Last week I gave my take on the Vibes & Vitolas – La Obra Del Destino Broadleaf blend. Today, I would like to offer my take on its sibling, the Ecuador Chan . The name Chan is the nickname of the father of brand owner Pedro Figueroa.
The blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuador
- Binder – Sumatra
- Filler – Estelí, Condega, Jalapa
The blend is expressed in a single toro vitola that retails for $16.00/cigar. They can currently be purchased at the Burnt Leaf Lounge in Sunrise, Florida. They are produced at the Lanuza Cigar Factory in Nicaragua and Pedro worked closely with Raul Lanuza to create these blends.
Pre-Light Examination
The cigar presents itself with a dark brown wrapper featuring a fanciful fuse cap, The cigar is packed firmly and well rolled. It minimal veins, and light marbling throughout the wrapper.
A single band adorns the cigar. It is the same band that is used on the Broadleaf. It uses a forest green and gold leaf motif. The name La Obra Del Destino is printed on top of the die cut band along with the family name “Figueroa” printed on the bottom. The right side of the band denotes the company was established in 2024 and the left side denotes the company name “Vibes & Vitolas”
Running the cigar along the nose, sweet spice aromas are easily detected along the barrel, while the foot exudes delectable notes of walnut and rich chocolate.
The cold draw is spot on in terms of restriction, delivering flavors very similar to the foot aroma profile with added black pepper that sharpens the experience before first light.
Once ignited, the cigars introductory notes include cream and cocoa, treating the palate to a fine start to the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
First Third
The journey begins with thick, chewy smoke carrying creamy notes and a touch of cocoa across the palate. A light-gray ash forms atop the cigar as cocoa quickly establishes itself as a core flavor early in the burn. A mild wave develops in the burn line, eventually requiring an early touch-up to maintain combustion.
Woody notes begin to emerge alongside the cocoa profile, while a growing sweetness near the end of the first third starts accentuating the chocolate characteristics nicely. Despite the flavor development, another off-burn develops and requires a second touch-up. The ash eventually falls in a solid chunk, revealing an off-centered and somewhat pointy burn cone beneath.
Second Third
Moving into the second third, the pre-light walnut notes finally join the flavor profile, adding a welcome nuttiness to the evolving blend. The strength steadily climbs and reaches medium-full territory deep into this portion of the cigar. Hints of citrus begin to emerge, adding brightness and helping balance the darker notes of cocoa, wood, and earth.
The smoke remains dense and chewy, continuing to coat the palate with rich texture while darker espresso and charred wood nuances hinted at during the pre-light begin revealing themselves.
Final Third
As the cigar transitions into the final third, sharper notes begin entering the profile, bringing a more aggressive edge to the finish. While the cocoa, wood, and walnut remain present, the sharper character becomes increasingly noticeable as the cigar closes out the journey.
Final Analysis
The Vibes & Vitolas – La Obra Del Destino Ecuador Chan Toro delivers a rich and layered experience built around cocoa, walnut, roasted coffee, and woody earthiness. The thick, chewy smoke texture and evolving sweetness provided enjoyable moments throughout the journey, particularly as the walnut and citrus notes emerge deeper into the smoke. While burn performance required some maintenance along the way, the flavor complexity and medium-full strength profile kept the cigar engaging for most of the journey. The final though, brought an aggressive sharpness to the profile that I felt too a little away form the experience. I rate this a 90.
Point Deductions: (-2) Multiple Touchups; (-1) Off centered pointed burn cone; (-1) Flaky Ash; (-1) Sharp finish in the final third
Bonus Points: (+1) Complex Profile
