HVC 10th Anniversary Cigar Review

HVC celebrates their 10th Anniversary with the launch of a limited edition celebratory cigar. Available in just one size the cigar features the use of Corojo 2012 for the first time from the Aganorsa Cigar Factory (Tabacos Valle de Jalapa). The cigars come packaged in 10 count boxes and are limited in production to just 2,000 boxes.

Cigar Review: HVC 10th Anniversary
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 (Jalapa)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua (Corojo 2012, Corojo ’99, Corojo ’98)
Length: 6.5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Size: Toro Extra

The Look: Packaged in a blue box with silver text, the cigars are laid out in one row of 10 cigars. The elaborate band features various shades of red, white and gold denoting HVC 10th Anniversary as well as the the years 2011-2021. The caramel color wrapper has a few noticeable veins and a significant amount of oils. In the hand the cigar has an average weight and a well packed foot.

The Notes: The cold draw of the HVC 10th Anniversary has a subtle cherry sweetness with a hint of figs and prunes.The aroma off the foot serves up a subtle graham cracker component. After we toast the foot there is a lot going on with a far less amount of pepper then I would expect from a cigar utilizing this much Corojo from the Aganorsa farms.

As we smoke the first third notes of dried fruit and raisins dominate the palate before being joined by hints of oak. As the first third comes to a close hints of caramel slide into the background as the oak notes become the dominant profile. The finish is moderate and sweet, though as the first third comes to a close the sweetness begins to fade as pepper develops especially on the retrohale.

Moving into the second third notes of peppercorn, and earth begins to develop and by the half way point they become dominant with some subtle sweetness in lingering on the finish. The oak experienced in the first third intensifies by the end of he second third especially on the retrohale and finish. Toward the end of the second third some notes of gingerbread begin to emerge.

The final third sees a gingerbread component added to the mix with a touch of pistachio and a remained dominant oak profile. The retrohale sees earth and coffee with an abundance of peppercorns. The finish is long and spicy with nuances of oak.

The Finish: The HVC 10th Anniversary starts out refined with a complex profile that has an enjoyable sweetness to it. Around the halfway point the cigar begins to develop that classic HVC profile of Nicaraguan Corojo spice. It’s a look at what the next 10 years might bring and what the last 10 years have brought. These are cigars that are ready to smoke now, but I plan on keeping a box on hand to age some to see how the two diverse profiles of the cigar meld together over time.

Score: 93
Price: $15.19 / $134.99