You may have noticed back in the summer I reviewed the “A Bronx Tale” cigar and it had some issues. I was not the only one that noted this and the team (Chazz Palminteri, Pauly DiSilvio, and Dean Parsons [Epic Cigars] took the feedback to heart and did the right thing. They made the decision to tweak the blend and send me new samples to review. Well, I can say they certainly fixed this one up. Not only is this a better cigar but it also wins my unofficial best ash of the year. What a difference!!!
Recap of “A Bronx Tale”
After years in the making, the cigar that pays tribute to the iconic masterpiece of the same name – “A Bronx Tale” – is finally about to hit the shelves of humidors across the country. Made in collaboration with Pauly DiSilvio of La Casa Grande Tobacco Company in the Bronx, Dean Parsons of Epic Cigars, and Chazz Palminteri this is a cigar this is sure to please.
We’ve all heard of A Bronx Tale, a once critically acclaimed play turned movie classic and musical, written and created by Chazz Palminteri. The grandson of immigrants, Mr. Palminteri has dedicated this cigar to his grandfather, Calogero, and to all hardworking families who came to the United States to establish a better life. A Bronx Tale is a culturally significant classic with a huge impact on popular culture. In the film, we see a young boy who grows up in the Bronx, torn between the values of his hardworking father and the allure of the local mob boss. The play and film explores themes of loyalty, family, and the struggle to find one’s identity in a changing world.
Also from the Bronx, La Casa Grande Tobacco Company is known for its premium cigars, which are handmade in their Bronx factory and sold in the company’s retail shop. DiSilvio teamed up with Dean Parsons of Epic Cigars and Zander-Greg Imports to bring Palminteri’s long time desire to have a cigar carrying the iconic name and matching its story. Epic Cigars used Tabacalera Von Eiken in the Dominican Republic for production.
Pauly DiSilvio stated:
“We have been aging these for 3 years and it’s finally time. Distributed by Epic Cigars and blended by me Pauly DiSilvio , this is one of the greatest accomplishments by yours truly. Join the many in The Cigar industry and celebrity guest as we party with Chazz and Friends.”
The trio describe blend as:
- Wrapper – Cuban seed Ecuador Habano
- Binder – Dominican
- Filler – Dominican and Nicaraguan
The Chazz Palminteri’s A Bronx Tale cigar is expressed in a single box-pressed Toro (6 x 54). They are packaged in beautiful black gloss 10-count boxes and have an MSRP of $20.00/cigar.
For this review I sampled 3 of the NEW A Bronx Tale Toros which I received from the team to re-review on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Chazz Palminteri’s A Bronx Tale Box Pressed Toro is cloaked in a medium brown wrapper that has a mild oily finish. There are a few noticeable veins but overall, it has a silky-smooth feel. The barrel has just the right give for a box pressed cigar and the pressing is closer to crisp than rounded. A double cap finishes the construction.
A single band adorns the cigar using a black, gold, and white motif. The band symbolizes Chazz’s Bronx neighborhood – Belmont Ave 187th Street and prominently displays the name “A Bronx Tale”. I have to say I like the look of the band and the overall packaging.
Running the barrel along the nose, I picked up a hint of barnyard notes. Moving to the foot, there was a distinct barnyard note filling the nostrils.
I used my CigarMedics Baller cutter to open the cap perfectly and gave the cigar some cold draw puffs. The draw was more to what I prefer while offering notes of tanginess, earth, and a touch of pepper.
Using my Xikar single flame fan torch, I warmed the foot to even orange glow as an inviting cinnamon aroma immediately wafted off the foot filling the air around me. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Cinnamon aroma right of the initial light
- The draw is very easy offering palate filling smoke on every puff
- First notes to grace the palate are mild sweetness and coffee
- After a quarter inch of burn, the blend starts to balance out as a pleasant citrus note joins the mix moistening the palate
- A solid light grey ash forms on top of a mildly wavy and medium thick char line
- Medium level of citrus maintains as a cream component underlays it deep in the first third
- Aroma shifts to more of a nut
- Dry leather notes round out the first third
- Coffee notes start to increase blending well with the citrus much akin to an Italian espresso
- Almond nuances find their way in and rest pleasantly on the palate
- Citrus morphs slowly into more of a citrus peel note
- Almond notes increase a bit adding to the enticing profile
- Extreme ash finally fell revealing a well-formed burn cone
- A mild black pepper note joins the profile deep in the second third
- Dark chocolate nuances form in the final with an increase of pepper
- Burns a tad hot in the final
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
The initial light of the Chazz Palminteri’s A Bronx Tale Box Pressed Toro brings forth a delightful cinnamon aroma, setting the stage for a smooth draw that generously fills the palate with smoke. At the outset, subtle sweetness intertwines with hints of coffee, gradually evolving as the quarter-inch burn progresses. A harmonious blend emerges, incorporating a pleasant citrus note that adds a refreshing touch to the palate. The cigar maintains a medium level of citrus complemented by an underlying creaminess. The early aroma transforms into nutty tones, followed by the emergence of dry leather notes that round out the early experience. As the journey continues, the coffee essence intensifies, blending seamlessly with the citrus reminiscent of Italian espresso, while almond nuances intermingle, creating a pleasing sensation. The citrus slowly evolves into a citrus peel-like note as almond note enhances the profile further. Eventually, the extreme ash falls away, revealing a well-formed burn cone. Deep into the second third, a mild black pepper note joins the profile, lending an added depth. Culminating in the final stretch, dark chocolate undertones emerge, accompanied by an uptick in pepper intensity, and an ever present almond finish, completing the complex and nuanced experience.
This revamped blend is one that I would now say is truly box worthy and a cigar you can enjoy any time of the day. I rate this a 96.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy burn; (-1) Burns a tad hot in the final
Bonus Points: (+1) Box Buy; (+1) Extreme Ash; (+1) Pleasant and Consistent Across Multiple Samples; (+1) Complex Profile
