Blind Cigar Review: Cabañas | Toro Gordo

Cigar Info

Last month, JR Cigar announced that they were bringing back the oldest Cuban cigar brand, Cabañas with the help of cigar icons Jaime and Pepin Garcia. The new cigar, exclusive to JR Cigar, is rolled and blended at My Father Cigars in Esteli, Nicaragua. The Cabañas blend uses a Habano Rosado wrapper, Jalapa and Esteli binders, and fillers from Nicaragua.

Cabañas comes in four sizes: 7 x 50 Churchill ($9.90 per cigar, $178.20 per box); 5 x 50 Robusto ($8.75 per cigar, $157.50 per box); 6 x 56 Toro Gordo ($10.50 per cigar, $189.00 per box); and 6.12 x 52 Torpedo ($9.55 per cigar, $171.95 per box). All come in 20-count boxes.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro Gordo
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 56
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Habano Rosado
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Blender: Jaime Garcia
Number of reviewers: 5 – John A. (Bostoneo) Doug S. (Unpossible_1) Mickey T. (irratebass) Ryan H. (Ryan H.) Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Price: $10.50
Age: 1 Month
Release Date: October 2019
Contributed by: JR Cigars

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 89

“This is a big ring gauged cigar. I’m going to guess it’s 54rg. Despite that it is a stupendous looking cigar. It’s fully packed and smooth to the touch with a few visible seams. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

Aroma: 91

“On the nose, earthy tobacco and leather fill the senses while a cold draw reveals flavors of pine wood, cocoa and nougat. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)

First Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Light-Medium

“A delicious bouquet of leather, hay, and fresh sawdust greet me post light. These flavors continue to meld together in an awesome mild/medium flavor profile as a sweetness develops in the background. Towards the end, woodsy notes continue to build in intensity. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)

“Cigar is full of cedar and spice. Spice settles and cream becomes detectable. Cigar is mild plus. A very good draw on this cigar. Burn is working rather well. Ash is very weak with this one though only holds for a quarter inch and is very flaky.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Second Third

Flavor: 94
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The transition from molasses to straight up oatmeal is how the second third starts. Just when I think I’m getting a treat, something even better happens. Complete oatmeal, even on the retro. Reminds me of waking up on a cold winter day, and starting the day out with some oatmeal before suiting up to head out for the day. It’s not too often a cigar takes you down memory lane to your childhood, but here we are. Not bad at all.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

“The flavors have mellowed even more going into the middle portion of the cigar with the charred oak fading to the rear and the primary flavor evolving into a creamy almond… actually I’m getting slightly spicy nougat flavor. Surprisingly the noise characteristic has sharpened a bit with the smoke picking up a bit of a bite. ” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

Final Third

Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Singular cedar note returns and finishes off the cigar. Burn and draw have been glorious. The last third does leave the palate kinda dirty.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“What….is…going…on here? Just as I was getting cozy with a warm bowl of oatmeal it fades away as the final third starts. I’m looking for a transition here, but honestly, I’m getting nothing. No pepper, no body, no oatmeal, just straight up tobacco. Well this is disappointing. This goes on for the next inch or so, then finally, I’m rewarded with some cinnamon. Not quite to the level you’d get from a cookie or oatmeal, but it is there in all it’s glory. Alright, let’s see if this puppy gives me something to make retro worth the effort…..white pepper, but with a punch. Yay! Nothing worse than a retro that hits like a wet paper towel. ” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 93

“Loved the draw. Nearly effortless. Was really nice” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Burn: 94

“As I sat outside on a cool California evening I was concerned that the breeze would cause problems with the burn. My worries were without cause, however, as the cigar burned nearly flawlessly from initial light to ash out.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

Construction: 93

“A fine specimen of smoking perfection… that’s what I’ve been holding in my hand for the last 80 minutes. This cigar was nearly perfectly constructed of superior quality leaf from cap to foot. A truly gorgeous cigar. ” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 93

“Overall this was a pretty delicious medium bodied smoke that anyone could pick up and enjoy. The delicious woodsy notes remained present throughout the smoke providing a near luxurious experience throughout with varying flavors being introduced at varying complexities. Great aging potential. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)

“It wasn’t the most exciting cigar in recent memory. It offered some flavors that made me feel like a kid, even if it was temporary, it happened. I can’t deny that. Just wish it wasn’t the only enjoyable part of the experience. I’d give it another shot to see if that magic was expanded. ” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

“This cigar was ok and I would smoke it again, but only in a smaller rg. The cigar didn’t hit it’s stride until the middle of the second when it really opened up with different flavors than just your typical wood, coffee, & floral notes. I started picking up caramel, nuts and a really nice cherry flavor that lasted throughout the rest of the cigar. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“Definitely worth a 5-pack or more.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“What a journey this cigar took me on…a wonderful turn of flavors and strength ending with a spicy desert sweetness that had me dreading the final puff… I’m ready for another one right now. Highly recommended for a fiver or box purchase. ” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 101

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Blind Cigar Review: Cabañas | Toro Gordo

Overall Score – 92 – Great