This week on The Cigar Authority we took a look at the top 10 strongest cigars. We started the show with the Camacho Corojo which was part of the The Cigar Authority Care Package. The cigar came in at number 10 on our list. According to the Camacho website, “The story of the infamous Corojo seed spans generations, breaks boundaries, defies convention, and flies in the face of compromise — all in a quest to preserve the character of a legendary smoke that is the foundation of the Camacho brand.
You see, the original Corojo seed is what made Cuban cigars so famous back in the heyday of Havana. Perfected in the early 1940s, by celebrated tobacco grower Diego Rodriguez, Corojo was the exquisite result of isolating the famed Criollo strain, brought over from Mesoamerica, and crossing it with Indonesian Sumatra. The result… a bold, yet smooth flavor that quickly grew legendary among cigar aficionados worldwide. Soon Cuba would be known as the unrivaled producer of the ultimate smoke. There is no doubt that Corojo put cigars from this mysterious island nation on the map. Due to its unparalleled texture, elasticity, and bold, spicy flavor profile, Corojo quickly established itself as the cigar wrapper of choice, both in and outside of Cuba for decades. Yet there’s only one place in the world where you can actually find Original Corojo.
Camacho Corojo is built with a high-grade, fifth-priming wrapper leaf and grown from a plant that was liberated from compromise in the name of true authenticity.”
Cigar Review: Camacho Corojo
Wrapper: Corojo
Binder: Corojo
Filler: Corojo
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 60
Size: Gordo
The Look: Packaged in 20 count red lacquer boxes, the Camacho Corojo features a red and black band. The Corojo wrapper ugly wrapper with a lot of veins. The cigar is firm to the touch with no soft spots with the exception of the foot which is a bit under filled.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Camacho Corojo has a bit of a molasses and earthy notes to it with a touch of spice that one would expect from Corojo. While the aroma off the foot is a tad earthy with a touch of red pepper.
Once the cigar is lit, I am pleasantly surprised at the hints of molasses that have carried over from the cold draw to the all Corojo blend. I expected the cigar to be strictly a pepper bomb, and while there are dominant notes of red pepper there is a subtle sweetness that slowly fades away during the first third.
In the second third of the Corojo the notes become spicy red pepper with a hint of paprika and becomes what I expected the cigar to be. There is some cedar and earth present, but the cigar is aggressively spicy and is a quintessential corojo smoke.
The last third of the Corojo continues down the path laid out in the center portion of the cigar. The spice is there, almost in your face with some continued earth and cedar. Like the last third, the pepper on the nose is especially evident through the nose.
The Finish: When we debated our Top 10 list I wasn’t sure if Camacho belonged on the list. After smoking it, no doubt it belongs here It’s a solid entry at number 10 and it is a classic cigar that is an important part of the cigar industry.
Score: 92
Price: $9.99 / $175.99
Camacho Gordo Gordo
Camacho Gordo Gordo Foot
Camacho Gordo Gordo Burn
