Today I would like to offer my next review of a cigar in the Stallone Nicaragua Cigars – Cowboy Series. It is called the Zaino, which is named like others in the series, for a horse. In this case it represents the color of the horse (dark brown or chestnut and with no light markings).
As for the cigar itself, the name makes sense as the blend is described as:
- Wrapper: USA Broadleaf
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
They are expressed in 3 vitolas:
- Robusto (5 x 50) -MSRP $8.35
- Toro (6 x 52) – MSRP $9.50
- Gordo (6 x 60) – MSRP $11.85
For this review, I sampled 2 Stallone Nicaragua Cigars – Zaino Broadleaf Robustos. which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press. If you would like to try these, they can be found at Small Batch Cigars.
Pre-Light Examination
The Stallone Zaino sports a dark brown broadleaf wrapper that exhibits some veins through the leaf. It has a mild toothiness and displays a slight oily sheen. The cigar is firmly packed with no soft spots noted along the barrel and it is expertly finished with a triple cap.
The cigar is adorned with two bands, a cedar sleeve, and silver footer band. The primary band is the same one used on all Stallone Nicaragua Cowboy Series cigars and proudly displays the company’s logo in the center (a rising stallion, with the copper clad word “STALLONE” and the owners name “TONY BARRIOS” printed across.) The right side of the band has a horse shoe and the left side the word “NICARAGUA” The secondary band is die cut to fit just under the primary band and declares this as the “Zaino” in the center.
Running the Zaino along the nose, I picked up a a lightly pungent note along the barrel and rich cocoa and pepper notes off the foot.
Once I sliced the triple cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar, I gave it some cold draw puffs that I found to be just perfect which is consistent with all cigars I have sampled in the cowboy series lineup. The cold draw offered enticing notes of plum with an added pleasant pepperiness. I noted the pepper increases a little more as you puff on it.
With the pre-light quite acceptable, I grabbed my duel flame torch lighter to warm the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first cedar and peppery puffs of smoke to start the journey. Follow along as I burn the Zaino to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Cedar and pepper start
- Solid white forms on top of a medium thick char line
- ash mild jag
- Touch of natural sweetness enters joined with light cinnamon
- Fruity notes blend in to round out the early profile
- Ash fell in a nice chunk revealing a flat but centered burn cone
- Moving through the second third, there is mild but growing spice component
- Caramel notes begin to develop deep in the second third offering an balancing to the spice
- Strength has moves up to medium -full
- Cedar notes reappear deep in the final third
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
Although not extremely complex, the balanced flavors and aromas in the Stallone Nicaragua Cigars – Zaino Broadleaf offered a pleasant smoking experience from pre-light down to the nub. I especially enjoyed the fruit and caramel notes midway that were smooth and enjoyable. The cigar did exhibit a mild wave here and there and a small off burn that did not require a touch-up. This is one most enthusiasts would enjoy especially if you are a broadleaf fan. Pick up a fiver of these, or buy the sampler of the Cowboy line and experience all the blends. I rate this a 91.
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild Wave; (-1) Slight Off Burn in Second third; (-1) Flat Burn Cone
