Sancho Panza Belicosos Cigar - Box of 25

Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016 by Staff

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 ash developed. After the first third there arrived a definite taste of honey with more of a sweet cedar flavor. The coffee flavor subsided at this point and the flavors just mellowed out. Clouds of smoke, smooth draw, never harsh or dry all the way to the finish. This was a great way to spend an afternoon. Candidate Number two was smoked after dinner the following evening. There was the same oily sheen but the cigar seemed soft to the touch. As I feared this one was too loosely rolled. The coffee flavor was there in the beginning and some cedar at the end. It just wasn't a smoke you would linger over because it smoked hot and harsh towards the end. The had the third the following evening. It mirrored the first in appearance and flavor. I would not suggest this pyramid for enjoyment after a heavy dinner. It does seem best to help while away a spring or Summer afternoon. Thank you MO for these wonderful smokes.

Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016 by Staff

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 mild yet wonderfully rich. A very well rounded smoke. They all smoked very evenly with a good draw and nice volumes of creamy smoke on each pull with a dark gray and solid ash that held well. I smoked the two past the band to the nub where I placed them on a toothpick to get every puff I could muster from them. A very nice Habanos for anytime of the day although you might not want to follow a heavy dinner of beef with this subtle yet involving cigar. Thanks C.GARS Ltd for allowing me the honor of being in your first ever Taste Test Challenge and for your generosity in sending three of the Sancho Panza Belicosos.

Date Added: Thursday 13 March, 2014 by Gerry

Flavor:Mild, Burn: average to good, slower than normal Draw: Poor to low, rather hard Notes: mild vanilla,just a hint of a nutmeg finish but mainly light cocoa, no citrus at all unfortunatly,would need a strong drink to even think of buying this one again(Talisker maybe?) was not consistent with prior Sancho's I've had, thus the disappointing review.

Date Added: Thursday 08 November, 2007 by ArchivedCgarsReviews

I may be but a mere novice and not up to the aficionado stage yet but I stumbled across this Sancho recently and it is perfect for me! Not too light, not too harsh, keeps together nicely and burns slow and even. Don't have to draw on it too heavily either (unlike Romeo y Julieta Coronation which was a touch disappointing). These are very well priced for singles on this site and I will be ordering here soon!! written by Cliffy UK

Date Added: Thursday 08 November, 2007 by ArchivedCgarsReviews

I may be but a mere novice and not up to the aficionado stage yet but I stumbled across this Sancho recently and it is perfect for me! Not too light, not too harsh, keeps together nicely and burns slow and even. Don't have to draw on it too heavily either (unlike Romeo y Julieta Coronation which was a touch disappointing). These are very well priced for singles on this site and I will be ordering here soon!! written by Cliffy UK

Date Added: Thursday 08 November, 2007 by ArchivedCgarsReviews

I may be but a mere novice and not up to the aficionado stage yet but I stumbled across this Sancho recently and it is perfect for me! Not too light, not too harsh, keeps together nicely and burns slow and even. Don't have to draw on it too heavily either (unlike Romeo y Julieta Coronation which was a touch disappointing). These are very well priced for singles on this site and I will be ordering here soon!! written by Cliffy UK