The Aladino Candela Toro features a Honduran-grown candela wrapper that carries a subdued olive-drab green rather than the bright green often associated with this style. The wrapper is silky smooth to the touch, matte in finish, and manages to avoid both oiliness and toothiness. While veins and seams are visible, the construction is solid and appealing, showing the care that went into its rolling.
Right from the start, the cigar introduces a distinct matcha green tea note that defines the candela character. This is supported by a light honey sweetness and a subtle hint of parsley. The grassy flavor is present but restrained, softened by floral and vegetal tones that create a creamy overall profile. A sweet, graham cracker-like nuance reminiscent of Teddy Grahams lingers on the palate, making the first third unique and enjoyable.
As the cigar progresses, leather begins to emerge and mix with hay and grassy notes. White pepper steps in with more presence, while the vegetal components remain central to the profile. New flavors of light cream and lemon zest appear, adding brightness alongside tea, wood, and leather. A subtle cinnamon sweetness rounds out this portion, giving the second third more depth and complexity.
In the closing portion, leather and grassy flavors continue as the dominant notes, while white pepper takes a supportive role in the background. Green tea makes a return, enhanced by a light creamy sweetness that lingers. Cedar, sweet hay, and vanilla wood join with a touch of citrus, finishing with a Corojo-like spice that ties the cigar back to its Honduran roots.
The Aladino Candela Toro offers a pleasant and nostalgic smoking experience, evoking a throwback to cigars of the ’80s and ’90s. Its flavors are smooth, balanced, and approachable, though transitions between thirds are limited compared to more complex blends. This cigar stands out as a great change of pace, particularly for newer smokers looking to move beyond Connecticut wrappers and explore something different. While seasoned smokers may find its range somewhat narrow, the candela wrapper delivers a unique and satisfying profile that makes this cigar worth revisiting.
Overall Score:88.88 out of 100
Overall Strength Score: 3.38 out of 10
This blind review (Cigar #27-D) was conducted by the Cigar Review Team comprising of: Sam Frishman, Tyler Ceola, JB Smith, Rob Brown, Rick Galletta,, Bret Curry, Mike Conklin, George Hillman, , James Elliott & Eusebio Garre
