Cigar Info
The “Fetiche” is a new brand of cigars, developed from the tobacco leaves in the region of Jalapa and Esteli Nicarágua, Equador and Brazil. Fetiche makes Premium hand-made cigars for daily enjoyment and perfect to share with friends. The premium is said to be a medium cigar with a selection of the finest tobaccos from Nicaragua wrapped in grade 3 and grade 4 naturally medium dark brown wrapper from Ecuador, contributing to a sweetness in the flavor from beginning to end.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers’ scores with outliers removed. The cigar “Fetiche” is fabricated in Esteli, located in Nicarágua, and is distributed exclusively by the business, Gold Star Cigars, based in Miami – USA.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Double Robusto
Length: 4″
Ring Gauge: 58
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Undisclosed
Blender: Undisclosed
Number of reviewers: 5 – Gregg (McGreggor57) Eric (smalls29) Kent (Throck) Alan (Eulogy) Jeff (ExpendableYouth)
Price: $5.60
Age: 11 Months
Release Date: January 2015
Contributed by: Gold Star Cigars
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 90
“This cigar has a close resemblance to a Nub. Very nice lines and brown wrapper. The lines are visible but subdued. The cap looks solid and the filler doesn’t look to be packed too tightly.” -Eric (smalls29)
Aroma: 91
“The only aroma that I get from this cigar is pepper, and a strong pepper at that. There may be a bit of mustiness that is hiding in the background, but it is almost undetectable.” -Jeff (ExpendableYouth)
First Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“There is a very strong tobacco flavor that hits the palate first, followed by by a bitter dark chocolate and pepper. The retrohale is a nice blast of fresh pepper. The cigar has a nice draw and good smoke output, but has been burning uneven so far.” -Alan (Eulogy)
“There is a light white pepper that subtly coats the tongue and mouth. The core flavors are cedar and metallic mineral note. When I first lit the cigar up I was expecting a pepper bomb based on the pre-light aroma notes, but so far I have been pleasantly surprised at the mellowness of this cigar. The draw is a bit tight and the smoke output is a bit wispy but I am hoping it will fix itself. The cigar is a short and stubby smoke that reminds me of an Oliva Nub.” -Jeff (ExpendableYouth)
Second Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“This is getting better. In addition to the yummy cinnamon and spice flavors, I am know enjoying a coffee flavor that has come in. The flavors are reminding me a drinking a cinnamon dolce coffee. Very enjoyable. I just wish the draw was easier.” -Eric (smalls29)
“The pepper this third has picked up significantly. The flavors haven’t progressed much from the first third just changed their various assertiveness. Tobacco, cedar, and pepper are still dominate flavors.” -Alan (Eulogy)
Final Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Unfortunately the wonderful flavors of cinnamon and coffee have given way to the bitter flavors. Now tasting more like the bottom of the coffee pot. I find this typical of most but not all cigars. The after-taste has become bitter and not very enjoyable. I am sad that this has ended this way.” -Eric (smalls29)
“The cigar became slightly more angled to a coffee flavor which was a nice touch. Nothing potent like a java, but subtle as this cigar has been the entire smoke.” -Kent (Throck)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 88
“Just a tad too tight, but didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the cigar.” -Alan (Eulogy)
Burn: 87
“No problems with this one. It burned nice and even with no hint of needing a relight.” -Eric (smalls29)
Construction: 90
“While I loved the appearance of this cigar, the open draw and ultimate burn issues made it difficult to smoke.” -Gregg (McGreggor57)
Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Overall Experience: 90
“This cigar transitioned from a spicy char to mellower grasses to sweeter baking spice flavors. Perhaps a firmer draw would have allowed me to pick up some additional flavors. Sadly the burn on this sample left me wondering which third I was smoking.” -Gregg (McGreggor57)
“In spite of the bitter taste near the end, this was very enjoyable. The flavor combinations of cinnamon and coffee were very enjoyable. The flavors never competed for dominance nor did the soften through the first two thirds. I like how the aroma prior to lighting matched the flavors. I did detect hints of cedar in the pre light aroma but never sensed them in the flavors. I would enjoy this cigar again. Something is to be said for a cigar that you smoke down to the very end.” -Eric (smalls29)
“I loved this cigar from the onset. I have a strong inclination that I know what this is and actually smoke them fairly frequently. I would recommend this smoke to novices getting into cigar and those more seasoned who wish to have a very delicate, but flavorful smoke.” -Kent (Throck)
“The ending to this cigar really saved it, that profile change was much needed and added a nice depth to the overall experience. The burn did cause me to be a little concerned at certain points but did mostly correct itself. I would smoke another one of these if I was looking for a cigar that I wanted to last for a moderate smoking period.” -Alan (Eulogy)
“I was not a due to the issues I had. I would look to the other reviewers to get a better idea of what this cigar was like, and if we all had the same issues I would avoid it altogether.” -Jeff (ExpendableYouth)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 55
|
Reviewer
|
Appearance
|
Aroma
|
1/3
|
2/3
|
3/3
|
Draw
|
Burn
|
Constr.
|
Overall
Experience |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gregg | McGreggor57) | 90 | 90 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 87 | 85 | 85 | 85 |
| Eric | smalls29) | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 85 | 87 | 92 | 90 | 90 |
| Kent | Throck) | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 92 | 97 | 97 | 92 | 95 |
| Alan | Eulogy) | 90 | 92 | 90 | 90 | 92 | 92 | 87 | 92 | 90 |
| Jeff | ExpendableYouth) | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 80 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 75 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.