Today I would like to offer a redux of the Family By Loyalty – FENRIR Box Pressed Gran Toro. If you have been following Stogie Press, you know we reviewed this cigar back in 2022 and it was rated an “88”. Since then, the company, who works with Jonas Santana Gomez and his Blackbird Cigar factory in the Dominican Republic, notes that the original was made in the small home based factory and now these new ones are crafted in the newly opened 30,000 square foot factory, that has better aged leaf and improved quality practices. Both of which have shown great improvement of the cigars. These new releases use the same blend but as you will read, the performance of the cigar has greatly improved compared to the original.
To recap, the blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Sumatra
- Binder – Indonesian Sumatra
- Filler – Cubano 98, Corojo 2006, Nicaragua
The cigars are expressed in 3 different vitolas and come packaged in 10-count boxes:
- Gran Toro (6 x 54) – MSRP $14.50
- Robusto (5 x 50) – MSRP $13.10
- Pipe Size (3.5 x 52) – MSRP $8.02
For this review, I sampled 3 of the Family By Loyalty – FENRIR Box Pressed Gran Toros which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Family By Loyalty – FENRIR Box Pressed Gran Toro is excellently constructed with a pig tail cap, a closed foot, and fairly crisp box pressing. The wrapper is reddish brown in color with a mild sheen and is silky smooth to the touch. The cigar is packed well with just the right give along the barrel.
The latest rendition of the blend also has a new look to the bands. Whereas, the original had a large outer sleave, the new one has two bands that adorn the cigar. The primary black, gold, and grey band boldly displays the company’s logo in the center. This is the same band that is used on all the company’s current cigars. A secondary red and black band is placed just below the primary and declares this as the FENRIR Sumatra.
Running the cigar along the nose, I picked up a pungent fermented leaf along the barrel. With the closed foot I could not detect any additional aromas off the foot.
I used my CigarMedics Guillotina De Saka cutter to straight cut the head just above the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give it some cold draws that I found to be excellent with restriction and offered notes of white pepper and earthy sweetness.
Using my Xikar fan flame torch, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of sweet and tangy spice notes to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Introductory sweet and tangy spice notes begin the journey
- A light grey ash forms on top of medium thick char line
- Fruit notes begin to develop early in the burn
- Full volume of thick smoke
- Mild pleasant cinnamon and vanilla notes moving into second third
- Slight jag in burn forming
- Pleasant nutty aroma
- Ash dropped in a big chunk revealing a flat but centered burn cone
- Touch of leather midway with an added sweet floral note
- Rich dark chocolate notes evolve
- Increased cinnamon spice maintain through the second third
- Slight off-burn develops but no touch-up required
- The early fruit reemerges with spice increase in the final
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
The Family By Loyalty – FENRIR Box Pressed Gran Toro opens with a delightful blend of sweet and tangy spice, tantalizing the palate for a flavorful experience. Subtle fruit notes quickly emerge, enriching the profile early on. Thick, full-bodied smoke billows with each draw, while hints of mild cinnamon and vanilla begin to surface as the cigar transitions into the second third. A pleasant nutty aroma wafts off the foot adding the sensory delight. Midway through, a touch of leather enters the mix, accompanied by a sweet floral note as rich, dark chocolate flavors deepen the complexity. Cinnamon spice intensifies, maintaining its presence through the second third. The final third brings back the early fruit notes mingling with a heightened spice for a satisfying finish. I say this is worth a fiver. This is not the FREKI but it is still an enjoyable cigar. I rate this a 92.
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild Jag in Burn; (-1) Slight Off-burn but no touchup required; (-1) Flat but centered burn cone
Bonus Points: (+1) Pleasantly complex and consistent flavor profile in multiple samples
