Blind Cigar Review: HVC | Edicion Especial 2018 Toro Cigar Info

The HVC Edición Especial made its debut in 2015 and was re-launched in 2018. Only one size was released in 2015, which was the toro. Now, there are three sizes: Corona (5 x 46), Toro (6 x 52), and Toro Gordo (6 x 56).

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.

The blend uses a Nicaraguan corojo 99 wrapper from Jalapa, and four-year-old Nicaraguan binder and fillers. The Corona comes in 50-count boxes, while the other two sizes come in 20-count boxes. It was shown off at the 2018 IPCPR trade show.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo 99
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan Aganorsa
Factory: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA)
Blender: Reinier Lorenzo
Number of reviewers: 4 Mickey T. (irratebass) John A. (Bostoneo) John I. (John I.) Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Price: $9.10
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: September 2018
Contributed by: HVC Cigars

Blind Cigar Review: HVC | Edicion Especial 2018 Toro Initial Impressions

Appearance: 91

“Nice Tri-Capped Toro. Very light in the hand. Very impressed with wrapper selection minimal veins wrapper is a little thin but looks phenomenal.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Aroma: 88

“Light notes of leather and vanilla are given off the foot while the cold draw reveals mustiness.” –John A. (Bostoneo)

First Third

Blind Cigar Review: HVC | Edicion Especial 2018 Toro
Blind Cigar Review: HVC | Edicion Especial 2018 Toro

Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Getting quite a bit of wood and spice right out the gate, but the retro is really where this cigar really peaks with cream and floral notes.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“Starts off with crisp, dry cedary notes. Twenty minutes in there’s still a predominant profile of crisp woodiness. Not much else going on. “-John I. (John I.)

Second Third

Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“I do like the changes in profile keeping the cigar interesting. Cigar is fairly consistent. I am liking the

Blind Cigar Review: HVC | Edicion Especial 2018 Toro
Blind Cigar Review: HVC | Edicion Especial 2018 Toro

sweetness on the finish. The spice is nearly non existent at this point. Now that I complemented the consistency, the whole cigar changes and takes more of a wood smoke earthy turn. The first burn correction can no longer be out off.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“Medium bodied throughout, roasted peanuts, dark leather, vanilla, and oak dominate this third throughout. The stick begins to crack and tears throughout the length of the stick.” –John A. (Bostoneo)

Final Third

Flavor: 87
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Light-Medium

“Still ramping up in the strength. The floral notes all but gone now, and I am getting heavy cinnamon on the retro. Still lost of spice and wood. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“There has been a very welcome flavor shift in the final third. The woody flavor has softened, and

Blind Cigar Review: HVC | Edicion Especial 2018 Toro
Blind Cigar Review: HVC | Edicion Especial 2018 Toro

transitioned to a creamier overall flavor. Potency has picked up a tick, but still doesn’t approach medium body. ” –John I. (John I.)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 89

“Nice open draw with plenty of smoke” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

Burn: 89

“Only one correction needed.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Construction: 92

“Aside from some wonkiness to the burn, this cigar was very well constructed. ” –John I. (John I.)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 88

“This was an interesting cigar. I started out mild/medium and kept ramping up in strength were it even caused a bit of a nicotine buzz. The main flavor component was wood & spice, there was a nice floral and cream on the retro in the beginning then turned to more spice, until the final third which brought heavy cinnamon on the retro very unusual. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“Horrible construction on this sample aside, this was a very flavorful smoke. The richness of the tobaccos lent excellent wood, leather, and nutty flavors that would complement excellently with whisky hands down. I just wish the darn thing didn’t explode on me. Defiantly something to try for you medium bodied smokers as this offering has plenty of flavor to give. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)

“Pretty monotonous overall. Not much going on in terms of flavor til the finale, and that transition wasn’t tremendously dramatic. Not a bad cigar in any sense, but not something that’s going to demand too much of your attention. ” –John I. (John I.)

“I would smoke again. Wonderful experience. Even with the very few negative aspects, worth a smoke” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 80

 

 

Reviewer
Apr
Aro
1/3
2/3
3/3
Draw
Burn
Const
Ovr
All
Mickey T. 90 87 88 88 87 88 85 88 88
John A. 78 87 92 92 92 100 92 75 90
John I. 90 87 88 88 87 92 88 92 88
Ryan H. 92 87 90 90 85 88 90 95 92

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

 

Blind Cigar Review: HVC | Edicion Especial 2018 Toro

Overall Score – 89 – Very Good

Blind Cigar Review: HVC | Edicion Especial 2018 Toro
Summary
"This was an interesting cigar. I started out mild/medium and kept ramping up in strength were it even caused a bit of a nicotine buzz. The main flavor component was wood & spice, there was a nice floral and cream on the retro in the beginning then turned to more spice, until the final third which brought heavy cinnamon on the retro very unusual. " -Mickey T. (irratebass)
Appearance
91
Aroma
88
First Third
88
Second Third
88
Final Third
87
Draw
89
Burn
89
Construction
92
Overall Experience
88
89
Very Good