What a delightful cigar this is! Despite it small size, it produces a decent volume of smoke. Initially cold draw gives off a sweet honey and floral note. First third of the tasting have a prominent cedar and caramel note, roasted peanuts develops as it processes through its final third.
319. San Cristóbal de la Habana El Príncipe
2019-05-27/ ANDREDIAS95
From my own collection.
Location: This review was made indoors in Mellgrens cigar lounge.
Information:
San Cristóbal is a current post-Revolution brand, launched in late 1999.
The range comprises light to medium-strength cigars, using tobacco from the premium Vuelta Abajo region in Cuba.
Dress Box of 25 cigars.
Size: 4.3×42, Petit Corona (Minutos).
Wrapper: Milk chocolate, oily and silky-smooth with tiny veins.
Construction: Firm even feel when lightly squeezed.
Cold draw: Light cedarwood note.
1st third: Starts with a toasted bread and medium roasted coffee.
2nd third: Keeps it’s previous flavours.
Burn: Burns fairly sharp, with a firm and stable white ash.
Smoke: Medium voluminous smoke with a cool feeling on the tongue and a medium light draw.
3rd third: No immediate changes, just that the flavours gets a bit stronger after the band point.
Duration: 20:20-21:20, 1h.
Conclusion: A medium bodied cigar with a medium strength profile. It’s pretty compact so it takes it’s sweet time to burn slowly.
Result: In my book this is an 88 point cigar.
/Cigar Reviewer André
The San Cristobal El Principe has been a staple in my humidor since my introduction to the brand five years ago. Despite the brand's youth, only being launched in 1999, it has made a name for itself as one of the finer light to medium bodied blends in the Cuban portfolio.
The Minuto vitola is not be confused with a Perla, for example a Siglo I, or Trabuco, a Hoyo du Depute. It boasts a 42 ring gauge, as opposed to the 40 of the Siglo I and 38 of the du Depute, but is still considered thin by today's standards.
A smoke than can last anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes, depending on construction of the cigar and eagerness of the smoker. It delights the palate, initially with a saltiness that develops miraculously into floral notes, specifically rose. A vegetal quality becomes prominent in the second third which is soon set aside and replaced with that of almonds.
I often find this cigar to have a good construction with the correct amount of resistance on the draw. Overall a superb cigar to be smoked with a coffee in the morning or to aid in resurrection from a postprandial torpor.