Tasting Notes
Prelight
My San Lotano Requiem Maduro is a gentle
box-pressed beautiful dark-brown stick. The box-press is so perfect to hold and
the wrapper feels furry, almost velvety to the touch.
This wrapper is oily. You can tell from
just the look of it. Seams are visible and the double cap is neat. There is a
bit of tooth but nothing too drastic.
The cold draw gives off notes of
chocolate, warm spice, and earth
First Third
My San Lotano Requiem Maduro opens with
a whole lot of pepper and spice. There are billowy clouds of thick aromatic
smoke. The draw is perfect and so is the burn.Aside from the pepper, this cigar does
not gradually build. It says it’s a medium body and you will feel it from the
get-go.
I felt the oily wrapper on my lips, a
little tingling at the back of my throat thanks to the spice, and generally
tons of silky-smooth delicious smoke. More intricate nuances included
chocolate cream, earth, caramel, toasted nuts, and a little dry cocoa.
Honestly, the first few draws pack a
punch but that is AJ Fernandez signature delivery. Soon the stogie settles into
a luxurious stage where you can catch all the subtle nuances.
Middle
As my cigar settles into the mid third,
the pepper and spice notes move from the front of the palate to the back.
Chocolate, cream, coffee, and nuts take over the front of the palate.
The burn is still perfect and the sturdy
salt and pepper ash falls in thirds. Strength is a strong medium.Retrohale presents shy notes of
espresso, caramel and an implicit sweetness. A mix of premium tobacco and thick
earthy tones hold down the fort. I totally love the slight peppery earth long-finish
that stays on until the next draw.
Final Third
At this point, I can honestly say that
while this cigar does not transition intrinsically, it has enough complexity
and depth to stay interesting.
The final third opens with premium
tobacco and rich earthy tones taking over the front of the palate. Chocolate
cream, mocha, and cinnamon spice stay shy at the back of the palate and in the
Retrohale.
Strength is still a good medium but flavours
are full-blown. Smoke output is phenomenal and so is the burn line.
Towards the nub there is a kick in sweet
chocolate and cream notes as the tobacco and earthy tones zoom out. In my book,
this is a dee-lish ending to an exceptional cigar. My San Lotano Requiem Maduro Robusto
smoked for about an hour and a half.
How is the San Lotano Requiem Maduro Priced?
The San Lotano Requiem Maduro sells for
between $7 and $10 depending on the size.
This price, in my opinion, is a steal
compared to the value of this cigar. Cigar connoisseurs who love Maduro cigars
know how expensive a good Maduro can get. This baby is all flavour and kick
with a good price to boot.
Honestly, there are tons of other cigars
at this price point or higher which cannot hold a candle to this Maduro.
Is this the best in the San Lotano Series?
There is no doubt that this is an
outstanding cigar.
That said, as far as comparing it to the
other San Lotano cigars; I think this is a matter of opinion. The San Lotano
Series features cigars with varied strengths, blends, and wrappers. This series
was created to cater to every type of cigar smoker.
In my book, though, this is the best San
Lotano cigar. CigarAficionado gave this stogie a 92 which indicates that he
agrees with me.
Overall, the San Lotano Series is
remarkable and you should try all of them starting with the San Lotano Requiem
Maduro.
