The story of Indian Motorcycle is a complicated one with the company going bankrupt in 1953. In 2011 the producer of some of the greatest bikes in history was purchased by Polaris Industries and the company is thriving once again. On the May 9th episode of The Cigar Authority Phil Zanghi discusses his family history with the brand and the creation of the cigar for today’s review.
Available in four sizes, with two different wrappers we take a look at the Habano Toro today following our review of the Indian Motorcycle Maduro, yesterday.
Cigar Review: Indian Motorcycle
Size: 6 x 52 (Toro)
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic, Central America
Strength: Medium
The Look (9/10): One thing is for certain, the Habano looks far better than the Maduro. The evenly colored wrapper that has a caramel look to it is flawlessly rolled with an abundance of oils. Veins are minimal and the cigar is firm. The rustic looking band feels more nostalgic on the Indian Motorcycle Habano.
The Notes (33/35): The aroma off the foot of the cigar is sweet with elements of cocoa and vanilla; both of which are quite enjoyable. The cold draw of the cigar serves up notes of raisin and a slightly citric note that borders on lime.
The first third of the cigar has some subtle pepper through the notes with hints of caramel and nutmeg on the palate. Smooth and medium bodied the cigar offers up an enjoyable experience as it progresses. As the first third comes to a close the notes of nutmeg are joined but a subtle sugar cane.
The second third of the cigar has an aroma that reminds of ribs on the barbecue and as a result there is a meat like note that joins the mix with a touch of earth on the finish. The nutmeg notes remain but the sugar cane experienced on the first third fade away.
The last third of the Indian Motorcycle Habano continues to remind me of the seared edge of a barbecue steak and a nutty finish with hints of coffee. Through the nose the cigar has an abundance of pepper that lengthens the finish.
The Burn (32/35): The burn line of the of the Habano wasn’t as sharp as the Maduro however it never needed to be touched up or relit. The thin combustion line revealed a medium gray ash that held for more than a third at a time. The cigar remained lit all the way through and the draw was ideal.
The Finish (18/20): The Habano version of Indian Motorcycles is smooth and complex with well-defined notes that hit the palate with little reservation. The cigar is also well-balanced and the price point makes it a worthy choice for an everyday cigar.
Score: 92
Price: $7.99
Bullet Points
- My initial thoughts were of how aesthetically pleasing the Habano version of the Indian Motorcycle cigar is to the naked eye.
- I was caught off guard by how different the cold draw was of the Habano vs Maduro considering the binder and filler is listed as the same.
- I could see smoking this cigar a lot and adding it to my daily rotation of which i smoke 5-7 cigars.
- I paired the cigar with water until the last couple of puffs when I had some Cuban coffee.
- Smoking time was 2 hours.
