The Big “4 0”

I am a fan of larger cigars with the 6 X 60 my favorite size and mild to medium body my favorite strength. I have also tried and liked 7 X 70’s and after I get a neck brace I will try the new 8 X 80’s, perhaps at the 2014 IPCPR. At the 2013 IPCPR I spent time at the CLE booth eying their 6 X 60’s. CLE turns out to be the initials of Christian Luis Eiora, past ownerof the Camacho brands which are now owned by the Davidoff group. CLE is Christian’s current enterprise. I was steered towards CLE’s Cuarenta, a 6 x 60 Connecticut shade cigar. CLE called it Cuarenta (Spanish for “forty”) to honor Christian’s 40^th birthday, his age at the time of launching. The Cuarenta is made in Honduras with Habano wrapper around Honduran binder and filler. CLE kindly gave me one to review.

The Cuarenta is an attractive cigar with a simple band that has the year in very, very small print on the far right. It was firm and well made with no blemishes. I was struck by its “just right” draw and initial flavor of earth and cedar. The strength was mild but flavorful with spice and very little sweetness creeping in. As the cigar progressed the strength built but never more than the low end of medium bodied. The smoke volume was outstanding, very creamy and it kept the “just right” draw the entire 1 hour and 10 minutes it took to finish. The ash was quite good and held its shape longer than most cigars. At the SRP of $6.50 I find this to be an outstanding value.

This cigar reminded me of the Camacho Connecticut 6 X 60 which I often smoke when I am not reviewing cigars so I immediately took a Camacho from my humidor to smoke. The Camacho had an easier draw but fewer flavors than the Cuarenta. I will try the smoke off again, this time with the Camacho first, but the Cuarenta is looking pretty good.