Two inspiring families, handcrafting inspiring cigars. Micallef Cigars is a collaboration between the family of Al Micallef, with expertise in worldwide commerce, and Gomez Sanchez, with expertise in handcrafting the finest cigar lines in the world. The Gómez Sanchez tobacco family business was started back in Cuba in 1934 by Mr. Pedro F. Gómez. In 1994, Joel Gómez Sanchez, grandson of Mr. Pedro F. Gómez, followed his grandfather’s steps and continued with the family tradition in The Valles de San Andres factory in Veracruz, Mexico.
Cigar Review: Micallef A
Wrapper: Nicaragua Maduro
Binder: Sumatra
Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic
Length: 6.75
Ring Gauge: 54
Size: Churchill
The Look: Packaged in 20 count bundles, the A is a bit misleading in name. An A size cigar is 9.25 x 47, however this A is a Churchill. It features an abnormally dark wrapper that is gritty under the touch and a bit thinner then your usual Maduro wrapper. In the hand the cigar is soft and undefiled at the foot, but there are no voids of tobacco along the length.
The Notes: The cold draw of the cigar is pretty uneventfully with straightforward notes of tobacco while the aroma off the foot has a touch of brown sugar. Once the cigar is lit there is an abundance of flavor with marshmallow fluff being the first to show itself.
Moving into the first third nots of marshmallow, dark chocolate and graham create a rich flavorful profile that was totally unexpected considering the pedestrian cold draw. Halfway through the first third the marshmallow sweetness is replaced with a dark coffee component. The A from Micallef has a short finish that becoming longer with the retrohale that adds leather to the mix.
The second third of the Micallef A sees notes of dark chocolate slide into the background as coffee becomes dominant with a retrohale adding cocoa and leather to the mix. The cigar features a salty finish that is still relatively short.
The last third has definitive notes of chocolate and I find my mind wandering to seven layer cake. The finish remains loaded with leather and coffee as we smoke this cigar down to the nub.
The Finish: Al Micallef doesn’t come from a line of cigar makers, but he has an eye for business. The successful petroleum & hospitality Texas businessman launched Micallef Cigars in 2017 and since its launch the cigar has become a mainstay on social media. Having smoked the Micallef A it is easy to see why this cigar has caught the eye of many. While the cigar doesn’t have intricate flavor changes, it does provide a tasty experience. It’s definitely a cigar worth trying.
Score: 91
Price: $8.39 / $149.99
Micallef A
Micallef A Foot
Micallef A Burn
