Quesada 70th Anniversary Cigar Review – A tribute to Manolo Quesada

Officially announced at the 2017 Pro Cigar festival in the Dominican Republic, the Quesada 70th Anniversary cigar is tribute to Manuel “Manolo” Quesada Jr., who celebrated his 70th birthday this past April. This particular Anniversary cigar was blended by the master himself and features some of the finest tobacco in the Quesada arsenal. Though the details of the leaf are being kept secret, the blend is described as:

• Wrapper –  Dominican Republic
• Binder – Sumatra
• Filler – Dominican Republic & Nicaragua

This is a limited production cigar, just 1,000 ten-count boxes have been produced and are being offered in just two vitolas, which are Manolo’s favorites:

• Toro (6 x 50)
• Belicoso (6 x 52

The company is keeping the pricing simple on these with both vitolas having an MSPR of $12.95.   For this review I sampled the Quesada 70th Anniversary

Pre-Light Examination

The Quesada 70th Anniversary has a medium brown milk chocolate colored wrapper that has a a nice oily glisten to it. There are a a few veins and bumps along the barrel. It is finished with a well applied triple cap.

The band on this is pay tribute to Manolo with the Quesada logo on top and the word “Quesada” prominently  displayed in the center. It also includes the word Manuel above the Quesada and the 70th below.

The nose picks up a fruit note off the foot and not much along the barrel.  Once cut, the cold draw introduces you too what will be a fun journey with decent restriction and a warming red pepper and hint of butter.

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Cigar Review Notes

• Smooth start upon ignition
• Light on pepper with a touch of fruit and vanilla
• Butter cream enters after an inch of burn
• Solid white ash rests on a pristine and thin char line
• Light spice and cedar enters after the first third
• Slight off burn that needed a mild touch up – made by the ash fall
• The burn cone was a bit off centered
• Once touched up the burn behaved itself and after tapping the ash after another inch the cone was properly centered
• The spice increases a notch in the second third and notes of espresso add to the enjoyment
• A floral fruit aroma has been evolving
• The smoke is full and fairly smooth on the retro hale with just a light pepper burn
• Spice increases through the second third
• A lemon peel note enters near the band
• Touch of almond joins in the final third along with a a natural sweetness
• Medium Strength
• Total Smoking Time was one hour and twenty minutes

Overall, the Quesada 70th Anniversary was a fine smoking experience with lots of spectacular flavor transitions including butter cream, almond, espresso and lemon peel. Other than the slight off burn early int he journey the cigar performed beautifully. This is a cigar I would pair with a rich cup of Italian espresso. You can find the Quesada 70th Anniversary at fine shops across the country including Smoke Inn, Neptune Cigars, and Cigars International.