Considering I make my fiancé watch everything Marvel and most things DC, once a week I need to let her hold the remote control. That night is Sunday, and while watching the Shahs of Sunset I couldn’t help but notice how much Reza looks like Don Benigno. The doppelgänger effect led me to reaching up for today’s review.
According to the Two Guys Smoke Shop website which sells the Don Benigno brand, “The story starts back in 1950, the year Benigno Arronte was born in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba. At the time, his grandfather owned a cigar factory named “Ceniza” in Vuelta Abajo, where Don Benigno would learn the processes of cigar making at a young age. Things took a turn for the worse following the Cuban Revolution when Fidel Castro eventually took over, ultimately causing the Ceniza factory to close it’s doors.
Don Benigno might not be a name you know, but it is a name you should. Based in Costa Rica, Don Benigno is considered a cigar legend in the country he now makes his home. Having migrated from Cuba, he started rolling cigars from his kitchen to make some coin. As word spread, Don Benigno cigars became highly sought after and eventually he grew out of his home workshop. He would open his own cigar shop in San Jose where he would attract the attention of a local investor that helped him distribute his cigars. Unique and complex, Don Benigno is a cigar that should be in your humidor. After all, he is a legend.”
Cigar Review: Don Benigno
Country of Origin: Costa Rica
Wrapper: Not Disclosed
Binder: Not Disclosed
Filler: Not Disclosed
Length: 4.75″
Ring Gauge: 50
Vitola: Robusto
Cutter: Lotus Jaws
Lighter: Veritgo Glock
The Look: Packaged in 10 count wooden boxes and branded with the Don Benigno name, the cigars have a simple look right down to the basic shape cigar band of black and gold. The Don Benigno Natural wrapper has a brindle like effect to it and is rolled to near perfection with almost no veins to speak of. In the hand the cigar is balanced with no soft spot and slightly spongy foot.
The Notes: Once the cigar is clipped there is a note that reminds me of a salted potato chip. The notes of potato are joined by a subtle earth in the background, Meanwhile, on the aroma some hints of cocoa are detected.
On the initial light the cigar offers a myriad of notes, the most dominant being a vanilla cream that coats the palate. As that note begins to level out some hints of honey and pecans join the mix with a spicy retrohale that also ads some vegetal components to the aroma.
On the second third the cigar continues to serve up notes of honey and pecans as the vanilla cream fades away into a memory. The cigar has a woody retrohale that is also noticeable on the aroma.
The last thing of the Don Benigno sees some of the vanilla cream work back into the mix. There is also an earthy component mixed in with continue notes of pecan. Some spice develops again on the retrohale on the enjoyable moderate finish.
The Burn: A slow burning Robusto, the Don Benigno has a firm white ash that holds on for the first third of the cigar and continues in nearly one-third increments. The draw of the stick is perfect and while not the thinnest of combustion lines the cigar has a fairly even burn.
The Finish: If there was one cigar that could be used as a poster child for “looks can be deceiving” the Don Benigno would be just that. Ugly and simple looking the cigar is incredibly complex and really kept my interest throughout. In fact, I purchased a 10 count box of this cigar to add to my growing collection at home.
Score: 93
Price: $12.19 / $111.99
Don Benigno Natural
Don Benigno Natural Foot
Don Benigno Natural Burn
