One of the surprises this year for me is a brand from United Cigar called Fleur de la Reine. It is a cigar that I never heard of until I moved to New Hampshire, and United Cigar is a brand that you should begin to hear a lot about in 2015.
According to their website, “Bold and rich with spicy, full flavor, Fleur de la Reine is made up of a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos surrounded by a Dominican binder, but the wrapper is what separates the flavors between the Natural or Maduro versions. Ecuadorian Sumatra is highlighted on the Natural and it’s U.S.A. Connecticut Broadleaf on the Maduro version.”
I scored the Maduro a 93 back in August and today I take look at the Natural.
Cigar: Fleur de la Reine
Size: 4 7/8 x 52 (Quatre)
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua
Strength: Medium Plus
The Look: The band on the Fleur de la Reine features a lovely lady that reminds me a little bit of Gloria. The wrapper of the cigar is an oily looking Sumatra from Ecuador with a significant amount of veins present. The cigar is well rolled with nearly a seam present and is firm to the touch with a pretty hefty weight for its size.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Fleur de la Reine is nutty with a hint of molasses while the aroma off the foot is earthy with a hint of sweetness. As we light up the cigar there is some nuts and cedar present with a minimal amount of spice.
The first third of the cigar has elements of roasted nuts, and coffee. The aroma of the cigar reminds me of a graham cracker. Working further into the cigar a sweetness begins to tease, but never totally revealing itself.
Entering the second third of the Fleur de la Reine the nuts remain, and the sweetness becomes identify it self as vanilla. The cigar actually reminds me of Pralines and Cream ice cream and it has me salivating to say the least.
The last third the United Cigar Fleur de la Reine loses the cream, but the nuts remain with a slightly earthy finish. The aroma of the cigar is enticing, and those sitting next to me commented on it asking what I was smoking.
The Burn: The Fleur de la Reine has a nice draw with the perfect amount of resistance. The cigar had a slightly asymmetrical burn line and a firm light color ash that hold for more than a third at a time. The cigar remained lit from first puff to last exhale and produced a nice amount of smoke.
The Finish: While the Maduro reminded me of a Series R, the Fleur de la Reine stands on its own and proudly so. As I sit here I try to compare the two cigars in my head, and while I loved what the Maduro brought to the table, I am absolutely blown away by the Natural. The pralines and cream notes experienced on the Natural left me satisfied and relaxed. What more do you want from a cigar?
Score: 94
Price: $5.99
Fleur de la Reine
Fleur de la Reine Foot
