El Mago Cigars, was founded in 2022 by Nicholas Fusco, CEO of the company. At 23 years old, El Mago says that owner Nick Fusco is the youngest owner of a premium cigar company. Fusco created this brand to honor his grandparents, Maria and Gonzalo Torre, who overcame numerous challenges in their lives. They owned the James Hotel in the iconic Art Deco district of Miami Beach, Florida. Nicholas recalls his grandfather always enjoyed cigars in the hotel lobby. The company’s name, El Mago, comes from the first two letters of his grandparents’ names.
The El Mago Renegade is the newest cigar in the young company’s portfolio and was showcased at this Years PCA Trade Show in Las Vegas, NV.
According to the company’s website:
“El Mago, which translates to ‘The Wizard’, was inspired by a couple who created magic from the little opportunity that life first offered them – my grandparents, Maria and Gonzalo Torre. The first two letters from each of their names is what brought the name Mago to life. My grandparents, whom I called Babi and Pepe, died together on June 24, 2021, in Miami, FL, when their building, The Champlain Towers, suddenly collapsed in the middle of the night. It is my honor to keep their legacy alive and share their story through a tradition that was passed down from one generation to the next.
The Cuban tradition of cigar smoking was passed down to me from my grandparents. My grandmother was known as a master roller and my grandfather jokingly claimed he was a “master smoker”. In classic Cuban-Miami fashion, my grandfather would smoke a cigar at the front desk of his hotel every day. On my many occasions, I would join him in smoking a Cuban-style cigar, drinking Cuban coffee, telling jokes, and sharing stories.
I created this brand to commemorate their incredible life journey, which spanned across five different countries, ultimately in search of a better life for their family. Together, my grandparents journeyed from Cuba to what used to be Czechoslovakia, to Canada, to Venezuela, and finally to Miami, which became their home. “
The El Mago Renegade has a blend described as:
- Wrapper – Mexican San Andres
- Binder – Nicaraguan Habano
- Filler – Nicaraguan
The cigar is handcrafted at the MGE Cigars Factory in Nicaragua and is expressed in a single (5.5 x 56) box-pressed robusto. The El Mago Renegades are individually encased in square metal tubos with 10 tubos in a box. MSRP is set at $12.80/cigar.
Pre-Light Examination
The El Mago Cigars Renegade sports a toothy dark brown wrapper that has a few noticeable veins. It is a fairly crisp, box pressed cigar. I found it to be firm to the touch from head to foot. Construction is completed with a simple cap.
Two bands adorn the cigar which is individually cased in a metal square tube. The Primary band displays an image of Maria and Gonzalo Torre in front of the James Hotel. The name El Mago is printed below along with the phrase “Est 1965”. There is also a gold satin footer band.
Running the cigar across the nose, Sweet and pungent fermented leaf aroma emanates along the barrel while the foot exudes fruity jam and toasted bread notes.
I used my double blade cutter to slice the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I found to be perfectly restricted for my liking while offering notes of subtle black pepper and savory spice notes. There is also a hint of hickory in the profile.
Using my single flame fan torch, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and proceeded to draw in the introductory fruit and pepper smoke to start the journey.
For this review I sampled 3 El Mago Cigars Renegades which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Cigar Review Notes
- Fruit and pepper start the journey
- Oodles of smoke rise off the foot of the cigar as a white ash forms on top of a thin char line
- A touch of sea salt helps to moisten the palate
- Sourdough bread notes adds to the early part of the journey
- Flavors have all blended well into a tasty
- Savory spice evolves in the second third
- Dark chocolate joins the mix and grows through the second third
- Nice long stacking dimes ash has evolved
- The smoke has been thick and chewy since the first puff
- Mouth-watering fruit notes reemerge midway through the burn keeping it interesting
- The amazing ash finally fell revealing a well-formed and centered burn cone
- The savory spice, dark chocolate and fruit notes intertwine down to the final with an added sweet caramel note
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes down to the nub
Final Analysis
With the El Mago Cigars Renegade Box Pressed Robusto being the first of his blends for me to review, Nick has set a high bar for the rest of his portfolio. This cigar was a pleasure to smoke starting with a cascade of smoke that unfurled gracefully from the glowing foot. A subtle hint of sea salt caresses the tongue, imbuing a refreshing moisture to the palate. The aroma of sourdough bread permeates the senses, enriching the early stages of the experience. As the journey progresses, a harmonious fusion of flavors emerges, creating a delectable symphony for the senses. The savory spice gradually intensifies in the second phase, accompanied by the emergence of velvety dark chocolate, its richness unfolding with each draw. A remarkable stacking dimes ash, has developed, a testament to the cigar’s impeccable construction. From the initial puff, the smoke has maintained a luscious thickness, offering a satisfyingly chewy texture. Midway through the burn, tantalizing fruit notes resurface, injecting a burst of freshness and intrigue. As the savory spice, dark chocolate, and fruit flavors intertwine seamlessly, a subtle sweetness reminiscent of caramel adds a delightful flourish to the finale, ensuring a truly memorable journey to the last draw. Excellent job Nick, your grandparents are looking over you. This is a cigar every enthusiast to try and when you do I feel you will want to buy a box. I rate this a 96.
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild jag in burn
Bonus Points: (+1) Extreme Ash; (+1) Box Buy; (+1) Pleasurable and Consistent across multiple Samples
