Smoked: La Gloria Cubana Serie R Esteli

Smoked at: Winston-Salem, NC

I recently graduated from seminary, finished a year of internship, and was approved by my denomination to be ordained. I bought this cigar to celebrate, and opened a bottle of Maker’s Mark 46. The wrapper was like silk, it burned as straight as an arrow, ash as tight as a drum. It tasted like pecan pie, East Tennessee BBQ, and sweet tea. In a word, it tastes like...home.

This was a strong smoke for sure. The ring gauge is huge (60+, at least, not exactly sure), hits the sweet spot as soon as it’s lit, and lasts for the whole smoke. I read, and smoked, and sipped for over 2 hours, and still stood up high as a kite! It was definitely a celebration! I bought the last one in the store, or I would definitely have headed back for another.

LGC Charlemagne Maduro has been a favorite of mine for years, but this is a very, very close second. I’ll have my eye out for more!