Micallef Red joined the Micallef Color Series in Fall 2024, following the success of the Black and Blue blends as part of their regular production lineup. Since then, the Color Series has expanded to five blends, with a sixth—Micallef White—on the horizon. In January 2026, Micallef introduced exclusive Gordo sizes of the Black and Red blends created specifically for Two Guys Cigars and 2GuysCigars.com. Today, Dan Davison of The Ash Holes podcast and master statistician for the STARS reviews the new Micallef Red Gordo.
Crafted in Nicaragua, the Micallef Red features a Mexican San Andrés Habano wrapper, a Pennsylvania Broadleaf binder, and a filler blend of Mexican and Nicaraguan tobaccos. This hefty Gordo measures 6 x 60 and wastes no time making its presence known.
The cigar sports a rich, reddish dark brown wrapper with minimal visible veins, tight seams, and a smooth, oily sheen that immediately impresses—exactly the kind of presentation you expect from a premium stick hovering around the twenty-dollar mark. On The Ash Holes I’ll sometimes joke that certain big ring gauge cigars smoke smaller than their size, but that is absolutely not the case here. The Micallef Red Gordo is a true heavyweight, densely packed and unapologetically large in the hand.
Right out of the gate, the cigar delivers an aggressive blast of cayenne and black pepper. As it settles in, layers of rich black coffee emerge alongside salty, sourdough-like notes that remind me of a toasted salt bagel. A touch of caramel sweetness and dark chocolate rounds out the profile, balancing the initial spice with some welcomed depth.
The pepper eases up, but the strength and boldness remain firmly intact. Black coffee continues to anchor the profile, while that savory salt-bagel character persists. Sweeter tones of cinnamon and sugar creep in, evoking Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal milk left at the bottom of the bowl—back when I could tolerate milk, (provided it was consumed at a responsible hour of the day). Subtle flashes of citrus add brightness and keep things lively.
In the final stretch, the cigar maintains its bold, savory-sweet identity. Cinnamon and salt remain front and center, joined by a nutty undertone along with light touches of leather and wood. The pepper has fully dissipated, and the strength tapers into a smoother, highly flavorful finish that leaves you satisfied rather than fatigued.
Construction is flawless easy draw, razor-sharp burn, impressive for just $10.29 per cigar. On The Ash Holes in September 2024, I scored the Robusto a 92, noting that while Micallef Blue was my personal favorite, the Red pushed slightly beyond my usual strength comfort zone. The Gordo takes that intensity even further, shattering the myth that big ring gauges lack power – yet it’s the explosive flavor that truly steals the show. Bold at first light, it settles into a sweet, complex profile that works any time of day.
For smokers who usually lean mild but like to turn things up now and then, this is the perfect bridge. And for full-bodied fanatics like The Kiltman, the depth of flavor paired with a can’t-miss value price makes this an absolute no-brainer.
Overall Score: 93 out of 100
Overall Strength Score: 6 out of 10
This Special Cigar Review was done by Dan of The Ash Holes Podcast, you can watch the Ash Holes Live every Tuesday at 4pm EST
