Today I would like to offer a review of the the second in the series of Echelon Cigars, a Veteran owned cigar company. This time, it is the company’s flagship line – the Veteran Series – which is a Nicaraguan puro. The company described it as a medium bodied and not overbearing, with an unforgettable robust experience. Built for the veteran cigar smoker who doesn’t want to overspend for great quality.
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The Echelon Veteran Series has a blend described as:
- Wrapper: Aged Estelí Corojo
- Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
- Filler: Nicaragua Estelí & Condega
The blend is expressed in three vitolas:
- Robusto (5 x 50) – MSRP $7.95
- Churchill (7 x 50) – MSRP $11.99
- Gordo (6 x 60) – MSRP $9.95
For this review, I sampled two Echelon Veteran Series robustos which I purchased from Frontline Cigars; a Stogie Press sponsor.
Pre-Light Examination
The Echelon Veteran Series is medium brown, slightly rugged cigar, that has some noticeable veins. The wrapper has a mild gritty feel to it. The packing is fairly tight with a slight give along the barrel. Looking at the foot you can see enticing swirls of dark and medium brown leaf in a well formed bunch. A well applied double cap finishes the presentation.
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A single band adorns the cigar, using a black, gold, and green motif. The company’s logo is proudly presented in the center along with the blend name “Veteran Series” and the Phrase “Hand Made In Nicaragua”.
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Running the barrel along the nose, i picked up a pleasing baking spice along the barrel while the foot exuded a pungent note.
Using my Xikar double blade cutter, I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder and proceeded to give it a few cold draw puffs. I found the draw to be nicely restricted and offered musty notes and a growing and peppery note.
With the pre-light exam out of the way, it was time to fire it up and get the journey started. I used a double flame torch to warm the foot, which took to the heat well as I drew in the first puffs of spicy smoke. Follow along as I burn the Echelon Cigar Veteran Series Robusto to ash.
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Cigar Review Notes
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- First light offers a delicate spicy sensation
- Light grey ash forms a wavy thick char line
- Full volume of smoke
- Chocolate nuance add to the profile early
- Ash fell after about an inch plus revealing a flat but centered burn cone
- Cream notes join the mix along with an increased spice
- Barrel starts to get squishy
- Maple syrup aroma wafts off the foot midway
- Sweetness and spice moving through second third
- The burn starts to drift off and required a touch-up
- Dry fruit notes end of second third
- Continued maple aroma
- Dry cocoa powder moving into the final
- Medium Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 20 minutes
Final Analysis
I found the Echelon Cigars Veteran Series Robusto to be a pleasant cigar that offered a balanced journey of flavors and aromas. It started with a spicy sensation and maintained that as a core through most of the journey with delicate nuances of chocolate, cream, dry fruit, and sweetness. From a construction perspective it was fairly solid starting with a firm ash but the ash did drop often and there was an off burn that did not correct deep in the second third that required a touch up. I feel this is worth grabbing a five pack of, or grab a sampler of the company’s full line of cigars. I rate this a 90.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Flat Burn Cone; (-1) Off Burn deep in Second Third; (-1) Touch Up Required
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