A customer of Two Guys Smoke Shop reached out to me on Facebook to review today’s cigar, which was off my radar until he asked for it.
The Testorossa was launched in 2012 at IPCPR in Orlando and according to the Cuba Rica Testorossa website, “The” Red Head” is a full body cigar for those who seek the ultimate in strength and flavor. It’s wrapper, an Ecuadoran Habano – it’s oily sheen a precursor of the complex, flavor journey, to follow. The Testarosso binder and filler are left to one’s imagination. Just let it go – Testarosso will do the rest. Backed with understated power and elegance, the “Red Head” experience will be one of perfect balance, sweet undertones, and a hint of spice.”
Cigar: Cuba Rica Testarossa
Size: 5 x 56 (Topaz)
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Not Disclosed
Filler: Not Disclosed
Strength: Full
Source: Two Guys Smoke Shop
The Look: The cigar features a foot ban which is a fail on a few levels because the word Testarosso is upside down, and the burning embers of the foot is actually a photoshopped brain to look like it is on fire. But the biggest fail is the fact that it hides the beautiful closed foot of the cigar. The Habano wrapper is sweating oils and is gorgeous looking, and the cigar is perfectly rolled. In the hand the 56 ring gauge cigar is hefty with no soft spots.
The Notes: The nose of the wrapper has a faint fig aroma with a hit of mocha. Once the cigar is clipped there is virtually no draw due to the closed foot, there is some hints of fig. The draw will change once the cigar is lit.
After a quick toasting of the foot, there is subtle spice and sweetness to the cigar. However the sweetness quickly fade and the notes of pepper pick up considerably through the nose. One the ash falls some sweetness returns and hints of leather.
The second third of the Testarossa sees the leather notes intensify and the notes of pepper remain constant until the halfway point where the subside some, although they still tingle the nostrils. Some of the sweetness returns with hints of cashews.
The last third so a return of some intense spices and a hint of mint that has wanting to drink a Mojito and to be honest that would be welcomes right now with the warmer weather and to perhaps reduce the spice. There is some nuts and leather on the finish as well.
The Burn: The Testarossa from Cuba Rica won’t win any awards for looking the best though with the exception of one touch up it never got out of control. The draw was perfect with a nice resistance while smoking slow and the light color ash held more than a third at a time.
The Finish: You many not get it from reading the review, but I really loved this cigar. I loved the spices and the cashews and it wasn’t what I expected it to be. The presentation of the cigar is a bit weak, but the smoke was solid especially since I was in the mood for a full-bodied stick.
Score: 92
Price: $8.99 / $161.99
Testarossa
Testarossa Foot
Testarossa Burn
