The Van 22 is a delectable looking
cigar. Created by Corona Cigar Co. it's a premium cigar in the truest
sense. The cigar itself is clean and straightforward. A Ecuadorian
Habano wrapper encases the 6x52 Toro that I have chosen to smoke for
this review. It has a silky smooth looking wrapper that is semi-oily
offering only slight veining and a regal look. The price point is 9
dollars and right inline for a quality premium cigar of this
magnitude.
The binder is Dominican and both
Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers are used in the blend. The cigar
band is an edgy mixture of gold, silver, white, and black lettering.
Examining the cigar, I found it giving off a chocolate and spice
aroma. It was a pleasant surprise and intrigued my senses beyond what
they already were. Upon lighting up, I was greeted with a strong
black pepper taste that was heavy on the palette. An inch into the
smoke and it mellowed out slightly offering a sweet fruit undertone
and light spices.
A full third of the way in now and dry
spices remains on the palette. The aroma from the cigar is exquisite
resembling cinnamon and cocoa. The draw is light and airy helping to
maintain the even burn you will find on the cigar. At the halfway
point, I found a walnut flavor that started culminating on my
palette. It was pleasant and offered a nice contrast while enjoying
the cinnamon and cocoa aroma.
At the two thirds mark, I noticed that
the fruit picked up slightly but remained in the background. The
nutty features remained consistent and consisted of cashew, walnut,
and almonds. Notes of earthiness are also featured. An occasional
bitter note is found, but it's slight and disappears quickly being
replaced by a creamy spice aftertaste.
The final third is marked by hints of
coffee, spices, and citrus in the background. At this point, it also
moves from being primarily a medium bodied cigar to bordering on
full. The ash is white and flaky offering large plumes of smoke.
Overall, a very well constructed cigar that offers a powerhouse
flavor profile. A reliable burn and draw with no dead-spots make this
a must smoke cigar on my list. I will definitely be adding this to my
after lunch cigar lineup for sometime to come.
No comments:
Post a Comment