Blind Cigar Review: MLB Cigar Ventures | Imperial Aventador Toro

Cigar Info

Aventador is the third line extension for MLB Cigar Ventures' Imperia. Mike Bellody, owner of MLB Cigar Ventures, used an Ecuadorian wrapper, Dominican binder and Dominican and Pennsylvania broadleaf fillers. Bellody says the broadleaf adds some spice and earthy sweetness making it a distinct blend from his other releases. MLB Cigar Ventures | Imperial Aventador Toro.

Aventador had its wide release in April of 2017. It comes in the same five sizes as the rest of the Imperia blends, Fundador (7 x 50/30) — $15.20, Gordo (6 x 60) — $11.90, Pita (5 1/2 x 44) — $9.10, Robusto (5 x 52) — $10.60
Toro (6 x 50) — $11.30. All come in 20-count boxes except the Fundador which is 10.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic and Pennsylvania
Factory: Quesada Cigars
Blender: Mike Bellody
Number of reviewers: 5 – Ryan H. (Ryan H.) John A. (John A.) Mickey T. (irratebass) David F. (dfafjf) Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Price: $11.30
Age: 8 Months
Release Date: April 2017
Contributed by: MLB Cigar Ventures

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 91

“Very nice looking Toro sized cigar with dark coffee brown colored wrapper. The wrapper looked very smooth, it had some visible seams with minimal veins. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

Aroma: 92

“Very light in the nose zero spice a very pleasent golden dry hay it may be rich enough for peanuts.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

First Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Mild plus in strength. Not much smoke output, but plenty of flavor. Main profile consist of butter black pepper it also has a tingleing bitterness on the finish that is citrus in nature lemon or lime zest def sour and rich very little smoky campfire” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“The first puffs on this sweet smelling cigar were the exact opposite of what I expected. The first mouthful of smoke was strong and somewhat bitter, with heavy charred wood and cracked black pepper flavors. The draw at this point is wide open which gives me an abundance of smoke but the smoke volume is a bit overbearing considering the heavy flavors from the first puffs. After the first inch, however, the strength dropped way off and some nice earth flavors have edged the burned wood. There is still plenty of pepper, but it has lessened to the point that I can chance the occasional retrohale. ” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)

Second Third

Flavor: 91
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Overall strength increases slightly in the second 1/3. Black pepper notes increase in the body but the retro hale is still very smooth overall. I'm really enjoying the salty nutty flavors that are primary so far in this cigar. While the overall strength is increasing so is the complexity. A tiny bit of cream and raisin sweetness enters into the flavor profile as well and is starting to remind me of a sweet raisin bread! Yum yum. ” –David F. (dfafjf)

“The second third maintains the sweet leather flavor. Thrown in the mix as it transitions are flavors of a rich hot chocolate as well as an earthy spiciness builds towards the end.” –John A. (John A.)

Final Third

Flavor: 93
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The sweetness has returned! There is also some rye flavors ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“The flavor profile doesn't change much in the final 1/3 but everything just continues to increase and develop. A bit more pepper, salted nuts, hay, all remain but just increases in intensity. This is a really good, intense but complex cigar. ” –David F. (dfafjf)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 96

“The draw was close to perfect almost effortless with just the amount of resistance.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Burn: 97

“No touchups needed nearly razor sharp for the entire review” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Construction: 89

“The cigar looked fantastic before lighting and it smoked perfectly. Razer sharp burn line, great draw, tight ash, and LOTS of smoke output. Hard to see how to improve. ” –David F. (dfafjf)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 90

“I appriciated this cigar, was very enjoyable. I am a big one for balance the profile can have any flavors as long as they are balanced and comingle well together, one complements the other. Maybe in a diffrent vitola it would be box worthy perhaps a pc” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“I would definitely enjoy this cigar again. It had quite a bit of transitions of flavors and kept the smoking experience very interesting. A jewel? close but definitely worthy of purchasing a handful for your humidor!” –John A. (John A.)

“Really nice cigar that had had a sweetness to it, along with some rye. This would be a nice morning smoke, because it was in the medium wheelhouse. It could also be your last cigar of the day.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“A great solid cigar. While I would have enjoyed a bit of pepper in the retro hale and I was really longing for some of the chocolate notes I smelled before lighting, the cigar was very enjoyable. I loved seeing how the flavors intensified as the cigar progressed. ” –David F. (dfafjf)

“There were flashes of excellence in this cigar but the beginning and ending were not something I really enjoyed and might make me shy away from trying again. Hopefully my sample was the dud of the bunch…as it is, I wouldn't recommend this to a friend to try.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)