Today I would like to offer a review of one of the latest blends from Tabacalera Caballeros known as the J16. This is one a few new limited-edition blends coming of the small and growing premium cigar company that has operations in the Dominican Republic.
The Tabacalera Caballeros J16 blend is described by the company as:
- Wrapper – San Andres
- Binder – Dominican and Ecuadorian Sumatra
- Filler – 5 different leafs (undisclosed)
The Tabacalera Caballeros J16 is expressed in a single (6.5 x 56) Box Pressed Toro. The come packaged in 20-count boxes with an MSRP of $12.00 /cigar. They are handcrafted at the company’s Tabacalera Caballeros factory in Tamboril, Dominican Republic.
For this review, I sampled 3 of these cigars that were provided by the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Tabacalera Caballeros J16 is a well constructed specimen of a box pressed cigar. The wrapper has an appealing reddish-brown color to it with a few veins and bumps along the barrel. The cigar is nicely packed with just the right give for a box pressing. The pressing has more of a rounded edge as oppose to a crisp edge. Construction is finished with a nice cap.
The samples I received from the company did not have the bands applied to them, but here is a photo of what the band looks like now.
Running the cigar along the nose, I did not pick up much pre-light aroma along the barrel but the foot enticed the nose with notes of butter and spice.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give this one some cold draw puffs that offered a more of an open draw with notes of spicy pepper on the lips and warming the palate.
Using my dual flame torch, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow as I drew in the first lit puffs of tangy and pepper notes. It kind of reminds me of a good Szechuan dish. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial draw offers peppery spice with a tangy plum that balances the pepper right away
- The pepper starts to pull back as the tang evalove i nto a rather sweet plum note – It is like a plum wine with your Szechuan meal
- The burn is quite fine and the puff volume is close to full with a rich creamy texture
- Sweet fruity aromas waft off the foot
- A solid light grey ash (stacking dimes) develops on top of an even burn line
- Mouth watering fruit notes progress in the profile
- The retrohale is smooth and easy
- Approaching the end of the 1st third, there is a pleasant nut nuance
- The ash fell in a big chunk revealing a well formed burn cone
- Bits of chocolate appear midway through the burn with ever present sweet fruit in the background
- A very smooth and warming nutmeg enters the profile
- Deeper in the second third the early nut reveals as walnut
- Spice notes increase deep in the second third
- A small wave in the burn develops
- Spice and fruit take it to conclusion with a lingering nut
- Medium in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 25 minutes
Final Analysis
The first draw of the Tabacalera Caballeros J16 Box Pressed Toro greets the palate with a lively peppery spice, quickly met by a tangy plum sweetness that softens the heat. This early interplay feels much like sipping plum wine alongside a vibrant Szechuan meal—where the pepper dances but never overwhelms, and the fruit rounds each bite.
As the pepper gracefully recedes, the tangy plum deepens into a more luscious, sweet fruit note. The burn proves impressively precise, producing a near-full volume with a rich, creamy texture. From the foot, sweet, fruity aromas drift upward, filling the senses. A solid light grey ash, neatly stacking like dimes, forms atop an even burn line, holding firm as the flavors evolve.
The profile becomes increasingly mouth-watering as fruit-driven tones continue to build. The retrohale remains smooth and effortless, carrying the sweet essence forward. Nearing the close of the first third, a subtle nut character emerges—delicate yet distinct.
Midway, the cigar introduces delicate touches of chocolate, weaving into the ever-present fruit backdrop. Soon after, a warm, comforting nutmeg note enters, coating the palate with gentle spice. As the second third unfolds, the earlier nut tones reveal themselves more specifically as walnut, lending a rich, earthy depth. Spice begins to rise again.
The final stretch sees the spice and fruit meld into a satisfying crescendo, the walnut lingering well after the draw. It’s a finish that, like the opening, recalls the harmony of sweet and spice in a fine Szechuan meal—balanced, memorable, and deeply satisfying. At $12.00/cigar this is all day any day.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy burn in second half
Bonus Points: (+1) Box Buy; (+1) Pleasurable and Consistent across Multiple Samples; (+1) Long Ash
