At this years Tobacco Plus Expo (TPE), Zander-Greg showcased two new box pressed vitolas for the Nat Cicco Aniversario 1965 Liga No. 4 line. Both vitolas are box pressed – a 6 1/2 x 60 Double Toro and a 5 1/2 x 46 Corona. Produced at the Agroindustrial Nicaraguense De Tabacos S.A. facility in Estelí, Nicaragua, these added vitolas have the same blend as the original introduced in 2012 and is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano
- Binder – Nicaraguan
- Filler – Nicaraguan
The Nat Cicco Aniversario 1965 Liga No. 4 was introduced as the highest end of the company’s portfolio back in 2012. They come packaged in 20-count boxes and have an MSRP set at $5.95 for the Corona and $7.95 for the Double Toro. Yes, you read those prices right!
For this review, I sampled the Nat Cicco Aniversario 1965 Liga No. 4 Corona.
Pre-Light Examination
The Nat Cicco Aniversario 1965 Liga No. 4 Corona is simply a beautifully constructed, square box pressed cigar. The well aged, silky smooth, Ecuadorian Habano wrapper has a milk chocolate brown color and a nice oily sheen. There are minimal veins. The barrel has a slight give with a gentle squeeze. The liga is finished with a well applied “fuse” cap and a closed foot.
A single gold and ruby band adorns the cigar. It declares the cigar as the Aniversario 1965 Liga No. 4 and proudly includes the Nat Cicco logo in the center.
Running the Aniversario 1965 Liga No. 4 along the nose. I did not pick up much aroma along the barrel, but the foot exudes notes of sweet cinnamon spice.
Using my double blade cutter, I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs. With the closed foot, the draw was obviously a tad tight and offered notes of clove along with a light pepper gracing the lips.
I chose to use a cigar stick match to get the journey started. Hey, when a company send you matches, you use them as they expect you to. The ignited draw had a restriction that was spot on and quickly graced the palate with a light peppery note that was easy on the palate and nasals. Follow along as I burn the Nat Cicco Aniversario 1965 Liga No. 4 Corona to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Light peppery spice starts the journey
- Flavor quickly morphs into a buttery note with a sprinkle of sweet cinnamon
- Full volume of mouth filling smoke
- A light grey ash forms on top of a slightly jagged thick char line
- Woody notes enter near the end of the first third
- Ash fell with decent burn cone
- Toasted caramel notes add to the pleasure
- Continues to evolve in the second third with notes of raisin and clove
- Earthy aroma wafts off the foot
- Spice notes enter moving into the final third
- Slight off burn
- Burns a tad hot in final
- Medium Plus in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 25 minutes
The Nat Cicco Aniversario 1965 Liga No. 4 Corona was a delightfully enjoyable cigar from its pre-light look and feel through the almost 90 minute journey of flavors and aromas. This is one of the rare occasions I picked up a clove note in a cigar experience, and that is just fine as there was plenty to experience in this tasty morsel of balanced and well transitioned notes that also included toasted caramel, sweet cinnamon, butter, spice, and raisin. This once again shows, that a premium cigar offering a good burn and pleasurable notes does not have to be priced out of the ballpark for the average cigar enthusiast. This is most certainly box worthy. I rate this a 91.
Point Deductions: (-1) Jagged Burn; (-1) Slight Off burn; (-2) Burns a tad hot in final
Bonus Points: (+1) Buy a Box
