The Fleur de la Reine is a solid workhorse of a cigar for me. It’s one that I keep in rotation with my other go-to’s. This is a brand that has been around for quite some time and has a great rapport with the people who smoke them. With a thick and sturdy wrapper surrounding a complex blend of fillers from several different countries, it offers a nice bang for the buck. Today I’ll be checking out the Cinq in Natural.
What am I smoking?
Cigar Review: Fleur de la Rein Cinq Natural
Country of Origin: Honduras
Distribution: United Cigar
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Nicaragua and Honduras
Size: 5.5 inches
Ring Gauge: 54
Power: 6 / 10
Packaging & Design
The Fleur de la Reine Cinq come packaged in boxes of 20. The box itself is made of a dark wood, like stained mahogany. It showcases the Fleur de la Reine crest in gold on the top, giving the box a contrasting look. The bands have a glossy look and feel, showcasing a woman with wavy hair as the focal point. Colors of red, white and gold cover the rest of the band, which I find to be an attractive color scheme. It reminds me of the old style cabinet boxes old Cuban brands came in.
First Impressions
This is a nice looking smoke that shows off quality in several ways. There are hardly any veins or seems to speak of, and the wrapper is velvety smooth. It has a rich tan color and smells a lot like cedar. The Fleur de la Reine feels very well made, showing no signs of flaws or soft spots in the roll. Prelight notes after cutting with my Lotus Jaws include earth, white pepper and raisins; an alluring combination.
The Smoke
After sparking up with a Vertigo Cyclone 2, an aroma of wood and aged tobacco become present in the air. The draw is easy and full of soft notes of cocoa, blonde roast coffee beans and a touch of sweetness. There is a bit of a peppery sensation on my palate which adds to the complexity.
Into the second third, things start to pick up. I start noticing that the cigar is getting smoother as I burn it down. There are notes that remind me of buttered Ritz crackers, which is a nice surprise. There are also subtle complexities of floral and citrusy notes that are keeping me highly entertained. On top of that, the burn is spot on and requires no work on my end to keep it going. I’d also like to mention this Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper has a beautiful natural sweetness to it that lingers on the lips and adds to the overall balance of the cigar.
Finishing up on the Fleur de la Reine Cinq and I’m quite impressed with it, especially with this being a lesser-priced cigar. The body has picked up slightly bringing it into the medium plus range. Tasting notes are consistent with the second third, but have increased in their intensity. I gotta hand it to the construction though, as the burn on this one has been steady throughout the whole experience.
Final Thoughts
If I’m looking for a solid hour long smoke that has solid flavor and construction, its going to be this. For a cigar that falls right around six dollars a stick, there is no reason you shouldn’t try the Fleur de la Reine line of cigars. I purchased myself a box of these a while back to share with friends on weekend BBQ’s, and everyone that has tried them has been very happy with them. I think I might score a box of the maduro version as well very soon. Be on the lookout for a review of that blend soon.
Rating: 90
Price: $6.49 / $124.99 (Box of 20)
