Founded in 1989 by two Cuban immigrants, Mariana & Nestor Miranda; Miami Cigar & Company is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. As part of the celebration they have rebranded their signature line and today we have the first of 3 reviews over the coming months. The Nestor Miranda Collection is available in three wrappers.
Cigar: Nestor Miranda Collection
Size: 4.5 x 50 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Mild/Medium
The Look: At first look you question whether or not this is a Connecticut cigar due to the caramel shade of the stick. The Nestor Miranda Collection is well rolled, and a perfectly placed cap. The band has a primary color of black has a secondary color of silver foil with teal accents. Of the 3 bands this one is my favorite as the coloring works for me. The foot of the cigar is slightly spongy, and the shaft of the stick is firm (admit it, you are giggling).
The Notes: People ask me why I do the cold draw, and for me the cold draw helps open up the palate to the experience that sits before you. Sometimes these notes carry over into the cigar and sometimes they don’t, but it always helps me enjoy the smoke that much more. The cold draw of the Nestor Miranda Collection has a sweetness that screams black cherry while the foot of the smoke has a butter like nose to it.
After a quick toasting, the initial notes of the Nestor Miranda Collection are not what you would expect from a Don Pepin Garcia made cigar. There is some subtle pepper, but not the abundance that has become his signature, giving this cigar its own identity.
The initial notes are nutmeg, butter and sweetness on the finish. As we work through the first third the buttery richness is the dominant note that reminds me of Cuban toast in Miami and has me longing for a cafe con leche.
The second third of the Nestor Miranda Collection Connecticut develops some of the nutmeg experienced in the first third of the cigar that compliment the butter notes that remain. As the second third comes to a close there is a sweetness developing that is different then the first third of the smoke.
In the last third the sweetness defines itself as black cherry even if only for a short while before finishing with some nuts and spice.
The Burn: The ash of the cigar only dropped when I had to remove the band, and was white with some specs of a darker gray. The draw was perfect with a nice amount of smoke production, and the burn while not razor-sharp had a nice crisp thin carbon line. The NMC remained lit from start to finish.
Overall: I remember when Miami Cigar & Company first blended this cigar and I went to Esteli, Nicaragua with Jason Wood and Eddie Ortega. It was my first look at the My Father factory where this cigar is made. The Nestor Miranda Collection is one of my top Connecticut smokes on the market today. We would like to also take the time to welcome Miami Cigar & Company as an advertiser on The Cigar Authority.
Score: 91
Price: 7.50
Nestor Miranda Collection Connecticut
Nestor Miranda Collection Connecticut Foot
Nestor Miranda Collection Connecticut Burn
