately named. The original runs sat around in the aging room for over six years before they were released. The examples I have were well-aged when I received them. The wrapper is Ecuadorian Sumatra. Binder and fillers are probably Jamastran (Honduras), but one source I consulted said Dominican/Nicaraguan/Brazilian.

I recommend a deep V-cut or a guillotine with this cigar. It tends to a slow burn and persistent slight unevenness. Runners occur, but are easily resolved with repositioning. There was no unravel or disadhesion.

Flavor is initially a sweet natural tobacco, which is quickly joined by light white pepper, cedar and earth. All of these persist with varying intensities throughout.

A most pleasant, unexpected floral note co-occurred with the cedar, causing it to have a taste different from any other Central or South American cedar I have encountered. After some thought, the only taste or aroma I could liken it to was the faint but distinctive aroma of a wild forest orchid I once found growing on the larch and Douglas fir needle mats of a subalpine forest in northern Idaho.  This orchid I later identified as Calypso bulbosa, the single species of its genus, commonly known as the “fairy slipper,” and widely distributed in the northwestern conifer forests. I took two photos of the plant, which remain in my collection.

Here is a similar picture:

Rating: 96

This cigar burns slowly and requires a little attention to runners and to maintain the burn. Consequently, it is a better evening cigar time-wise, but could be used as a siesta smoke if the time is available.

Availability:

This cigar can be purchased from CigarsInternational.com and from Cigar.com. Both advertise the Corona at $39.99/bundle of 20. Other vitolas are available, but several are sold out. Holt’s has the Corona for $34.95.