Raíces Cubanas has earned a reputation in the premium cigar industry for producing quality handmade cigars at its factory in Danlí, Honduras. Having manufactured cigars for a number of respected brands over the years, the company has expanded its presence in the market with cigars bearing its own name.
One such offering is the Raíces Cubanas Liga de Reyes, which translates to League of Kings. Introduced in 2024, the Liga de Reyes showcases the company’s experience working with Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos.
The blend features a Honduran Trojes wrapper over a dual-country binder combination of Honduran Jamastrán and Nicaraguan Estelí tobacco. The filler incorporates additional Honduran tobaccos from the Trojes and Jamastrán growing regions.
For this review, I spent 1 hour and 50 minutes exploring the Liga de Reyes, which delivered an evolving profile of earth, pepper, sweet cream, cocoa, peanut, and dark chocolate.
Cigar Specifications
- Brand: Raíces Cubanas
- Cigar: Liga de Reyes
- Country of Origin: Honduras
- Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas
- Wrapper: Honduran Trojes
- Binder: Honduran Jamastrán and Nicaraguan Estelí
- Filler: Honduran Trojes and Jamastrán
- Strength: Medium to Full
The Liga de Reyes was introduced in five regular-production vitolas, with a limited-edition Salomón added later.
- Robusto: 5 × 52 — $9.75
- Belicoso: 5½ × 52 — $10.50
- Toro: 6 × 54 — $10.65
- Churchill: 7 × 50 — $10.95
- Gordo: 6 × 60 — $11.35
- Salomón LE: 6½ × 58 — $13.50
The five original vitolas are packaged in 21-count boxes, while the limited-edition Salomón comes in 10-count boxes. Prices listed are original suggested retail prices and may vary by retailer.
Pre-Light Examination
The Raíces Cubanas Liga de Reyes is presented in a dark brown wrapper that exhibits just a few noticeable veins running along the barrel. The wrapper leans more toward a matte finish rather than displaying a pronounced oily sheen. The cigar feels solidly packed and well rolled, with no apparent construction concerns.
The Raíces Cubanas Liga de Reyes features an elaborate, oversized cigar band that combines intricate black-and-white illustrations with metallic gold accents, creating a distinctive and regal presentation. The band is dominated by a light silver-blue background adorned with detailed, vintage-style artwork. On the left side, a large bird is depicted with its wings spread wide, while the central portion features an ornate illustration of a crown with decorative flourishes.
At the top of the raised, center panel, the Raíces Cubanas name is prominently displayed in bold black lettering with gold accents. Directly beneath it, the Liga de Reyes designation appears in an elegant, stylized gold font, enclosed by an angular gold border that extends along the right and bottom edges of the central design. The right side transitions into a contrasting black panel framed by thin silver lines. Centered within this section is a small white heraldic emblem featuring a crown above crossed weapons. A circular gold Raíces Cubanas monogram completes the design at the far right.
Running the barrel along the nose, I picked up pleasant floral fruit notes, while the foot offered an inviting combination of cocoa and spice.
I sliced the cap and proceeded to give the cigar some cold draw puffs. The draw offered just the right amount of restriction, delivering an intriguing combination of tangy, peppery fruit notes to the palate.
With the pre-light examination complete, it was time to fire up the Liga de Reyes and see what the journey had to offer.
The Smoking Journey
First Third
Once lit, the first notes to address the palate were a combination of earth and pepper. The retrohale offered a distinct white pepper note that added some early intensity to the experience. A white ash began forming on top of a thin, slightly wavy char line. As the cigar settled into the burn, a pleasant salted butter note emerged, adding a savory dimension to the earthy and peppery opening.
After about a half-inch of burn, a natural tobacco sweetness began to develop, rounding out the early profile. Sweet cream notes soon joined the mix, providing a smooth contrast to the initial pepper and earth. The ash eventually fell in a small chunk, revealing a flat but centered burn cone.
Moving toward the end of the first third, a cocoa powder note entered the profile. The natural sweetness continued to grow, blending nicely with the developing chocolate character. The combination of sweet cream, cocoa, and natural tobacco sweetness provided a pleasant balance to the earthy foundation established at the start.
Second Third
Moving into the second third, the earthy notes began to increase, bringing a deeper character to the overall profile. Spice entered the mix, adding another dimension to the experience.
An interesting peanut note developed, leaving a lingering impression on the palate. This nutty component worked alongside the existing chocolate and earthy notes, providing a savory contrast to the sweetness that had developed earlier.
As the cigar progressed, the spice intensified, particularly on the retrohale, where it became a more prominent feature of the smoking experience. The evolving combination of earth, chocolate, peanut, and spice kept the profile interesting as the cigar moved through the second third.
Final Third
Moving into the final third, the Liga de Reyes continued to deliver dark chocolate and spice notes. The chocolate character, which had first appeared as cocoa powder toward the end of the first third, had developed into a darker expression, while the spice remained a significant component of the profile.
Rather than introducing an entirely new set of flavors, the final third concentrated on these established notes, providing continuity through the closing portion of the experience. The dark chocolate and spice combination remained present all the way down to the nub.
The cigar finished at medium to full in strength, with a total smoking time of 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Final Analysis
The Raíces Cubanas Liga de Reyes delivered an enjoyable smoking experience built around a combination of earthy, sweet, creamy, nutty, and spicy flavors.
The journey opened with earth and pepper, including a noticeable white pepper component on the retrohale. The introduction of salted butter, natural tobacco sweetness, and sweet cream helped soften the early profile, while cocoa powder provided an additional layer toward the end of the first third.
The second third brought increased earth and spice, along with a lingering peanut note that added an interesting savory character. The final third maintained a dark chocolate and spice combination, carrying the profile through to the nub.
From a construction standpoint, the cigar exhibited a slightly wavy burn line and an ash that dropped in smaller chunks. The centered burn cone was a positive observation. At 1 hour and 50 minutes, the Liga de Reyes offered a lengthy smoking experience with a respectable degree of flavor development.
