The Curivari brand has been selling in the the European Markets but started making some headway in the United States recently in the past year. Supposedly, Curivari has been trying to use non cuban tobacco to make blends that most closely resemble Cuban Brands such as Romeo y Julieta or Hoyo De Monterrey. It seems that there could be some truth to that as you can tell from the bands such the Gloria De Leon Fuerza which I am reviewing today.
From Curivari’s website:
The handmade cigar is the epitome of the tobacco culture. In all our cigars, we use only the traditional Cuban cigar making process with authentic Cuban Criollo and Corojo seed grown in Nicaragua.
Curivari cigars are made with 100% Cuban seed Nicaraguan tobacco. We blend for a classic Cuban flavor profile that we enjoy, not with focus on strength, but more looking for flavor and aroma in a right balance. All cigars are finished with a triple cap.
The Curivari El Gran Rey comes in 3 sizes and in boxes of ten:
Emperadores “5 x 50″
Belicosos “5 3/8 x 52″
Prominentes “6 1/2 x 50″
Curivari El Gran Rey Belicosos
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder/Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo/Corojo
Size: 5 3/8 x 52
Vitola: Belicoso
MSRP: $9.00
Days In Humidor: 45
Smoke Time: 1hr 35min
Drink: Water
Location: Tasty Tobacco Shop
Construction:
The wrapper has a nice honey colored appearance and it feels well rolled though there are 2 prominent veins on the underside. The triple cap is done nicely and the wrapper itself has a soft feel to it. This is probably one of the lighter cigars for the size that I’ve held in my hand in a while. The head of the cigar does feel a bit spongy but this is certainly better than being overfilled which can affect the draw. Looking at the cigar as a whole, the construction is pretty good and the appearance makes the cigar quite appealing.
Burn/Draw:
With my new Xikar cutter, I made a very clean cut across the head and even lighting the the belicoso was easy. The burn at times was slightly wavy but it didn’t need any corrections except for a relight later on in the last third. Even though the draw felt a bit loose, it was quite manageable. The El Gran Rey gave off a steady stream of smoke with a very good aroma. The ash was grayish and lasted only 3/4 inch at most, breaking up completely upon impact of the ashtray or my lap.
Flavor/Aroma:
The wrapper had notes of wood and herbal spices while the foot gave off a chocolaty note. The initial draw was of cocoa, leather and pepper. In the first third, leather dominates the flavor profile while pepper and wood are in the background. The cigar does feel smooth though as there are coffee notes also coming in the latter part. The aroma is fantastic as I recommend smoking it where you can get brief whiffs of the smell.
In the second third, the cocoa notes are stronger mixed. There is some bitterness on the finish but it does go away. I get rich leather notes as well in this part. In the last third, coffee is on the front again with leather and spice notes on the finish. The flavors don’t really vary but they are somewhat enjoyable. This cigar starts as a medium body and for the most part, finishes as a medium body.
Final Thoughts:
- The cigar has a good overall presence though I feel there was something missing from it. While the current flavor profile was enjoyable, perhaps a sweet note would have elevated the overall enjoyment.
- I’ve smoked through 75% of Curivari’s line so far and feel that while this cigar is good, there are other ones that are probably better. However, I do believe that this cigar may fit someone’s flavor profile perfectly and thus be more impressed with it.
- I think new smokers and veterans alike can enjoy this cigar. There are subtle nuances within the flavor profiles if you pay attention and it’s not strong where it can’t be enjoyed.
- The cigars that are being produced by Curivari are quality cigars that might remind you of Cuban brands but as stated in the Gloria de Leon review, these can certainly stand on their own without needing a comparison.
- For me and at this price point, I would probably pick up a fiver even though a box contains only ten. I just feel this cigar didn’t deliver completely as I had expected.
- These can be purchased at Castro’s Back Room in Nashua, NH. They can be reached at (603) 881-7703
Final Rating: 87
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