Cigar Info
Beginning with the Edicion Limitada 2014, Las Calaveras is an annual release that is a respectful homage to those who have passed away in the year before, and is intended to be a celebration of their lives and remembrances, rather than a mourning or a symbol of sadness and death. With each year’s annual limited release, the blend and presentation of Las Calaveras is completely different. What will remain the same, however, is the spirit behind the cigar. This year’s release of the Las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2015 features an Ecuadorian Habano Rosado and a new 5 5/8″ x 46 Corona size, instead of last year’s Churchill.
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.
Like last year these are extremely limited only 3,000 boxes were produced and are sure to sell out fast like the 2014 release. Las Calaveras is packaged in boxes of 24 cigars, each containing 3 rows of 8 cigars. The 3 rows represent life’s cycle of a beginning, middle, and end. In biblical terms, the number ‘8′ signifies new beginnings, and in mathematical terms an ‘8′ laid on its side symbolizes “infinity,” as in eternal life. The cigars are made at the My Father Cigar factory in Nicaraguan cigar makers “Jose “Pepin” and Jaime Garcia.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Corona Gorda
Length: 5.62″
Ring Gauge: 46
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Rosado
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Blender: Jon Huber
Number of reviewers: 4 —– Jiunn (jliu) Sandeep (Djangos) Gregg (McGreggor57) Stefan (Stefan)
Price: $8.95
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: May 2015
Contributed by: CigarPlace.biz
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 90
“Good looking medium brown wrapped cigar. Slightly smaller than a toro size. The surface has very prominent veins that is prominently felt as well. There are three well applied caps as well. The cigar is firm to the touch the entire length. no major blemishes to the surface.” –Sandeep (Djangos)
Aroma: 90
“Not much aroma is coming out from the wrapper; the foot has notes of sweet wood, whereas the cold draw exhibits strong notes of neutral wood and an aftertaste that’s seemingly high in nicotine.” –Stefan (Stefan)
First Third
Flavor: 92
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“First third’s flavor profile is namely an earthy one. Flavors of smokey wood, bitter chocolate, a slight hint of non-sweet cream. The finish lingers of smokey wood. Through the retro-hale, mainly a wallop of black pepper spice. Body and strength at a solid medium.” –Jiunn (jliu)
“The initial third starts off with earthy notes and some pepper that increases in intensity over the next one inch. The pepper is quite pervasive and coats the mouth with a slight tingling. The pepper decreases in intensity after the initial inch. The predominant flavor after this is leather and cedar. There is also a slight dry grass and hay like flavor in the back ground. No significant sweetness. The draw and burn are very good. The smoke is creamy and voluminous. The ash is slightly flaky but holds well till the end of the third.” –Sandeep (Djangos)
Second Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Second third’s flavor profile is for the most part in line with first third’s flavor profile. Still dominantly an earthy profile giving namely smokey wood followed by bitter chocolate, non-sweet cream. The cream picked up followed by slight note of black pepper spice. Body and strength still at a solid medium.” –Jiunn (jliu)
“The middle third is very similar to the initial third causing a very one dimensional experience albeit a pleasant one. The major flavors are of leather and cedar with some grassiness on the finish. There is a slight nutmeg like flavor towards the end of the third. The pepper starts to increase in intensity towards the end of the third. No issues with the burn or the draw in this third as well. Towards the end I feel like the next third might be stronger than the last two.” –Sandeep (Djangos)
Final Third
Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The final third starts off with an increasing the strength of the pepper but the rest of the flavors including the leather and grassy notes are the same. The nutmeg flavor that was present in the last third is now gone. The pepper increases in intensity towards the end. A one dimensional but pleasant experience.” –Sandeep (Djangos)
“The last third bumps up strength to full as the flavor profile becomes similar to the quarter inch at the beginning of the smoke, thus marked by dark tobacco flavors as well as by dark chocolate, wood and spice, with long black pepper notes on the aftertaste. Finishes stemmy and creamy at the nub.” –Stefan (Stefan)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 95
“Perfection. Just the right amount of give.” –Jiunn (jliu)
Burn: 91
“Burn line was well composed through the extent of the entire cigar. Ash although not flowery at all, did not hold on for long (quarter inches).” –Jiunn (jliu)
Construction: 93
“Tightly rolled, with great performance on all fronts.” –Stefan (Stefan)
Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Overall Experience: 90
“This was a mediocre experience for me. The dominant note of smokey wood (within the first two thirds) and downright tannic bitterness in the last third is not desired as this drowns out other flavors. Easy pass for me.” –Jiunn (jliu)
“Overall a pleasant but one dimensional experience. The predominant flavor is of leather and pepper with a grassy finish. Will definitely try this again and may benefit from some time in the humidor.” –Sandeep (Djangos)
“I wasn’t blown away by this one although there was nothing offensive in the flavor profile. Maybe a bit one dimensional for the first two thirds. The change from oak to cedar was nice near the end but it also bordered on being harsh. Having the cigar simply go out twice while smoking was a little disconcerting.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
“Appearance, construction, and flavors all indicate that this could be a medium-full Cuban. It reminded me of a Partagas.” –Stefan (Stefan)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 83
|
Reviewer
|
Appearance
|
Aroma
|
1/3
|
2/3
|
3/3
|
Draw
|
Burn
|
Constr.
|
Overall
Experience |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jiunn | jliu) | 90 | 90 | 83 | 83 | 78 | 100 | 88 | 93 | 80 |
| Sandeep | Djangos) | 90 | 90 | 92 | 88 | 90 | 95 | 95 | 93 | 90 |
| Gregg | McGreggor57) | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 88 | 90 | 88 | 88 | 88 |
| Stefan | Stefan) | 90 | 88 | 92 | 90 | 92 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 92 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.