Recently, Hiram & Solomon moved production of their cigar portfolio to the watchful eye of Abe Flores and his PDR Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic. This newly forged business relationship allows for streamlined production and distribution channels via the PDR factory. Today I present a review of The Shriner Toro. I reviewed the original back in 2017 before I had rating numbers, you can read that review here. The latest rendition of The Shriner was released in 2023.
The blend was tweaked slightly and is described as:
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
- Binder: Indonesia
- Filler: Arapiraca, Habano Jalapa, Habano Ometepe, Dominican
The Shriner is expressed in 4 different vitolas, each packaged in 20-count boxes:
- Petit Corona (5 x 42) – MSRP $11.50
- Robusto (5 x 52) – MSRP $12.60
- Toro (6 x 52) – MSRP $13.90
- Gran Toro (6 x 60) – MSRP $13.50
For this review, I sampled 5 of the Toros, which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Hiram & Solomon – The Shriner – is a slightly rugged looking cigar with a dark reddish-brown wrapper with a slight toothy feel to it. There are a number of veins running along the barrel. The cigar is well packed with no noticeable soft spots. A simple cap finishes the construction.
A single red and gold band adorns the cigar. It has the Shriner logo centered in the middle along with the organization’s founding date of 1870. Hiram & Solomon is printed in the bottom.
Running The Shriner along the nose, I picked up light floral notes along the barrel and enticing sweet fruity floral notes off the foot with a touch of earthiness.
I used my CigarMedics Baller cutter to open the cap and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I found to be excellent in restriction and offered notes of cream, sweet floral, and earth.
Using my Xikar fan flame torch, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of thick creamy smoke to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Thick creamy smoke right off first light
- Fruit notes are first to tantalize the palate
- White ash forms on top of a mildly jagged char line
- Floral notes join the mix
- Sweet aroma
- Hazelnut expressions add to the pleasure
- Ash fell in a large chunk revealing a well-formed burn cone
- The natural sweetness increases moving towards the midway point
- Mild peppery spice enters the mix
- Slight off burn forms that requires a touch up
- A growing citrus note forms deep in second third
- Cocoa like aromas waft off the foot in the final
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
As the flame first ignites the foot of the cigar, a billow of dense, velvety smoke unfurls, filling the palate with a symphony of fruity essences. Gradually, delicate floral undertones intermingle with the fruity bouquet, infusing the air with a sweet, tantalizing aroma. Amidst this fragrant tapestry, hints of hazelnut emerge, enhancing the experience with rich, nutty nuances. With each passing puff, the natural sweetness intensifies toward the midpoint of the journey, where a subtle yet invigorating peppery spice makes its presence known. Deep into the second third, a burgeoning citrus zest begins to weave its way into the flavor profile, lending a refreshing brightness to the profile. As the cigar nears its conclusion, the air fills with pleasant cocoa aromas, a fitting finale to this journey. This is worth grabbing a fiver and adding some to your mid-day rotation. I rate this a 92.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Off Burn deep in second third; (-1) Touch Up
Bonus Points: (+1) Long Ash
