*Note: This is not a blind review, this is just to give a quick take on a cigar that was provided to us by the manufacturer.
Reviewer: Aaron
Cigar Info
The Iconic Leaf Recluse Amadeus was released in July of 2014. The wrapper is an Ecuadorian Connecticut shade, the binder is the company’s proprietary MPC with filler of Dominican and Connecticut Broadleaf. The Toro comes in at 6.25”x50 and carries an MSRP of $8.50.
Initial Impressions
The cigar is box-pressed with a light tan wrapper. There are a few easily visible veins. The seams are visible, but tight. The double cap is applied neatly. The wrapper brings a very faint hay aroma while the foot gives off a light tobacco sweetness.
The Smoke
The pre-light draw brings a mix of hay and leather. Upon lighting, a mellow black pepper starts things off along with a nice spice on the retrohale. The pepper in the mouth has now morphed into a spicy cedar. At about an inch and a half in, the spice on the retrohale has mellowed quite a bit and a mild sweetness has joined in. Near the end of the third, some light baking spice comes in and lingers on the toungue while a bit of cream joins in on the retrohale. The body and strength are both at medium.
The second third continues with some baking spices and cedar along with creaminess on the retrohale. As the cigar goes along, a mineral flavor pushes out the baking spices and mixes with the cedar. The retrohale continues with a mild creaminess. The mineral flavor continues and really adds a nice note to the mix of flavors. As the cigar gets close to the end of the third, the mineral flavor fades away and a slightly charred oak flavor moves in. The body and strength remain at medium.
Shortly into the start of the final third, the mineral flavor comes back in. The retrohale now has the slightly charred oak in it. The mineral flavor is joined by a little mintiness. The mineral and mintiness continue along with some oak and cream on the retrohale. The cigar wrapped up with the mineral flavor going in and out along with some cedar and the retrohale becoming very creamy. The body and strength both finished out at medium.
Overall Impressions
The draw was a little tighter than I prefer, but nothing took too much away from the experience as I still got plenty of flavorful smoke. The burn was excellent as it stayed almost razor sharp the entire way. The ash held on for an inch to an inch and a half at a time. The cigar was firm the entire length. No construction issues to speak of as the cigar smoked along.
This was one of the best Connecticut wrapped cigars I have smoked. It had a little strength to it and the body really kept up with it. The flavors were very good with slight transitions that kept things interesting. The performance was great and didn’t require any attention which always helps the experience. This cigar could do well as a morning cigar or first cigar of the day, but it could also hold up as something smoked later or as a second cigar of the day. I would definitely be up for smoking more of these.
The cigar lasted 2 hours and 25 minutes for me.
I would give the Iconic Leaf Recluse Amadeus Toro a personal score of 92.
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