Following the success of the Charter Oak Connecticut Shade & Broadleaf, Nick Melillo has released the Habano which he describes as filling the profile gap between the two lines. The cigar which was offered to retailers in early September has begun to reach the shelves albeit at the time of this review in only one size.
In the past we reviewed the Connecticut Shade which scored a 92 as well as the 91 rated Connecticut Broadleaf. How does the Habano compare, read on for our opinion?
Cigar Review: Charter Oak Habano
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Size: Toro
The Look: Like the previous releases in the line, the cigars are packaged in 20 count slide top boxes. The difference is the Habano features a more finished look with the box being stained a darker color. Inside the Habano cigars are darker than I expected not giving much of a difference between this and the Maduro at a quick glance. It features the parchment coloring band with the Charter Oak, which is a landmark in Melillo’s home state of Connecticut. The stick is rolled to perfection at the AJ Fernandez factory in Esteli, Nicaragua and it features a closed foot with no soft spots and a fairly light weight.
The Notes: Despite the closed foot, the draw is pretty fluid with hints of graham and a touch of mocha while the aroma off the foot has a touch of cedar and sunflowers seeds. Instead of toasting the foot I keep my torch a couple of inches away and pull in drawing the flames to the wrapper in order to taste it on the first draw where it serves up mocha and marshmallows.
As we smoke our way into the fist third notes of graham are the focal point with a hint of leather. The cigar really changes with the retrohale which adds a ton of depth in the form of black pepper, pecans and a quick hint of mocha that I wish would linger a big longer. The finish is moderate in length with an added cinnamon component.
Moving into the second third the notes of pecans become dominant with a subtle citrus developing in the background before fading away around the halfway point. The cigar continues to serve up mocha which takes a backseat to the nuttiness until we approach the final third. The retrohale adds some black pepper and touch of cinnamon that continues on the finish of the Charter Oak Habano.
As we finish things out the mocha notes are dominant with a touch of pecans and cashews. The cigar develops a leather finish around the final inch which takes away from the sweetness the cigar was had been delivering. The retrohale continues to showcase some back pepper though it is toned back considerably alongside a hint of rye,
The Finish: Charter Oak is one of the best value cigars on the market today and I would be hard-pressed to find anyone who disagreed. The Habano might be the best of the bunch with its complex flavor profile and smooth finish. It definitely smokes like a more expensive cigar so for that we will give the cigar an extra point for its value. I am sure this might be controversial to some, but hey, when have I shied from that. It’s 100% box worthy in my opinion.
Score: 93
Price: $6.39 / $111.99
Charter Oak Habano Toro
Charter Oak Habano Toro Foot
Charter Oak Habano Toro Burn
