It’s become customary on The Cigar Authority to follow up Saturday’s podcast with one of the cigar smoked on the show. Being we just reviewed the Plasencia Alma Fuerte a week ago, today we opted to go with the Equilibrium Toro Gordo which was a part of the February Care Package.
Cigar Review: Equilibrium
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic (50%), Nicaraguan (50%)
Length: 6.5″
Ring Gauge: 54
Size: Toro Gordo
The Look: The Equilibrium comes packaged in a glass top box of 20 cigars. Inside is a beautiful looking dark cigar with a few noticeable veins. It features a perfectly applied pigtail cap and a closed foot. The band of the cigar has a yin-yang symbol with the words Equilibrium and 50/50 which denotes that the cigar is a balanced blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos. Despite the label of Nicaraguan wrapper it looks a bit like Connecticut Broadleaf.
The Notes: The cold draw is sweet with hints of raisins, cinnamon and a touch of earth which kicks in a bit after you realize there is a nice sweetness. Meanwhile the aroma off and wrapper has a continued sweetness and a hint of ginger. After we quickly light the closed foot the first note is a balanced mix of leather and earth.
Moving into the first third the leather notes stay, but the cigar begins to pick notes of roasted coffee beans and a touch of espresso complete with the creamy foam on top. As the first third comes to a close the coffee notes are dominant with nuances of cedar and nuts.
Moving into the second third of the cigar the cedar notes become dominant over a base of leather. There is a subtle creaminess to the cigar and around the halfway point the nuttiness ramps up becomes the dominant flavor profile. The retrohale adds some spices to the mix, including a subtle cinnamon.
The last third sees the leather notes become dominant with some subtle cedar and nuts in the background. The cigar has continued spice on the retrohale and a very long finish.
The Finish: I guess the word to use for the Equilibrium is balance. The flavors are full, and the strength is full an enjoyable cigar especially if you like a cigar that is full in every aspects. The price is perfect at under $100 a box and it’s a cigar that would live to pair with either a Glenfiddich 14 year or a Zacapa XO with the scotch bringing out the wood notes, or the rum bringing out the sweetness.
Score: 90
Price: 4.99 / $99.99
Equilibrium Toro Gordo
Equilibrium Toro Gordo Foot
Equilibrium Toro Gordo Burn
