The Oscar Habano comes to us from Oscar Valladares and it’s interesting to the fact that two cigars Oscar is best known for use a tobacco leaf instead of a cello. While at first glance it might seem like a gimmick, there is no denying that these are great cigars as well.
Cigar Review: The Oscar Habano
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 a 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 while 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 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 candy bar.
Moving on to the middle part of the cigar the chocolate notes really begin to shine. There is mint like qualities on the finish. As we smoke past the half way point some hints of coffee begin to emerge as well. The retrohale serves up an abundance of spices, and more mint that lingers 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 moves to the background as roasted coffee becomes 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. 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 Cigar
The Oscar Habano Foot
The Oscar Habano Burn
