El Titan de Bronze – Burn Your Fingers Good

There are lots of cigar producers scattered all over the place.  Many go unnoticed, others achieve cult status.  And most are in between, eking out a living while trying their best to produce quality cigars.  But, El Titan de Bronze stands in its own category.  Occupying a tiny storefront in Little Havana, Miami, this shop has 8 master rollers who each roll about 150 cigars a day.  They work in the traditional Cuban style each making his or her own cigars from start to finish.  Many of their rollers have reached the top level or category status and have many years experience.  Each pleasantly goes about his or her business rolling the cigars, listening to music and keeping up a stream of chatter with each other and visitors as well.  El Titan de Bronze is owned by Sandy Cobas whose father started the business about twenty years ago.  Every day she opens this tiny cigar mecca, satisfying smokers and other producers as well.  Much of the output of her rollers is made for other producers and many labels are affixed to these great cigars by the staff.  Additionally, Sandy has the team roll  a few blends for the house.  These cigars, under the label of El Titan de Bronze, are great smokes.

I had a chance to meet Sandy, her husband, and the rollers at the El Titan de Bronze factory.  While we were together, I smoked a wonderful very thin cigar, packed with flavor.  I expect to review that some time in the future.  Today’s review is the Redemption Maduro.  I smoked it in a the torpedo shape.  When you first look at the cigar there is little to tell of the greatness inside.  The dark brown wrapper looks a bit rough, but well rolled.  I clipped my stick and lit it without problems.

Construction of the smoke is near perfect.  The draw was open and easy.  In fact, every cigar rolled at El Titan de Bronze is tested on a draw machine to insure that it will be perfect.  This dedication to quality control is evident is all areas of their cigars.  My cigar burned evenly, holding a nice tight edge.  The ash grew to an impressive almost three inch proportion.

Flavor is full but not to strong.  At first I got a nice cerady and leather taste.  That gave way to hints of vanilla.  As the cigar settled into the middle third it was nutty and robust.  The final third of the cigar brought spice.  But not just heat or pepper.  This was a much more mellow or rounded flavor, strong but not overpowering.  There were hints of pepper, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  The after taste was clean and didn’t linger.

Value for this cigar is excellent.  You get a top notch hour plus of smoking pleasure for significantly less than $10.  Anyone who enjoys a good smoke should have a box of these in the humidor.  In the past three months I have had a couple of great cigars, this one might be the best.