“The cigar must match the shape of the smoker. Round-faced people should avoid long, thin cigars and vice-versa!”
-Kees Van Dongen
What Makes It Special
Brand: Liga Privada T52 Toro
Vitola: Robusto 6×52
Origin: Nicaragua and Honduras
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf, dark brown slight coloration difference, visible seams
Brazilian Mata Fina binder and Honduran and Nicaraguan filler
Age (if known): Unknown
Where I purchased the cigar: Binny’s Beverage Depot, Oakbrook IL.
Date I smoked cigar: August 29, 2021
Price: $14.95
Cut: Preferred Colibri V-cut
Visual / Pre-light Draw
APPEARANCE & AROMA (color, oils, texture, odor, construction, band)
- Exterior fresh straw and hay odor with hint of chocolate
- Simple single tan band with “Stalk-Cut Habano” description
- Very oily and slightly rough texture
- Soft construction
DRY DRAW (flavors, bouquet, air flow)
- Deep dark fig or raisin like plum notes (berries)
- Cereal oats with raisin, very similar to Raisin Bran cereal
- Nice smooth air flow
First Third
- Beautiful robust draw, medium to full body
- BIG BERRIES with slight chocolate and vanilla notes
- Sweet creamy robust foot smoke
- Ash fell off with dignity but quickly before reaching the base
- Soft on the lips
Second Third
- Berry, chocolate, and vanilla notes still present
- The body became peppery and more full bodied
- Very enjoyable body
- First re-light
Final Third
- Tried my hand at the retro-hale (allowing some smoke filter through the sinus)
- Marzipan and chocolate notes with honey sweetness
- Cigar became very peppery toward the end of the head, almost overpowering
- Ash will not hold longer than half an inch
- Full body and very strong finish, had to slow down, two more re-lights
The berry and grape notes of this whisky helped balance the strong peppery notes toward the end of the experience.
The Pairing
A rioja wine cask finished GlenAllachie 13 aligned very well with this cigar, as it only enhanced those berry notes to become a berry bomb on the pallet. The box explains how “rioja hails from Spain’s most renowned wine region” and describes how “this golden blush malt obtains its subtle summer berry, honeyed character”. The berry and grape notes of this whisky helped balance the strong peppery notes toward the end of the experience.
This whisky also paired nicely with the previously reviewed Whiskey Rebellion cigar by Intemperance, which in my opinion, is a better cigar for nearly half the price.
This cigar is for those who enjoy full strength cigars.
Acknowledgment
- Oakbrook (Illinois) Binny’s Beverage Depot Spirits Consultant Joe McEwan for recommending the GlenAllachie 13, based on his appreciation for rioja wine cask finishings.
- Oakbrook (Illinois) Binny’s Beverage Depot Cigar Consultant Frank Jedlicka for his first hand knowledge and recommendation of the Liga Privada T52 Toro, to enhance the berry notes of both the cigar and the whisky.
Photography by: James Archie
