Review of the Cuban Crafters Medina 1959 Torpedo

[jbrookeiv]

Cigar Stats:
Size: 6.5″ x 52 ring, Torpedo
Smoking Time: 1hr30
Beverage: Water
Price: $219.99 for a box of 25 from www.cubancrafters.com

The Pre-Smoke

The cigar has a light amber wrapper, with a well-constructed torpedo cap. One thing that I noticed about this cigar was that it had a large crease running about three inches down the side of the cigar. It looks almost as though the wrapper was stitched together. This “stitch” would later come back to bite me, but more on that later. The pre-light draw was loose, with a slightly sweet flavor.

The Burn

The burn on this cigar was troublesome to say the least. The “stitch” that I mentioned caused some serious burn issues. The cigar burned much faster on the side of the “stitch”, causing me to have to touch up the cigar very frequently. The ash was fairly tight, but was a bit flaky. I think this had something to do with the cigar being packed a little loosely, which was probably what caused the loose draw. Now, this is my first time smoking one of these, so this cigar may have been a fluke, and I will smoke more and update the review if anything changes.

The Flavor

The initial flavor upon lighting was very spicy, with some woodsy notes. These flavors continued for the first third of the cigar, before some sweet flavors kicked in. The sweet flavors combined with the spice, and produced a great cinnamon flavor. The taste was like the aftertaste of Hot Tamales, with sweetness and a light spice on the back of my throat. I really enjoyed the flavor, but it left my mouth feeling a little dry, so definitely keep something to drink on hand. This flavor continued throughout the rest of the smoke.

The Price

At $9 a stick, this is at the top of my price range. I was lucky enough to be given a box of these by Cuban Crafters, as well as one of their amazing cutters. I have plenty of these left to try, and I think the burn issues were most likely a fluke. The other reviews I’ve read of this smoke have said the burn was dead on.

The Verdict

I definitely enjoyed this cigar, even with the burn issues I experienced. I loved the cinnamon flavor I picked up, and definitely look forward to trying them again. If you haven’t tried one, don’t hesitate to pick a few up from Cuban Crafters.

Liked It: Yes
Buy It Again: Don’t need to at the moment, but will when I run out.
Recommend It: Yes, this is a great cigar that can be enjoyed by any level smoker.

For pictures, check out http://theweeklycigar.com.

 

[Winchester Magnum]

I just smoked a 7x48 Medina 1959 tonight. I thought it was bad. Tasted like smokin a piece of plywood. The burn was fine, as was the draw, but taste was rotten. The only way I'll ever smoke one of these again is if it's free, then only to give it a second chance.

I really love some of the sticks Cuban crafters rolls, like the Cupido Ciriollo and the cabinet selection, but this '59 is not in the same leauge. Not what I would consider a CC flagship stoggie.

 

[cbw2647]

I love these cigars,,,,one of my favorites. FYI, these are rolled in Miami, and you can probably ask for them unbanded and save a few bucks.....I've mostly smoked the robustos, and they needed a little humi rest. When they were fresh, seemed a little too wet, and had a 'hay' like flavor that I don't like.....but after drying out.... :love:

 

[Les Nessman]

I have had a couple and haven't cared for either. I much prefer the Salazar maduro or the Don Kiki white label both @ Cuban Crafters.

 

[Winchester Magnum]

Fairness update:

I just smoked a Medina 1959 chairmen 6x60 and it was an awesome smoke. These babys aint cheap, but they're very good. Might be worth getting the sampler pack if'n you havent tried these and have been curious. Excelent smoke, at least in the bigger size.