San Cristobal Oficios Cigar - Box of 25 (Discontinued)

I was a little dissappointed with this cigar, as the one I smoked took a while to get going. There was little initial flavour with a hard draw, and only really started to develop after half of it had been smoked. The second half was as expected, with rich flavour although the experience was tarnished by the poor start. I will try another again, as I am hoping this was a one-off dud, and my previous smokes from San Cristobal have been great.

Milk chocolate colour wrapper, lightly veined, double banded and firmly built resulting in a firm draw. It lit well and gave soft wood smoke with leather and cafe creme flavour for the first third, mild but with satisfying depth. The cedar notes continued into the second third with increasing spice and an even burn producing a resolute ash that finally succumbed to gravity at a good inch and a half. The early promise continued through to the final third, still soft and cool, wood, leather, coffee and spice with no bitterness. This cigar is definitely on my reorder list for those occasions that call for refinement and subtlety rather than gusto and largesse. I hope the next is as good as this.