At this Total Product Expo (TPE) I had the opportunity to talk with Oscar Valladares about his latest project – Heaven and Hell. This is a project that has found itself on the market since 2021 but only through the distributor Santa Clara Cigars and a few online retailers. One could say it was a market test but now Oscar has decided to release them nationwide based on what he told me at TPE. The Heaven and Hell line is actually two different blends a Honduran Connecticut and a Nicaraguan Oscuro. For this review I will focus on the Honduran Connecticut which is the Heaven as opposed to the Oscuro (Hell).
The Oscar Valladares Heaven has a blend described as:
- Wrapper – Honduran Connecticut
- Binder – Mexican
- Filler – Honduran
They are expressed in a single (6 x 52) Toro vitola and come packaged in 20-count boxes with an MSRP of $10.00/cigar.
Pre-Light Examination
The Oscar Valladares Heaven is an immaculately constructed cigar with a silky smooth golden tan wrapper finished with a well applied triple cap. Practically no veins are to be seen and it is firm with just the right give. The wrapper also exhibits a fine oily sheen.
If I was to give an award to band design, It would go to Oscar this year for the band on the Heaven and Hell line. It is design to fold out angel wings on both sides of the band. The Oscar Valladares logo is presented in the center with the name “Heaven & Hell” printed below. Nice job on this Oscar!
Running the cigar along the nose, I noted enticing baking spice and bready notes along the barrel while the foot exuded rich floral notes.
I used the CigarMedics Baller cutter to open the cap perfect and gave it some cold draw puffs that were spot on with restriction and offered a slight dose of peppery and floral notes. In fact this cold draw seemed to be very Cubanesque to start.
Using a lit cedar spill, I warmed the foot with the soft flame and drew in the first puffs of rich floral notes wrapped in butter and pepper. Follow along as I burn this one to ash!
Cigar Review Notes
- Rich floral notes wrapped in butter and pepper start the journey
- A medium grey ash forms on top of a medium thick char line with a slight wave
- Ash fell in a small chunk revealing a flat but centered burn cone
- Cream and vanilla notes balance it out moving toward the second third
- Spice notes add a nice dimension to the profile moving through the second third
- Pleasant fruit notes join the mix midway
- A surprising peanut component enters deep in the second third
- The fruit and spice continue into the final with a nutty aroma
- Mild to Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
The Oscar Valladares Heaven and Hell Connecticut journey began with rich and opulent floral notes that are perfectly enveloped by the delicate nuances of butter and pepper. With each passing moment, the creamy and luscious vanilla notes harmoniously balance out the initial burst of flavors, paving the way towards the second third. It is at this stage that the spicy notes make their entrance, adding a new dimension to the cigar’s already pleasant profile. As the journey progresses, pleasant fruit notes join the mix midway. A surprise awaits deep in the second third, as a peanut component enters the fray, bringing an unexpected twist the mix. As the cigar approaches the end, the fruit and spice continue to linger, providing a satisfying and pleasant finish. This is certainly worth grabbing a fiver of to add to your morning rotation. I rate this a 92.
Point Deductions: (-1) Medium Grey Ash; (-1) Mild Wave in Burn; (-1) Flat Burn Cone
Bonus Points: (+1) Moderately complex especially for a Connecticut
