It may seem like an old blend and you would be right, except the Tarazona 305 has been tweaked a bit because Eddie Tarazona was not able to source the original leaf used in that blend back in 2014. You may have seen the interview I did with Eddie at this years Premium Cigar Association (PCA) trade show where he talks about this and the new products that he was showcasing. I can’t say this enough, I am happy Eddie is back on the scene; We missed you Bro!
Of course, being back is one thing, but not losing your touch is an even better thing and Eddie did not lose his touch and it seems his little hiatus helped him, as did Tabacalera William Ventura. Though the original Taarzona 305 was in the market years ago I am treating this as a valid entry for the best Boutique Cigars of 2019.
The Tarazona 305 blend is described as:
- Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
- Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
- Filler: Nicaragua
The 305 is expressed in 4 popular vitolas and come packaged in 20-count boxes:
- No. 18 (4.5 x 42) MSRP $7.86 /cigar
- Robusto (5 x 50) MSRP $9.80 /cigar
- Belicoso (6 x 52) MSRP $10.86 /cigar
- No. 3 (6 x 60) MSRP $ 11.10 /cigar
For this review I sampled the Tarazona 305 robusto which I received from Eddie at the Trade Show for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
It should also be noted that Eddie has shifted production of the 305 to Tabacalera William Ventura in the Dominican Republic. If you did not realize, the name “305” is the area code of Miami, Florida where Eddie and his company reside.
Pre-Light Examination
The Tarazona 305 is an attractive cigar with its shiny medium brown wrapper that has a mild grit, light marbling, and tinge of red clay hue in it. There are a few veins that run through the wrapper. It looks to be well packed and there are no soft spots as I gentle pinch the barrel from head to foot. It also has a nice weight in the hand. (One of these days I am going to state the actual weight of the cigar I am reviewing, just for fun). It is neatly finished with a well applied cap.
A single band adorns the Tarazona 305 using a white, black, and red motif. The “305” is printed boldly in the center using back for the “3” and “5” and red for the “0”. The company’s logo is centered in the zero. “Tarazona” is printed across the top and “Est 1975” on the bottom. The band pops nicely on the background of the cigar color.
As ran the cigar across the nose, I was greeted with a sweet “curing barn” tobacco aroma along the barrel and fruit notes off the foot.
Like all cigars that I review, I went with a simple straight cut to remove the cap and proceeded to give the 305 some cold draw puffs. Earth notes were the first to be detected followed by a growing black pepper.
So far, the Tarazona 305 has got my attention. It was time to warm the foot and take in the initial puffs of smoke that dealt my nasal cavity a solid burst of pepper. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial light offers a solid burst of pepper on the nasal
- Dry fruit notes quickly develop and sooth the palate
- Pleasing spiced fruit aroma begins to waft off the foot
- Smoke is thick and creamy right from the start
- Cedar notes join the mix after an inch or so
- White ash is forming on a slightly jagged medium char line
- Chocolate notes fill out the early profile
- Aroma become more fruit and less spice
- Burn has straightened out as the ash continues to grow
- Delicious tobacco sweetness fills the palate
- Gentle and mouth-watering mint notes enter midway
- Well formed and centered ash cone appears once the once long ash fell
- Espresso notes mix with the chocolate giving me a cafe mocha like experience
- Dry berry flavor completes he journey down to the nub
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 20 minutes
Overall, the Tarazona 305 is simply a spectacular cigar that had solid construction, less a mild jag in the burn at times. The flavors and aromas were extremely well balanced, offering smooth transitions from foot to nub. Once into the journey there was a delicious tobacco sweetness that formed a core which was accented by notes of chocolate, espresso, mint, and berry. This is certainly a box worthy cigar and we rate this a solid 97. I am looking forward to sampling the rest of the cigars in the Tarazona portfolio.
Point Deductions: (-1) some jaggedness in the burn especially in the second half
Bonus Points: (+1) Buy a Box; (+1) Extreme Ash
