The Raíces Cubanas name has long been associated with Honduran cigar production, and the Raíces Cubanas Clásico puts that heritage front and center. The Clásico is positioned as a more approachable expression in the company’s portfolio while maintaining the earthy character commonly associated with Honduran tobacco.
The Raíces Cubanas Clásico is offered in five regular-production vitolas, each packaged in 21-count boxes with an extremely wallet friendly pricing.
- Robusto – 5 x 50 – MSRP $7.25
- Toro – 6 x 52 – MSRP $8.00
- Figurado – 5 3/16 x 54 – MSRP $8.40
- Churchill – 7 x 50 – MSRP $8.50
- Gordo – 6 x 60 – MSRP $8.75
It should be noted that the 5 3/16 x 54 shaped vitola was identified as the Figurado in the original launch information, while Raíces Cubanas currently lists the size as a Belicoso on its website.
Specifications
- Country of Origin: Honduras
- Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas
- Wrapper: Honduran Trojes
- Binder: Honduran
- Filler: Honduran
- Vitola: Toro
- Dimensions: 6 x 52
- MSRP: $8.00
- Box Count: 21
For this review, I sampled two of the Raíces Cubanas Clásico Toros which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Raíces Cubanas Clásico Toro is presented with a medium-brown wrapper that exhibits a slight reddish tinge and light marbling. There are some noticeable veins running along the barrel, while the cigar feels firm to the touch from head to foot. A well-applied triple cap finishes the construction.
The cigar is adorned with an ornate band featuring a deep teal-blue field surrounding a large white and gold central crest. A bold red banner displays the Raíces name above ‘Cubanas,’ while ‘Clásico’ is prominently scripted across the center. Vintage tobacco and pastoral imagery, gold accents, and the brand’s stylized monogram complete the traditional Cuban-inspired presentation.
Running the cigar along the nose, I picked up pleasant baking-spice notes along the barrel. The foot offered a bit more complexity, with a slightly tangy aroma accompanied by earth and a touch of pepper.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and gave it a few cold puffs. The cold draw delivered a distinct earthiness along with an interesting flavor reminiscent of a creamy mushroom sauce. It was a rich, earthy mushroom character that stood out nicely. Meanwhile, the pepper detected on the foot began slowly building on the back of the palate.
The Smoking Journey
I started the journey by using my single-flame torch to ignite the foot and draw in the first puffs. Right off the light, a touch of pepper greeted the palate along with a decent volume of smoke. A light-gray ash began forming on top of a fairly thick char line. The early profile quickly revealed an earthy character, displaying that distinctive Honduran earthiness that has a character all its own. Building on that foundation was a mild pepper note.
After about three-quarters of an inch, a considerable amount of sweet cedar began working its way into the profile and added a pleasant contrast to the earth and pepper. There had been a slight continuous wave in the burn since the initial light, but nothing distracting enough to interfere with the experience. Once beyond the initial peppery introduction, the retrohale became quite smooth. Overall, the profile was developing nicely through the first third.
The ash eventually fell in a decent chunk, revealing a slightly off-centered burn cone. Even so, the cigar continued burning without requiring a touch-up. As the cigar approached the second third, the cedar became increasingly forward. Moving into the second third, a slightly bitter cocoa note began working its way into the profile alongside the cedar and earth. The burn remained somewhat wavy, though again it presented no real concern.
Tactilely, the wrapper at the head of the cigar offered a beautiful natural sweetness, providing an interesting contrast to the developing bitter cocoa character on the palate. Deeper into the second third, a respectable espresso note joined the mix.
Around the midway point, however, the overall profile became a bit sharp, taking away some of the refinement displayed earlier in the experience. I also noticed that the barrel, which had been firm during the pre-light examination, had become somewhat squishy.
Moving into the final third, the spice increased, adding some additional intensity to the closing portion of the journey.
The Raíces Cubanas Clásico Toro finished at medium strength with a total smoking time of 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Final Analysis
The Raíces Cubanas Clásico Toro offered an enjoyable showcase of Honduran tobacco, starting with a distinctive earthy foundation and progressing through pepper, sweet cedar, bitter cocoa, espresso, and increasing spice. I particularly enjoyed the sweet cedar development during the first third and the natural sweetness I picked up tactilely from the wrapper. The smooth retrohale after the initial light was another positive aspect of the experience.
Construction was generally good, though not flawless. The burn remained somewhat wavy throughout the experience and produced a slightly off-centered burn cone. To its credit, no touch-ups were required. The softening of the barrel later in the experience was also worth noting.
Flavor-wise, the cigar was at its best during the first half. The profile became noticeably sharper around the midway point, which took away some of the balance and refinement established earlier.
Still, at its $8.00 MSRP, the Clásico Toro provides a respectable 90-minute smoking experience with enough transitions to keep things interesting.
