Azan Burgundy was first introduced to me by a friend in Florida at a local cigar event. They are made by Roberto Duran in Nicaragua, but the brand was started by a family member in 1928, Cuba. After the original line was shut down during the Cuban Revolution it was restarted in Esteli in 2012, where the factory and farms are run by Cubans utilizing many of the same methods as Habanos in their homeland.
Today, we review the Azan Burgundy which is their value line.
Cigar: Azan Burgundy
Size: Robusto (4 7/8 x 50)
Wrapper: Ecuador Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua (Jalapa)
Strength: Medium
The Look: Featuring a burgundy band with accents of white and gold this Azan features a Corojo wrapper grown in Ecuador. To the eye the wrapper looks coarse and there isn’t much in terms of oils visible, however the cigar has a nice hefty weight to it with no soft spots. The cap is flat and reminds one of a Cuban in that aspect with an exquisite roll.
The Burn: The cold draw of the Azan Burgundy has hints of honey and molasses, and a hint of nuts. For a cold draw it comes off as very complex. The nose of the cigar reminds me of Cheerios, with a nose of oats which is a nice different experience that makes me look even more forward to lighting up this stick.
As we light up the first third of the cigar there is some cinnamon notes that grow in intensity as we smoke the Azan Burgundy that is joined by some graham crackers making the first seem like a, well you guessed it; cinnamon graham cracker.
In the second third of the Azan some hearty wood notes develop that remind me of oak and there is a building of some spice through the nose that compliments the cinnamon that is fighting to stay as floral notes are introduced.
The last third of the robusto Azan Burgundy line the cigar remains sweet, much like a sugar glazed pastry that reminds me of a Sfogliatelle which is an italian pastry also known as a lobster tail.
The Burn: The ash on the Azan Burgundy is a bit weak and I lost it before taking the picture of the burn which was a little off-center, but it never got out of hand where it would need to be touched up. The draw of the cigar was close to ideal, although it did feel a little bit thick at times.
The Finish: At $3.60 a stick by the Box the Azan Burgundy is a no brainer. A lot of delicious notes the are easy to pick out, the Azan smokes like a cigar that is nearly double the price. Roberto P. Duran has established himself with the burgundy line, the question that needs to be answered is can he do it again.
Price $4.19 (stick) / $71.99 (box)
Score: 90
Azan Burgundy Line
Azan Burgundy Line Foot
Azan Burgundy Line Burn
