6x50 Ecuadorian Wrapper, Nicaraguan binder/filler. This is a powerful Esteli cigar, characterized by a prominent ligero flavour. At its best, it is a rich and complex delight. At its worst, it can be a bit bitter and tarry.
1. January 13th, 2021 I didn't make a review of the first sample from the box. So, I'll start the detailed review with the second dip into the box of twenty five. See below.
2. March 10th, 2021
Construction: Exquisite construction, smooth, seamless, shiny wrapper.
Draw: Easy draw
Burn: Perfect burn, no touch up required. Ash held on for more than an inch but crumbled a little towards the end.
Flavour: Deep, rich Nicaraguan Esteli flavours: dark roasted coffee, but marred by a little ammonia bitterness. Needs ageing; I might take a few out of the box and out of their cellophane and put them in the humidor to expedite the process.
Body: Full body throughout.
Strength: Medium strength. Nothing overwhelming.
Finish: Good long finish.
Aroma: Excellent, complex aroma with a little sweetness added to the complexity.
Consistency: Started with a little bitter spiciness, but settled down nicely after a centimetre or so.
Time smoke: 85 minutes
Overall: Quite satisfying, but bitterness was a detraction.
3. April 19th, 2021: Started out smooth, ended bitter. It was a solid, heavy, cigar with a shiny wrapper and beautiful construction. Dry aroma was exquisitely fragrant and spicy. Draw throughout was perfect, giving no resistance. Burn was wavy but self-correcting, requiring no touch-up. One relight was necessary. But that could have been my neglect.
This cigar started with a complex, smooth, full bodied, rich and delicious flavour and deep, rich, aroma. None of the ammonia bitterness of the previous cigar was present until the second half, by which time complexity gave way to bitterness. By the final third, bitterness was quite pronounced.
Overall, it was still very enjoyable and answered the need for a full bodied cigar. Strength was also on the high side, but not intolerably. Ambient evening temperature was around 29 degrees Celsius, which makes nicotine strength slightly uncomfortable. 110 minutes was quite an impressive timing for a 6 x 50.
A few more months should even out the asperity. The rule seems to be that ammonia-bitterness subsides into complexity with time. Let's see what another month or two delivers.
4. May 17th, 2021: This cigar emitted a deep, rich, spicy pre-light aroma. I ran it under my nose several times before lighting up, delighted by the musty scent.
The cigar started off spicy and mellowed out a bit, as do nearly all strong Nicaraguan cigars. Flavour was intense throughout. There was a little tarriness marring the palate, but no appreciable bitterness.
The cigar was full bodied with good strength, a little overwhelming towards the end, but ambient temperature is around 30 degrees (Celsius) now, and heat does not conduce to nicotine strength.
This is clearly a ligero-heavy cigar. It compares to the Rocky Patel Super Ligero, which, when it comes to getting a fine example, are hit and miss: when they're good, they're as good as the Tatuaje Fausto. But the Fausto would score higher points more frequently.
Aroma was rich and excellent. I rate aroma highly. It deserves at least as many points as flavour, although I've given up on awarding points. This cigar had a deep, rich and complex aroma.
In summary, a balanced, full bodied, strong cigar, justifying its premium price by the current specimen, if they were all like this one. 80 minutes.
5. July 17th, 2021: Very solid feel in the hand pre-light. Dark oily wrapper. Rich and spicy pre-light aroma.
The cigar started with a blast of tarry pepper. It was almost disgusting. But flavour soon mellowed to a very refined, full body, Esteli flavour: dark chocolate, espresso, moderate pepper, slight sweetness, excellent, rich and complex aroma. Perfect burn, easy draw.
Esteli is difficult if it's not matured. It can be bitter and unpleasant. I had a couple of experiences with bitterness in March and April with the Fausto. But this cigar, today, was right on the complex and balanced mark. Strength only overwhelmed for a few minutes towards the middle. Otherwise, it was not too strong. (The evening was cooler than those of previous samples, so that might account for the difference.) Very satisfying. 100 minutes.
6. September 8th, 2021: Dark, oily wrapper with a sweet, floral prelight aroma. The cigar began with a burst of pepper that lasted for the first centimetre. It then mellowed out to the dominant dark roast flavour with a balanced sprinkle of pepper. At around the start of the second third, the dark roast transformed to burnt toast momentarily before toning back to dark roast. Full body and long finish. Medium strength throughout despite the intensity of flavour. Burn almost perfect: one touch-up required. Draw easy. 105 minutes. Satisfying.
7. December 14th, 2021: After 11 months resting in its box, the cigar was quite mellow, but had a dirty aftertaste. The cellophane wrapper had a yellow tint, which suggested that the cigar had aged.
Flavour was rich, dark, and sweet with a strong pepper component and a hint of burnt toast. Body was full throughout. The aroma was complex and intense. Finish was long but a bit tarry, with a dirty aftertaste.
I smoked this cigar a day after smoking the AJ Fernandez New World Short Churchill, which is similar in many respects.. The latter was far more balanced. Both cigars were similar in body, flavour and aroma. However, the AJ Short Churchill was much more balanced with a cleaner aftertaste.
Overall, quite satisfying. But marred by tarry, dirty, burnt toast qualities.
8. July 23rd, 2022: After seven months the cellophane wrapper had the brown stain of ageing. 
The cigar lit and drew easily and burned perfectly. During the first half, flavour was smooth, full bodied and quite balanced. I was priding myself on letting the cigars age. Then, at around the half way point, the dirty, tarry, burnt toast bitterness of previous cigars appeared and remained for the whole of the second half. Strength was a bit more than comfortable as well.
Might need a bit more time to age if there's any hope for consistency: the first half was very satisfying but the second half was not. 85 minutes.
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