La Gloria Retro Especial

You never know what you’ll find when you open a well stocked humidor.  There are many gems hidden away in nondescript wrappers, and many surprises to discover.  This is one of my great joys in cigars.  You unwarp and partake of the aroma, clip and light and find, well, something unexpected.  So it is with the La Gloria Retro Especial.

Upon first inspection you notice a beautiful golden brown Connecticut wrapper.  And, of course, you expect a mild cigar.  This stick is nothing like that at all.  The smooth and delicate looking exterior masks a brute.  When I lit this stick, it was strong and a touch bitter.  But, you should never judge a cigar by the first few puffs.  Sometimes what you are getting is the heat from your light.

This cigar is fairly well made.  It draws nicely and holds a lengthy light grey ash.  The burn was slightly uneven, but that didn’t detract from the smoke.

Flavor was harsh.  Lots of pepper and not much else.  I like full cigars and this gets its flavor from a Mexican and Nicaraguan binder and ligero tobacco from both the Dominican and Nicaragua.  Those tobaccos provide a real kick.  I have enjoyed full bodied cigars, but mostly with a more complex flavor profile.

At $7.95 this is a little pricier than I’d like.  If it had a more complex taste it, there would be more to recommend.  I generally like the La Gloria cigars and I won’t let this mild disappointment deter me from trying others.