Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Pennsylvanian
Vitola: Corona Extra (6 x 46)
Brand: Patina Cigars
Factory: Casa Favilli (Nicaragua)
CigarNoise Price Range: $8 – $10
Availability: Regular Production
Source: Purchased
Patina Habano Review – Opening Thoughts
When new brands burst onto the cigar scene, I’ll admit I temper my excitement with the memory of past disappointments. However, when the Patina Habano Copper arrived attached to names like Mombacho Cigars SA, Mo Maali and Mombacho President and Master Blender, Claudio Sgroi, expectations climbed. Mombacho’s Liga Meastro and the Sultans of Smoke Max Press are both cigars I’ve enjoyed many times in the past. The Patina brand brings it all together, offering two blends in eight vitolas.
Wrapped with a gorgeous Habano leaf, the Copper was firm, felt perfectly weighted for the size and had a light, oily sheen to the wrapper. There were visible veins and seams in the wrapper but still, nothing about the construction appeared flawed whatsoever.
From the wrapper, I gathered some mild barnyard and cocoa scents. The foot of the cigar gave away no secrets either, offering only very mild hints at baking spices. Usng a straight cut to remove the cap, a perfect draw awaited, laden with dry hay, mild spice and dried apricot.
Patina Habano Review – First Third
Cedar, Hickory, Dried Fruit, Coffee, Baking Spices, Peanuts, Orange Vanilla Cream Soda, Red Pepper, Black Pepper, Chili Powder
After toasting the foot and letting the initial heat to subside, a combination of cedar and hickory flavors started things out nicely. The hickory is rather subdued but provided a bit of edge to the cedar, letting me know the Copper wasn’t planning on being mild mannered. Past the woody notes, dried fruit, coffee, baking spices and a hint of chili powder swirled together to create a complex finish. Further into the finish, a peanut flavor appeared as well. The overall profile had a great rich, naturally sweet tone normally associated with many habano wrapped cigars. I use the term sweet very cautiously here. The cigar didn’t taste sweet necessarily, but there were some sweet notes to the profile.
About one inch into the Copper, I experienced a very unique flavor in the retrohale; only for a fleeting few moments: orange vanilla cream soda. I know it sounds very strange and I swear I paired this cigar with cold tap water, but there it was and it was pretty amazing. Along with the sweetness in the retrohale, red and black pepper rounded things out to provide some heat with the experience as well. Neither were overpowering.
By the end of the first third the smoke output was very good, the burn line was wavy and medium sharp and the ash was still clinging onto the cigar.
Patina Habano Review – Middle Third
Baking Spices, Cedar, Earth, Leather, Sweet Peanuts, Tangerine, Citrus, Black Pepper
The middle section found me forcing off the ash of the first third…always a good sign. As soon as the ash fell, smoke bellowed from the stick and the flavor profile charged ahead. Baking spice flavors and cedar notes jockeyed for the lead almost minute by minute. Earth and leather notes provided some backup body for the profile. But, the middle third of this cigar really shined in the long finish with sweet peanuts and tangerine. The peanut flavor reminded me of the toffee covered peanuts. It wasn’t like having a mouthful of candy coated peanuts, it just hinted at those flavors. The tangerine peel notes were really interesting.
The heat of the retrohale backed way off in the middle, offering smooth, muted flavors of citrus and sweet cedar. The room smoke from the Copper was really nice, bringing rich, earthy and sweet notes all around. I did notice a little more black pepper spice on my palate in the middle portion. As I approached the final third of the cigar, the profile cooled off with the flavors all being muted and really smooth.
Patina Habano Review – Final Third
Cedar, Tangerine Peel, Leather, Mild Tobacco, Peanuts, Coffee, Baking Spice, Cream
With the band of the Copper lying on the table beside me, I began the final third of the cigar. Again, I forced the ash off the cigar as the section started. Cedar rushed out in front followed by hints at tangerine peel. Tangerine in the middle section had a sweeter hint to it. This section found the tangerine joined with just a touch of bitterness, like if you bit into the peel of the fruit. It wasn’t a bad or overpowering bitterness, just a noteworthy change. Leather notes and mild tobacco flavors filled in the middle of the profile and sliding in for a quick finish were peanuts and coffee. Both flavors in the finish vanished relatively quickly making the finish short.
Throughout the experience, the burn was mildly wavy with a medium sharp char line. I never found myself tempted to offer correction to the burn, so bonus points there.
Additionally, after about the first inch of the Copper being lit, smoke production was very good right to the end.
Finding new ways to impress me, the Copper really shined in the final third by providing a retrohale which was amazing. Leather, baking spices, cedar and a very rich, creamy tangerine note all made an appearance. I found myself enjoying the retrohale with nearly every puff on the cigar. It was also virtually heat free, finishing in grand style.
After I finished my review, I had a chance to chat with Mo Maali. He told me during the process of blend development for the Habano, he felt sure Claudio was “ready to kill me at some points.” I didn’t ask him to expand on the comment but as I am sure we all can imagine, developing a blend you’re willing to stake your future on is full of critical decisions. Fortunately, they kept the leaf rage at bay and developed a real winner!
I asked Mo what the future looked like for Patina Cigars. He indicated that raising brand awareness is really at the forefront of his priorities for the upcoming year. However, he also said that his current intentions are to release the Connecticut Broadleaf variety this coming year. Based on the review of the Patina Connecticut completed earlier this year along with this review, I’d offer up the suggestion we should all be pretty excited for the CT Broadleaf release.
Great flavor profile
Great dollar value
Readily available
...crickets
Dave
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Killer review and killer stick. Definitely, getting me more of these.
Thanks for the feedback and glad you enjoy that cigar.
Smoke on!