While I can’t pin-point where I was the first time I heard about The Oscar Habano, I can recall the first time I smoked it. I was sitting with David, Mr. Jonathan and Derek doing an episode of The Cigar Authority where we smoked this cigar blind. You see, the four us do reviews for Cigar Journal Magazine, who just happened to name us the 2016 Cigar Ambassadors of the Year.
Moments into lighting up the cigar, we were simply blown away. It was so good, we all gave it a score well into the 90’s. Once we found out what the cigar was, we had to get our hands on more especially once we saw the packaging, but more on that later.
The cigar comes to us from Oscar Valladares, and if that sounds familiar to you, it’s because he is the owner of the factory that produces Leaf by Oscar which is made for and distributed by Island Jim. Today’s cigar however is not associated with Island Jim and is blended for Oscar Tobacco and distributed by Mr. Valladares.
Cigar Review: The Oscar Habano
Country of Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Vitola: Toro
The Look: Packaged in 11 count boxes that look like the mold used in a cigar factory to help the cigars take their shape, The Oscar Habano has visual presentation that is stunning. Inside the box, the cigars are sans cello but they are 3/4 covered in a candela tobacco leaf. When the cigar is ready to be smoked, the outer tobacco leaf is removed revealing an oily chestnut colored Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. The cigar features a turquoise color band that denotes The Oscar Habano and is well packed and firm to the touch with no voids.
The Notes: Once the cigar is clipped, the cold draw is earthy with hints of cedar and rye. The rye note is dominant with a hint of toffee which makes me want to pair the cigar with some WhistlePig Rye Whiskey. The nose off the foot of the cigar has an abundance of cedar and pine with hints of raw tobacco, most likely a remanent from the candela wrapping.
Once the cigar is lit things change-up but I would still pair the cigar with the aforementioned libation. There are hints of dark chocolate, caramel and the wood notes become more hearty along the lines of oak. As we move through the first third the cigar reminded me of Charleston Chew, something I haven’t had in about a quarter century.
Moving on to the middle part of the cigar the chocolate notes really begin to shine. There is mint like qualities on the finish of which creates an experience that is similar to mint chocolate chip ice cream. As we smoke past the half way point some hints of coffee begin to emerge as well. The retrohale of the cigar has an abundance of spices, and more mint that linger ever so slightly.
As we enter the last third of The Oscar Habano my interest of the cigar only intensifies as the rich complex notes are delicious. The dark chocolate note moves to the background as roasted coffee notes become dominant with a subtle leather on the finish.
The Finish: It’s not often you can call a cigar box a keepsake, but that is the case with The Oscar Habano. It would be an interesting conversation piece in any man cave. However, you can’t smoke the box so the cigar must be worthy to part with your hard-earned dollars. That is the case with The Oscar Habano which managed to satisfy someone who prefers mild cigars and two people who like full bodied cigars. Simply put, it is a flavor bomb of epic proportions and it is worthy of a purchase not only once, but time and time again.
Score: 94
Price: $12.19 / $118.99
The Oscar Habano Box
The Oscar Habano Covered
The Oscar Habano Cigar
The Oscar Habano Foot
The Oscar Habano Burn
