When you think of cigar legacy, one must include the 5 generation Cuevas family in the conversation. Tobacco in this family goes back to the mid 19th century when Juan Cuevas left Spain and began growing the leaf in Cuba. Juan Jr. continued the family business, until the sad events in 1959. It was years later, when Juan Jr’s son, Luis Cuevas Sr. began handcrafting cigars in the Cibao Valley of the Dominican Republic The factory they created. till this day. is known as Tabacalera Las Lavas which has spent years crafting cigars for many premium cigar brands. Luis’s son Luis Cuevas Jr joined with his father in manufacturing and sales capacity and grew the company as a source for premium cigars. Most recently, Alec Cuevas, Luis Jr’s son, joined the company to continue the family tradition.
A few years ago, the family decided to branch out and create their own line of cigars, known as Casa Cuevas Cigars. The inaugural blends and lines were received well by enthusiasts with a number of well deserved accolades across the US. Then in 2021, Luis Jr. and Alec decided to pay tribute to the family patriarch, Luis Sr. with the release of the Patrimonio.
In the press release for the Patrimonio, Luis Jr. stated:
“Patrimonio is a project that is extremely near and dear to my son Alec and myself. When my father left Cuba, he left tobacco behind. Years later, after rebuilding in the U.S.A., he was able to revive our family tobacco history by opening his cigar factory in the Dominican Republic. Because of my father’s perseverance, our family legacy continues to live on.”
I have known Luis Jr. years before the Casa Cuevas Cigar line started and have dined with him and his family. If there is one word that I would describe him with – it is Family. It was what was instilled in his heart and soul by his father and what he has instilled in his children. So what better way to honor his father than a blend made special for him.
The Patrimonio has a blend described as:
- Wrapper – Honduran corojo
- Binder – Ecuadorian habano
- Filler – Peru, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic
If that blend sounds flavorful and bold you would not be wrong. In fact, Casa Cuevas explains it as a full flavored, full bodied cigar that aims to deliver an extremely complex blend with rich, bold flavors. It is something that they are not known for but with the Patrimonio, they nailed it.
The Casa Cuevas Patrimonio is expressed in 3 vitolas and comes packaged in 20-count boxes.:
- Robusto Gordo (5 x 54) MSRP $10.50
- Toro (6 x 52) MSRP $11.00
- Gordo (6 x 60) MSRP $11.50
When I think about how this line is offered in 3 vitolas, I can’t help but think the line, though dedicated to the patriarch Luis Sr., also represents the current 3 generations of the family; Luis Sr., Luis Jr., and Alec.
I smoked a pre-release from this years TPE and was quite impressed and then I received 2 more production samples for review on Stogie Press. What you are about to read about, is what I consider to be one of the most elegant and enjoyable cigars I have smoked in a long time. It was bold, flavorful, and the strongest yet to come under the Casa Cuevas Cigars brand.
Pre-Light Examination
The Casa Cuevas Patrimonio is an absolute beautifully constructed cigar. It has a silky smooth. medium reddish brown wrapper that has a fine oily sheen and all but no veins noticeable along the barrel. The cigar is solidly packed with no discernable soft spots along the wide girth of the barrel. A simple well applied cap finishes the presentation.
Two elegant white and gold bands, adorn the Patrimonio. The primary band proudly displays the company’s logo in gold on a glossy white background. The secondary band is die cut to fit just under the primary and declares this as the “PATRIMONIO” also printed in gold on a glossy white background. The bands pop on the background of the wrapper.
All fine smoking journeys should start with some sniffs of the cigar to see what it has to offer. In the case of the Casa Cuevas Patrimonio, I detected a pleasing baking spice aroma along the barrel along with light sweetness and peppery notes off the foot. The latter will prove to be telling in the profile that is to follow.
With the intriguing aromas it was time to slice the cap and give it some cold draw puffs. I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give it some puffs. The draw was delightful, spot on with restriction and offered notes of sweet butter and a medium amount of pepper. Between the pre-light aromas and draw, this had the feeling of being a memorable smoking experience.
A few more cold puffs and it was time to warm the foot gently, which I did with my double flame torch, bringing the foot to an even orange glow as I drew in the first peppery puffs of smoke. Follow along as I burn the Patrimonio to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
Normally I would just read my notes and assemble them in bullet form, but I was so intrigued by this cigar that I wanted you to fully experience the journey I went on. So here are my raw notes and thoughts as I smoked this gem of a cigar from foot to nub.
Peppery burst to start the journey and continues to grow
A good quarter inch in, the pepper is still hitting the nose hard on the retro hale
You back off a bit and start to discern the flavors beginning to build
Sweetness and nut is your initial reward
Cream engulfs the palate – all working in harmony with descending but still noticeable pepperiness
Based on the start, I am led to believe, Papa Q was a stern but loving human being.
Cedar and fruit enter near the one inch burn mark
The burn is spectacular, with a solid white ash and a pristine burn line
If this was a human I would say it was understanding and willing to negotiate to common ground
The fruit starts to take front and center
The barrel has a perfect give to it, classic in every respect
The cedar begins a gentle tango with the fruit
The burn remains just as it started – perfect and the ash is still solid
Nut aroma wafts off the foot
Quite an elegant cigar – I can imagine enjoying a lightly dirty gin martini with this.
Sweet butter notes enter that add a pleasant dimension to the profile
I am so glad I have two of these – Two inches in and it continues to please
Loving the ZZ Top sounds I cued up on the stereo through the first half
By midway the pepper has all but receded or is so faint it has blended perfectly on the palate
The ash finally fell, after a long burn, revealing a well formed and centered burn cone
Syrupy aromas develop just after the ash fell
This is a medium to full strength cigar on the scale of toxification (nicotine) but if you feel strength means “lot’s of pepper” then this is your cigar as it is full in that category. This is a must for all refined smokers to have in their regular rotation.
I moved on to some AC/DC on the turntable
I put the cigar down for about 3 minutes to test the burn and when I picked it up it was still ignited – AWESOME
Dry fruit enters in the end of the second third
An added nut component joins the consistent syrupy aroma
Ash has picked up where it fell and maintained down to the nub
Spice notes join the mix in the final third as the strength further ratchets up to full. boy was I was wrong about medium to full strength.
If the Patrimonio was meant to represent Papa Q, then I feel I know this man and can fully appreciate the company and family he nurtured throughout his life.
Final Analysis
The Casa Cuevas Patrimonio was a trouble free, error free, pleasing cigar with its pristine burn, long ash, and pleasantly balanced flavors and aromas. Coming in at full body (flavor) and strength (nicotine) this tasty specimen was nothing less than excellent and rightfully named to honor the Patriarch of a 5 generation cigar family. I know if you are a mature and experienced smoker like me you will most certainly enjoy this cigar and if you are one who likes to expand your palate away from the ordinary then grab a box of these. Let me tell you brothers and sisters, this is one of the most elegant enjoyable cigars I have smoked in a long time. I did smoke the second sample and paired it with that Dirty Martini and it was perfect and the cigar performed just as spectacular. I am pleased to rate this a solid 99.
Point Deductions: NONE
Bonus Points: (+1) Pristine Burn; (+1) Long Ash; (+1) Consistent Across Multiple Samples; (+1) Complex Profile; (+1) Buy a Box
