This past week I visited Newport Beach, CA and attended the 11th Annual Cigar and Spirits Magazine – Cigar and Spirits Tasting Event. I will have a review of the overall event soon but as part of the evet, like all good cigar events you get a number of cigar samples as part of the admission. It was here that I was introduced to the latest creation from La Sirena Cigars – the Mexican Mermaid.
I took a moment to speak with Danny Ditkowich from La Sirena and he explained this is a special cigar that highlights Mexican San Andres leaf in both the wrapper and binder along with Mexican leaf in the filler. It is as close to a Mexican puro as you get but it does include some Dominican leaf also in the filler.
The blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Mexican San Andres
- Binder – Mexican San Andres
- Filler – Mexican, Dominican
The sample I received was a Robusto but they are expressed in a total of 4 different vitolas, each packaged in 20-count boxes:
- Robusto (5 x 50) – MSRP $14.00
- Toro Box Pressed (5 3/4 x 54) – MSRP $15.00
- Gordo (6 x 60) – MSRP $16.00
- Lancero (6 1/2 x 42) – MSRP $15.00
For this creation, the company partnered with Tabacalera La Isla in the Dominican Republic.
Pre-Light Examination
The La Sirena Mexican Mermaid sports a slightly oily, dark brown wrapper that has mild tooth to the feel. The cigar is well packed and is solid to the touch. There are a few veins that run along the barrel and it is finished with a simple cap.
Like all La Sirena cigars, the Mexican Mermaid is adorned with a large die cut band that takes up a good part of the cigar. It highlights the colors of the Mexican flag – red, green, and white along with gold accents throughout. The center of the band has a silver circle that displays a mermaid in it – the insignia for La Sirena. The adornments also include a gold anchor on top and a gold ship’s wheel on the bottom. The name La Sirena is printed in the middle above the silver circle. Once the band is removed there is a secondary band underneath that declares this as the La Sirena MM and Hecho a Mano Republica Dominicana.
Running the Mexican Mermaid along the nose, I picked up a minimal aromas along the barrel while there was a light pungent note off the foot along with a hint of earth and pepper.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I found to be nicely restricted and offered a growing red pepper flake note that warms the palate along with a background of earthiness.
Using my double flame torch, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of pepper and cocoa notes to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this mermaid to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Slight red pepper and cocoa notes to start
- White flaky ash forms on top of a medium thick wavy char line
- Ash fell early revealing an off centered burn cone
- Bittersweet cocoa evolves moving through the first third
- Sweet cedar notes join the profile near the end of the first third
- Earthy notes blend in moving into the second third
- Mild nut aroma wafts off the foot
- Slight sweetness in rests in the background providing for a good balance
- Off burn develops that eventually needed a touch up
- Sweetness grows with a dry cocoa note
- Dry fruit notes pleasantly add to the mix with developing black coffee notes
- The burn required a touchup again
- Underlying pepper grows down through the final
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
The La Sirena Mexican Mermaid started with a mild bang of pepper and cocoa that quickly pleased the palate and had my interest from the first puff. I found the flavor and aroma to be well balanced and pleasing throughout the journey, even with the couple of touchups that were required through the burn which is not always the case in my experience. I enjoyed how it started with the red pepper and cocoa and then after numerous transitions it returned to those notes in the final. I only wished the burn was better but that may have to do with the thicker Mexican leaf used in the construction in the wrapper, binder and filler. I rate this a 90.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Off Burn; (-1) Touchup Required; (-1) Flaky Ash; (-1) Off-Centered Burn Cone
Bonus Points: (+1) Moderately Complex and Balanced
