El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme Cigar - 1 Single

Date Added: Sunday 22 July, 2018 by Simon

It’s been a while since I smoked anything by ERdM, the last being probably ten years ago, and that would have been a smaller vitola, I can’t remember what it was but at a guess it was 42 ring around 4” long. I remember this because I bought two from an aged batch from the late 90s and I kept them a while before I smoked them. They made quite an impression on me.

So it was with great anticipation I lit the Choix Supreme up this evening, on what has been an exceptionally still, hot and humid July day. A couple of lamb steaks were marinating ready for the bbq and I sat down with a Havana Club Des Maestros as a chaser and an ice cold craft IPA as a quencher. I’ve always admired the construction of these cigars, as they are relatively inexpensive and seem to have a boldness to them with beautifully veined dark brown wrappers and almost surgically constructed caps. After punching it with my new 13mm Adorini punch (highly recommended for larger the gauges), the pre-lit draw was firm, but free. Leather and wood were evident before I took a flame to it, with maybe a hint of chocolate or coffee?

It lit like a champ, no problems and started with an even burn and impeccable draw. First impressions were of spice and a woodiness, but slightly harsh. Fortunately it settled down very quickly and any initial harshness gave way to a lovely sweet spiciness that underpins the smoke. Talking of smoke, it’s thick and rich and light grey, with more than ample amounts on offer from even a light draw on it.

This is a cigar that has characteristics of vitolas I remember from my early days as a cigar smoker, pre the mid 1990’s cigar boom. While not ridiculously over complex, it is quintessentially Cuban in every way. The sweetness is there the whole way through and spicy notes dance on the tongue, with some woodiness, maybe molasses and possibly even coffee.

The burn has been even all the way through as has the draw and I’ve not had to relight once, burning cool for most of the way.

So what can I say about this cigar that others haven’t? Not much, as many before me have been just as captivated by it, except perhaps to say, that there is a good reason for it’s moniker of Choix Supreme, which it both deserves and admirably lives up to.