I recently received a sampler pack of cigar from a small boutique cigar company I was just introduced to – Casa Victoria Cigars. I am always looking for new things to try and new names in the industry. According to the company’s website:
“Casa Victoria Cigars Boutique is dedicated to providing our customers with handcrafted cigars that are fresh and of the highest quality. We believe in offering an experience that goes beyond just smoking a cigar, but also in providing quality customer service and attention to detail, and service. Our cigars are handmade using only hand selected leaves, taking great care in ensuring that each cigar is crafted with precision and care. With our commitment to quality and customer service, we are confident that you will have a memorable and enjoyable experience with a Casa Victoria Cigar.“
The sampler contained a fine selection of the company’s line of cigars including their, Connecticut, Habano, Maduro, and Cameroon blends.
The Habano blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano
- Binder – Ecuadorian
- Filler – Nicaragua Ligero, and Seco
The line is expressed in 3 different vitolas, each packaged in 10-count boxes:
- Toro – MSRP $11.00
- Torpedo – MSRP $10.00
- Churchill – MSRP $ 10.00
For this review, I tried the Victoria Gold Series Dominican Habano toro to begin my Casa Victoria.
Pre-Light Examination
The Victoria Gold Series Dominican Habano is a cloaked in a medium brown and marbled wrapper. The cigar exhibited a couple of soft spots in the roll. Construction is finished with a simple cap. The foot exhibits a fine-looking bunching.
Two bands adorn the cigar both of which use a blue and gold motif. The primary band is a large, covering a good 3rd or more of the cigar. It boldly displays the company’s logo. The secondary footer band displays a golden crown on a blue background.
Running the cigar along the nose I detected a light chocolate note off the foot while the barrel presented a mildly pungent barn yard aroma.
Using my CigarMedics Baller cutter, I opened the cap perfectly to my liking and gave it some cold draw puffs that I found to deliver an earthy/musty note with a touch of peppery spice.
I used my single flame torch to fire this one up, warming the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of tangy fruit and pepper notes. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Tangy fruit and pepper notes begin the journey
- The early flavor is mouth watering
- A light grey ash forms on top of a thin char line
- Vanilla notes join the early profile
- Ash fell in a decent chunk revealing an acceptable burn cone
- Dry leather appears deep in the first third
- Midway into the burn a delicate spice note evolves
- There is a slight off burn but does not require a touch-up
- Bitter notes spike the palate deep in the second third
- Fruit and cream notes balance it out down to the final
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Final Analysis
The Casa Victoria Gold Series Dominican Habano journey commences with an explosion of tangy fruit and invigorating pepper notes, titillating the taste buds and awakening the senses. The initial flavor profile leaves the mouth watering in anticipation of what lies ahead. A delicate dance of flavors unfolds as a nuance of vanilla notes emerge, intertwining with the early profile and enhancing its allure. Deep within the first third, dry leather makes its presence known, adding a layer of complexity and adds depth to the flavor profile. Closing in on the midway point, a subtle spice note evolves, revealing new dimensions of taste. Deep into the second third, bitter notes spike the palate, for a few puffs. The journey concludes with a symphony of taste, where fruit and cream notes counterbalance the lingering bitterness, resulting in a satisfying finale that lingers on the palate. This is worth a fiver. I rate this a 90.
Point Deductions: (-1) Some Soft Spots in the roll; (-1) Jagged Burn; (-1) Off burn but no touch up required; (-1) Bitter Notes deep in second third
