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.
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.
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”.
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.
Cigar Review Notes
- 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
