Coyaba Red Label Cigar Review – Enticing to say the least

Back in September we reviewed the Coyabo White Label cigar and introduced you to Juan Nunez and his Coyaba Cigar company. Today we will offer a review of the Coyaba Red Label. I received this cigar from Juan himself at the Black Smoke Miami event for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.

While the Coyaba White Label was more of a mild to medium blend, the Red Label is crafted for the more experienced palate. The blend is described as:

• Wrapper – Peruvian Habano (Cuban Seed).
• Binder – Peru (Viso).
• Filler – Dominican Republic (Piloto Cubano), Dominican Republic (Doble ligero), Nicaragua (Viso).

A much bolder blend indeed.

The Coyaba Red Label is available in 3 vitolas and packaged in 25-count boxes. You can also get these as part of a 3-pack sampler that also includes the White and Green Label cigarsint he Coyaba lineup.

• Robusto – 5 x 50 (MSRP $7.75)
• Toro -6 x 52 (MSRP $8.50)
• Toro Gordo– 6 1/2 x 60 (MSRP $9.25)

Like the rest of the Coyaba Cigars line, the Red  Label is produced in the Dominican Republic and is described by Juan as:

“A one of a kind array of coffee, cedar and earthy tones. A rich and stunning smoke with added power that is perfect for those smokers that have established palates.”

For this review I sampled the Coyaba Red Label Toro.

Examining the Coyaba Red Label, you will quickly notice the medium brown wrapper that has a slight reddish clay tinge to it. There are a few veins that run through it along with a light tooth and a some glisten in the light. It has a decent weight in the hand, solid to the touch and finished with a simple cap.

The band on the red label is the same as the other offerings int he Coyaba Cigars portfolio with red being the dominate color of the band. The center of the band has the Coyaba logo centered in a white oval with gold trim. Then there is two rectangular strips intersecting the oval and wrapping around the barrel of the cigar. The strips declare this is “Hand Crafted” and “Premium Cigars”

Running the Coyaba Red Label across the nose I picked up nutmeg and vanilla aromas off foot while the barrel had little aroma to it.

I used a punch to open the cap and the cold draw had some decent restriction to it but not so tight that you could not get a draw. Initial cold draws did not offer much but as I rolled it about a little more I started to pick up a light cinnamon spice.

I am not sure where this will take me but it was time to fire up this early Saturday morning with the sun rising behind me. A cool  crisp Florida morning, perfect for the start of a weekend smoke journey.

---

Cigar Review Notes

• Butter and cinnamon start the journey
• Medium volume of smoke to start
• A touch salt enters
• Light grey ash rests on a medium char line
• Natural tobacco sweetness fills out the first third
• Cinnamon is more muted moving toward the second third
• Coffee notes enter midway
• Flavors have all blended as I remove the band
• Medium smoke so far
• Ash is solid and when tapped the cone is nicely centered
• Spice starts to increase along with a light earth component
• Wow! Things are changing as vanilla enters
• The sweetness returns to brighten the vanilla
• A nut background evolved along with a spice aroma
• Strength increases
• Finishes with a peppery spice
• Medium to Full in Strength
• Total Smoking time was one hour and ten minutes

Overall,  I particularly enjoyed the Coyaba Red Label over the White but that is my palate as I enjoy fuller more complex cigars. This is one that started off with a medium profile but then kicked it up in the second half with enticing flavors. The sweetness and vanilla notes helped to balance the spice and pepper through the journey. You can find Coyaba cigars by contacting Juan Nunez on their website.