When you look at all the premium cigars on the market today the majority have something in common, the Grade A wrapper. With most cigars the binder and fillers use a lesser grade as they don’t need to be aesthetically pleasing. This is not the case with the HVC Serie A as the cigar is composed entirely of Grade A tobaccos. HVC presents to you their A game, with the Serie A which was introduced at the 2019 IPCPR/PCA.
Cigar Review: HVC Serie A
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5.5
Ring Gauge: 54
Size: Robusto (Canones)
The Look: Packaged in a 10 count box, the HVC Serie A is something I don’t smoke often because the band makes me angry. We always say you can’t smoke the band, but just looking at this puts me out of the right mindset for a cigar. So I take it off before lighting it so I don’t have to look at it. In the hand the Corojo ’99 has a coarse texture under the fingers while being firm to the touch with a well packed foot.
The Notes: The foot of the stick offers up a sweet shortbread note with a touch of hay while the cold draw serves up a note that reminds me of a butter cookie. Once we toast and light the initial profile is an abundance of pepper with a subtle cedar sweetness.
Moving into the first third the pepper notes begin to subside as an abundance of wood envelope the palate. The fairly long finish has a cocoa powder mouth feel along with some spices of nutmeg, cumin and red pepper. The retrohale offers some white pepper and a subtle mocha.
In the second third the mocha of the retrohale beings to make its way on to palate as the wood notes pull back considerably being replaced by a French roast coffee. The finish of the cigar has a leather component with some wood and red pepper which is added by the retrohale.
The final third of the Serie A from HVC sees the leather component become the primary flavor profile due to the long finish. In addition there is some licorice, cedar and red pepper which is especially noticeable on the retrohale.
The Finish: I’ve never had a cigar band dictate the cigar I smoke until this release. I get the band is supposed to have a Havana Club feel to it, but I detest it so much. It actually makes me walk past the cigar, despite the fact I love this stick. Dear HVC, please change the band. It’s definitely box worthy but I can’t bring myself to buy one more then once in a blue moon because the band makes me ill.
Score: 93
Price: $9.79 / $86.99
HVC Serie A Canones
HVC Serie A Canones Foot
HVC Serie A Canones Burn
