Cigar Info
The 1502 Ruby is one of original three cigar cigars made by Global Premium Cigars (GPC). GPC was created by Enrique Sanchez Icaza. The company is run out of Nicaragua and creates Nicaraguan blends. The 1502 is described as the company’s premium line and comes across its name from the year Christopher Columbus discovered Nicaragua.
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: Corona
Length: 5.5″
Ring Gauge: 42
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A.
Blender: Enrique Sanchez Icaza
Number of reviewers: 5—–Ron (shuckins) Jiunn (jliu) Dan (Danfish) Robert (NavyPiper) Dave (mdwest)
Price: $6.90
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: February 2015
Contributed by: House of Emilio
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 90
“Very nice looking cigar. Sleek and fit with a smooth, almost blemish free wrapper.” –Ron (shuckins)
Aroma: 90
“Mild tobacco and cedar aroma. The prelight draw is of sweetness and cherries. Very inviting.” –Dan (Danfish)
First Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“First third reveals deep and thick flavors of toasted nuts, semi-sweet cream, black pepper and cedar. The finish is of cedar and black pepper. Body is at a medium plus while strength is at a solid medium.” –Jiunn (jliu)
“The beginning is very smooth with sweet spices and a spicy pepper. The pepper lasts for a good 30 to 45 seconds into the finish. An inch in, most of the pepper diminishes and leaves a creamy dark cherry/date flavor with an earthy tobacco core.” –Dan (Danfish)
Second Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“A musty earthy tasting tobacco moves to the front and chases the fresh green flavor of the cedar to the back. This lets a peppery allspice break through to add a bit of flair, along with a tender kick to the mix.” –Ron (shuckins)
“For the second third, the spices increased a bit more, while pepper and tobacco stayed about the same. At times there seemed to be an occasional puff or two where sage was detected, but never lasted.” –Robert (NavyPiper)
Final Third
Flavor: 86
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Last thirds core flavors is consistent to the first and second thirds. Still getting deep and thick flavors of toasted nuts, semi-sweet cream, black pepper and cedar. Finish is still dominantly an oily black pepper. The main difference from the second third is more pronounced sweetness. Body is still at medium plus and strength is still at a solid medium.” –Jiunn (jliu)
“Flavors remain muted and undefined. A little pepper makes its way into the cigar close to the end, but not enough to really keep my attention.” –Dave (mdwest)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 92
“A very good draw with just a slight amount of resistance present.” –Dave (mdwest)
Burn: 89
“Burn was good, although it did go out on me a couple times in the second third, and once more in the last third. But the burn still maintained its straightness.” –Robert (NavyPiper)
Construction: 88
“Given an excellent draw and very good burn, this was an excellent constructed cigar. Zero complaints.” –Jiunn (jliu)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Overall Experience: 88
“The cigar needed another dimension or two, and flavors more suited to my palate for me to recommend this one.” –Ron (shuckins)
“I found this to be a very good cigar. Thoroughly enjoyed the deep and rich flavors of toasted nuts, sweet cream, black pepper and cedar. I’m also a fan of the long and skinny cigars as this (so that I can taste more of the wrapper). I will easily buy a fiver or tener of this given the right price point.” –Jiunn (jliu)
“The cigar had excellent flavor until the wrapper unraveled. This caused most of the flavor to leave for the last third. Prior to this issue, the flavors were very enjoyable, with enough transitions to keep me interested. I’m looking forward to finding out what this cigar is as it is definitely worth at least a 5 pack purchase. I think it has lots of aging potential as well.” –Dan (Danfish)
“For some reason this cigar just wasn’t working for me. It was just kinda “OK”. Nothing I can really put my finger on. Nothing earthshaking either good or bad to say “ya that’s what it was that did it for me”. It was just kinda ‘there’.” –Robert (NavyPiper)
“Between metallic aftertastes, muted flavors, getting ashed multiple times by 1/2″ long ashes and having my lips and fingertips stained by some mystery fluid, this has probably been the single worst cigar smoking experience I have had in years. I would only recommend this cigar to people I hate and want to see miserable.” –Dave (mdwest)
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Smoking Time (in minutes): 66
| Reviewer | Appearance | Aroma | 1/3 | 2/3 | 3/3 | Draw | Burn | Constr. | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ron | 95 | 90 | 85 | 88 | 85 | 92 | 88 | 90 | 85 |
| Jiunn | 90 | 88 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 92 | 90 | 92 | 92 |
| Dan | 90 | 92 | 92 | 90 | 85 | 97 | 90 | 83 | 90 |
| Robert | 85 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 87 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 85 |
| Dave | 88 | 90 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 | 83 | 70 | 75 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
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