Doc of Doc’s Cigar Corner
The featured cigar is the Elegancia Churchill (7″ x 48) by San Cristobal.
The Elegancia cigar by San Cristobal is comprised of a smooth, silky Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper leaf over highly select Nicaraguan binder and long fillers, producing one of the better Nicaraguan cigars to come out of Estelí. The quality of the stick and its comparatively low price combine to make it one of the best buys in the industry for those who prefer a fairly full-bodied, spicy cigar with good balance and complexity.
Two specific examples generated this review, and were essentially identical cigars. The measurements stated (7″ x 48) are actual, just shy of the usual Churchill size (7″ x 50). Construction is consistently superior, with a moderate, even burn. The only problem noted was slight ash shedding after 4″ in one example. Both were deeply V-cut and had an easy draw.
Flavor was characterized by immediate 2+ natural tobacco and 1-2+ tangy spice, beginning as black pepper and evolving to a sharper red pepper. Ancillary notes of earth, leather, and oak were somewhat variable, with a pleasant bitterness toward the finish. I was unable to detect additional flavors such as cedar, toast, walnuts, cocoa, coffee, and cream which were reported by several other reviewers.
Overall, this cigar is so well-constructed and trouble-free that it is effortless to smoke. Strength is medium strong to strong, and there is adequate complexity to add interest.
Rating is 95, excellent, easily recommended, especially at the price point.
Availability: San Cristobal Elegancia cigars are available at many sites on the internet. For example, at Cigar.com a box of 25 Churchills is $172.99, a pack of 5 is $36.00, and a single cigar is $7.65. Locally, Smokers Haven sells the Churchill for $8.45 per stick. Good Karma does not currently stock San Cristobal cigars.
Enjoy!
Doc
Review #21
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