This week due to the Christmas holiday, The Cigar Authority will be broadcast live on Thursday from 4pm to 6pm at the Studio 21 Podcast Cafe in Salem, NH. It’s a change for our show as we normally broadcast on Saturday at 12 Noon but due to the holiday rush we figured it would be challenging to do a show on December 23th from a retail store.
We will be joined on the show live by Oliver Nivaud and we will light up a cigar from The Cigar Authority Care Package, which just so happens to be one of my everyday favorite cigars.
Cigar Review: Fleur de la Reine Maduro
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 60
Size: Gordo
The Look: The cigars come packaged in a dark cabinet style box with gold writing. Upon looking at the cigar there is a familiarity about it. Specifically the band, as the lovely lady that adorns this band instantly reminds you of another whose band is also graced by a beauty. Beyond the band, the Fleur de la Reine features an aged looking Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. The vein structure is what one would expect from a Broadleaf and under the fingers it feels like velvet. There is an abundance of oils on the wrapper, tooth in the form of magnesium bumps and a nice weight to it with no soft spots. The well packed foot shows off some ligero in the filler tobaccos.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Fleur de la Reine has a nice sweetness to it that reminds me of caramel and a touch of earth. On the foot of the cigar the notes are reversed with earth and a touch of caramel sweetness. Once the cigar is lit, there are notes of cocoa that is incredibly defined and its easy to get lost in the intoxicating taste. As we move deeper into the first third some notes of leather develop but its secondary to the notes of cocoa and cedar. Through the nose some anise is present and a subtle sweetness remains on the finish.
The second third of the Fleur de la Reine transitions greatly as the base note becomes the previously experienced anise and the cocoa which was dominant at the start of the second half begins fade away. At the mid way point, the cocoa has left the building and coffee takes over as the primary note. The cigar begins to turn up in strength slightly as well and some pepper makes an appearance on the retrohale.
The last third continues with notes of coffee and anise which is consistent with the previous third, but there is an addition of caramel that was experienced on the pre-light draw that became the dominant note as we smoke this cigar to the nub.
Overall: There are some cigars that should be the staple of any humidor and the Fleur de la Reine falls into that category. Medium plus in strength with decisively enjoyable notes and a certain familiarity about it, this is a stick that won’t break the bank, but smokes like it. Box worthy to say the least, the Fleur de la Reine is one of my favorite every day cigars.
Score: 94
Price: $7.69 / $126.99
Fleur de la Reine Maduro
