JRE Aladino Habano Vintage Selection Elegante – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

JRE Tobacco added two new sizes to the Aladino Vintage Selection sizes this year. They officially launched at the PCA trade show this July, but before that had a soft launch for a few shops back in May. The two new sizes are the Elegante (Lancero 7 x 38) and Toro (6 x 50). Today we will be reviewing the JRE Aladino Habano Vintage Selection Elegante.

The very first Aladino Vintage Selection released in 2020 and in just one size, a 4 1/2 x 48 Rothschild. The Aladino Habano Vintage uses only JRE‘s authentic corojo tobacco, a trademark of Aladino cigars. The blend is comprised of tobacco all grown at the company’s Finca Corojo farms outside Danlí, Honduras. This includes a habano wrapper, and corojo binder and corojo filler. We reviewed the original Rothschild here.

With the new Elegante (lancero) size, the company says it will have a bit more strength and body that the original. The thinner ring gauge really allows the wrapper to shine. Both the new toro and lancero‘s sell for $8.00. When the original Rothschild came out, those sticks had been aged for 5 years after being rolled, these new sizes do not have that same age.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Lancero
Length: 7″
Ring Gauge: 38
Country of Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Honduran Habano
Binder: Honduran Corojo
Filler: Honduran Corojo
Factory: Las Lomas
Blender: Julio Eiroa
Number of reviewers: 5 – Ryan H. (Ryan H.) John A. (Bostoneo) Alan (Eulogy) Mickey T. (irratebass) Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
Price: $8.00
Age: 4 Months
Release Date: May 2021
Contributed by: JRE Tobacco

Initial Impressions – JRE Aladino Habano Vintage Selection Elegante

Appearance: 88

“Looks like a well-made Lancero. The wrapper has a soft leathery feel, the seams are just slightly raised but well applied, and the double cap is very small and haphazardly executed. Still, it looks uniform in color, well rolled, and has a solid feel to the touch.” –Alan (Eulogy)

Aroma: 89

“On a cold draw, a sweet and spicy earth profile is present. A sweet and spicy earth profile is present on the cold draw. On the nose, a very very light scent of sweet tobacco exists.” –John A. (Bostoneo)

First Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“First thing I do is check out the cold draw and I get a much more appealing greeting of red hot candies. After lighting it up and taking a few puffs, the cinnamon red hots ratchet up to an 11. Aaaaand just like that, it levels out to an even-keeled spice.”-Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

“My fears about the draw totally alleviated, it’s not wide open but it is a lancero. Black coffee and peanuts are the only notes. I got to tell ya a very strange combination. Medium in strength. Very little in the spice department. Burn has been fantastic so far. Even though the profile is a little odd it is very balanced, but lacking in complexity.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Second Third

Flavor: 91
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Moving into the second third, a pleasant medium-bodied profile reveals notes of light leathery sweetness. As this third burns down, white pepper and even more sweetness develop.” –John A. (Bostoneo)

“This is a very mild to medium smoke but leans more toward the mild side which is fine with me. The cream is still front & center and the cedar really balances it out. I am really enjoying this cigar.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

Final Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The strength has been steadily ticking up the entire time and has now hit that full-body feeling. There’s a very oily quality to the smoke now that coats the entire mouth. The earthy profile is still very much in effect with notes of rich tobacco, red pepper, grass, grain, and floral dominating the profile. ” –Alan (Eulogy)

“Cigar continues down the dark path same notes but gradually becoming completely different. Coffee is still the powerhouse, cinnamon through the nose a bitter walnut wood joins that travels the entirety of the palate. Room note is a little off-putting and steals quite a bit of thunder from the hay on the finish. Hay does darken enough to a molasses which has enough power to compensate for the bitter walnut wood.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Overall Impressions – JRE Aladino Habano Vintage Selection Elegante

Draw: 92

“I used a straight cut and had no issues with the draw.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

Burn: 95

“Was spot on without any problems at all. Ash held up for about an inch at a time before falling off, which is common with cigars this small.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

Construction: 95

“No soft spots, wrapper held up and cigar burned evenly. Construction was right where it should be.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 91

“I wasn’t thoroughly impressed with the profile, but it was balanced a little unorthodox and rather odd at times, an enjoyable stick and by no means a non-marketable product. Unfortunately, I think there will be only a small group of people that would enjoy it. I would smoke again but would limit my purchase to a 10-pack.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“This was a fantastic lancero with a flavor profile that will intrigue your taste buds with something slightly different and quite savory. With most lanceros, they can be bust or bomb with construction, luckily this one was very well built, providing ample amounts of enjoyment as it was loaded with flavor. Check this one out, I will be, again and again.” –John A. (Bostoneo)

“The flavors were good even if they didn’t have any real progression. There’s a richness in flavor that never left me bored. If you’re mindful about how your smoking so it doesn’t overheat you will be well rewarded. ” –Alan (Eulogy)

“This cigar was exactly what I needed right now. Lots of sweet creams and cedar notes to hold my attention while throwing in hints of cinnamon here and there to really keep me on my toes. It stayed right at a mild to medium in strength from beginning to end. I would definitely like to have more of these on hand, and I bet this would pair amazingly with your morning coffee.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“Quick burning and lancero are two things that stand out in why this cigar wasn’t that great for me. I’ve always been told you need to nurse lanceros, otherwise, the profile struggles to come through. I definitely tried doing that here, but this Lil fella wanted to burn and burn and burn…quickly. It’s a shame because those Red Hots notes it started out with had some great potential. Perhaps it just wasn’t this cigar’s day.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 71

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

JRE Aladino Habano Vintage Selection Elegante – Blind Cigar Review