Reviews
Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016
Reviewed by Jack Schonhaut (June 2001)
I didn't know I was going to be a taste tester until these beauties arrived with my order from MO. I have smoked this vitola before and found them to be pleasant with a mild to medium flavor. These looked darker than any Sancho Panza I have previously seen with almost a maduro hue. There was also a beautiful oily sheen that made them look like they were going to try out for the Mr./Ms Universe pageant. I grudgingly put them in the humidor to rest for a week before I started my tasting.
The first candidate was smoked after lunch. It was a nice sunny day, perfect for a leisurely smoke on the deck. There cigar looked perfect. Smooth, no veins and firm to the touch. The cut was clean and the pre-light aroma was a smell of cedar.
Upon lighting there was an easy draw with a medium to full flavor that included tastes of cedar and coffee. I'm not talking about a latte, I mean fresh ground Columbian, in a big cup. This was not the taste of the Sancho Panza I've had before. This continued through the first third of the smoke as a firm dark gray a
Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016
Reviewed by Steve Pulizzano (February 2001)
Named for the rustic squire to Don Quixote in Cervantes' novel of the same name. The Sancho Panza is generally admired for its two larger cigars, the Belicoso and Sancho which is a formidable 9¼ X 47. All are handmade and are mild to medium bodied. The Sancho Panza is one of Cubas oldest marques.
A very well made Habanos of the vitola: campanas. A smooth, finely veined capa that covered a well packed and slightly boxpressed figurado with no hard or soft spots to its length. Of the three samples sent only one was subpar in its taste with an acrid and dry finish especially for the first ¾ to 1". The following notes are for the other two: Prelight draw gave rich ripe fruity overtones that were mellow and refined without any harshness and that unmistakable Habanos tang to the tobacco. Postlight taste and aromas of subtle honey/floral, spice, a touch of roasted coffee and cedar that were subdued yet left sweet and aromatic tones on the palate. The torpedo shape tends to condense the smoke and leave a heavy prescence in the mouth but is m
Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016
Reviewed by Chuck Vaughan-Lloyd (May 2004)
Length 5 1/2" x 52 ring gauge EAR October 2002 I had a unique opportunity last night to enjoy a totally new Cuban Cigar for my palate. A very good friend and True Lover of the Habanos Leaf sent me one of these to try with the simple request that I write a short review of my tasting notes.
Let me say that those of you that do not have a MRN Book, that this cigar is a relative new introduction onto the Habanos scene and thus no preconceived ideas could be made as to what to expect. This line was launched in Havana in 1999. This is a completely new brand, not one that has been resurrected.
The Belicoso had a smooth light chocolate brown wrapper, which I could not find any veins. It had a solid firm feel as I felt it and thought to myself that this cigar had been kept properly. I had not really let it rest much from its journey, but knew that my friend has always maintained his humidors extremely well. I cut the tip about ¼ down and tried a pre-draw and tasted a fine robust tobacco flavor. The foot toasted well and as I took the first
Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016
Reviewed by Don Simpson - January 2002
Upon inspection the cigars were of fair construction, with sharp veins and a smooth satin finish. They were medium dark with a poorly applied cap.
The first cigar lasted approximately 40 minutes and I smoked it after dinner. The next two cigars were smoked at about the same time within the following 3 days. The time was about the same for all three cigars. The carbon ring was not consistent and varied in definition and color. It had a gray, firm ash, held tight by the sharp burned vein in the wrapper.
My first impression of the white smoke was sweet and light, but the blue smoke was warm and creamy, and tasted young and needed more time to enrich. The draw was easy but again the smoke was warm with hot spots and soft spots through out the shaft of the cigar. The wrapper already had begun to unravel and was starting to canoe. All three cigars had this same trait!
At first the taste of earth was very prevalent and turned 'dirt' like very quick. As the cigar continued to unravel, a prominent tobacco/burnt chocolate notes appeared. It wa
Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016
Reviewed by Michael Hochman (January 2001)
I decided to taste my three cigars in three distinct situations.
1. Cigar #1 - A day out with an old friend.
2. Cigar #2 - A first date.
3. Cigar #2 - Playing Pocket Billiards.
I must admit that the expectations are highest for cigar #2. Here's the timetable and a little background for each cigar.
1. Cigar #1 (Monday, February 05, 2001) was smoked after a day of errands, some shopping (TWO Charvet ties from Sacks 5th Avenue), a nice dinner (Ruth's Chris Steakhouse), and off to my favorite hotel lobby bar (The Minneapolis Hilton) for the best part of the day, relaxing with a friend (Heidi) and a good cup of coffee after a fulfilling dinner and my gifted Havana.
2. Cigar #2 (Tuesday, February 06, 2001) was smoked at during my first date with Ilona. We went to some modern art museum (splattered paint on canvas, incongruent sculpture, art I could not understand), had some pasta for lunch, and then back to The Minneapolis Hilton for cigar #2
3. Cigar #3 (Wednesday, February 07, 2001) was smoked while using the game of pocket
Date Added: Monday 10 August, 2015
I had a couple of these sitting in my humidor for about a year, so I thought I'd give one a try this weekend.
Judging by the packing at the foot of the cigar, construction looked good and the wrapper looked fine with no noticeably large veins. Pre-light aroma was like a very light manure, but not unpleasant.
The draw was excellent from the very first puff with plenty of thick white smoke. The first third was mild, but with a very slight spiciness at the edge of the tongue. This developed into a beautiful creamy taste two-thirds in, still with a very easy draw.
Unfortunately, by the final third, the wrapper began to unfurl, spoiling the experience somewhat.This was the only negative I could find.
This cigar held it's ash very well and and was long lasting (about an hour) given it's relatively small size.
Will definitely be buying these again and would recommend them highly.
