Micallef Gomez Sanchez 1RA Generacion Leyenda No. 2 Cigar Review

In December of 2017, I introduced you to the Micallef Gomez Sanchez 1RA Generacion Leyenda No. 1, a large, almost 2 hour smoke, that delivered on quality and flavor. It magnificently showed the craft of the 130 years of the Gomez Sanchez family and desire of Dr. Al Micallef to create a truly enjoyable cigar. Today we are going to run down it’s smaller sibling, the 1RA Generacion Leyenda No. 2, which along with the No. 1, was introduced at the 2017 IPCPR in Las Vegas.

I have to say the No. 2 is truly a “Mini Me” of the No. 1, from the shape down to the coffin it is packaged in. The blend is the same and described as:

• Wrapper –  5 Year Old Ecuadorian Habano
• Binder –  5 Year Old Nicaraguan
• Filler –  5 Year Old Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Honduran

Like its larger sibling, the Micallef Gomez Sanchez 1RA Generacion Leyenda No. 2 comes in a single Taper Figurado vitola, this time a (5.5 x 52) and comes packaged in an open face coffin with a small slide on the end that allows your to remove the cigar.

They come packaged ten coffins to a box. The MSRP for this cigar is set at $20.00 USD/Cigar

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Pre-Light Examination

The Micallef Gomez Sanchez 1RA Generacion Leyenda No. 2 is an excellent looking cigar with its milk-chocolate brown, gleaming wrapper and lots of marbling throughout. It is silky smooth and has what I would describe as an excellent vein network running throughout.

When I say vein network I mean the intricate structure of tiny veins that run through the leaf, delivering the nutrients while the plant is growing. All leaf has this but sometimes I see this more clearly in the wrapper and that usually means I am going to enjoy some amazing flavors during the smoking experience.

There are 3 bands on this cigar just like the Leyenda No. 1. – the primary band notes it is a Gomez Sanchez creation and identifies it as 1st Generacion. The date 1934 is printed below. The Secondary band identities it as the Leyenda. There is a footer band also that declares the relationship between the Micallef and Gomez Sanchez families with clasped arms and hands. What I did not note int he review of the Leyenda No. 1 is the  cut out in the band for the Cuban island silhouette that shows the leaf behind it.

So far the Leyenda No.1 and No.2 stack up equally but now it is time to get down to aroma and flavor. Running it across the nose I picked up a spicy barrel and sweet chocolate and raisin off the foot.

I cut the head to give about a 1/4 inch opening that provided just the right restriction.  The cold draw had growing pepper sensation on the lips and palate. I should note the Leyenda No. 1 had some earth in the cold draw but I did not seem to get that in the Leyenda No.2.

OK, it was time to light this up and see how it performs in burn and flavor.

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Cigar Review Notes

• Once ignited the first puffs delivered a big pepper wack on the retro-hale; nasal cleaning for sure!
• There was a delicious chocolate note on the tongue
• White ash develops
• Espresso come forward after a half-inch of burn
• Thick and dark char line
• Median volume of smoke after and inch – I cut it back just a sliver and more smoke enters

That is what is cool about tapered vitolas – you can control the delivery of smoke. I guess you could do the same with a punch on a regular cap.

• Ash dropped when I re-cut and a beautifully centered burn cone was exposed
• Back to the smoke,  rich caramel notes enter moving through the first third
• There is a decent oiling showing above the burn line
• Creamy and smooth nearing the secondary band
• Fruity cream enters with a touch of spice
• Cedar enters after the secondary band along with a tangy citrus peel
• Notes continue to evolve with a dry leather entering
• Spicy floral aroma
• Mild pepper on the nose
• Spicy pepper builds moving into final third
• The oils are amazing and the burn is simply spectacular
• For a short cigar this is a delicious slow burner
• Dry leather increases wrapped in a natural tobacco sweetness down to the nub
• Medium Strength
• Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 10 minutes

Overall, the Micallef Gomez Sanchez 1RA Generacion Leyenda No. 2  was a spectacular cigar that had excellent burn qualities and offered a multitude of flavors through the journey. When I compared this to the review I did of the Leyenda No. 1, there was a consistent core set of flavors (pepper, spice, leather, and cream) but the various nuances in flavor gave the Leyenda No. 2 its own personality that a seasoned cigar enthusiast would enjoy, The price point of $20.00 is steep but it is worth trying it.