Quintero – Tubulares

Now i was 100% certain my travel Humidor was housing the Te-Amo Cuban Seed Robusto, when i finshed work i opened it to find a Qunitero…..Still a cigar made from Cuban Seed but not what i was hoping for. So after a hot busy day i set of home with a wee Medium Filler cuban in my gob.

Rolled in : Cuba
Wrapper : Cuban
Filler : Cuban (Medium)
Size:  5″ x 36

Now this is the first Quintero i have smoked, many of my friends have tried them and they all have said how light and subtle they are.  The cigar had a lovely smooth wrapper, the cut revelaved a good bunch of filler and the pre light draw was easy but firm. On lighting the cigar i was dreading a Davidoff expedrience, the initial flavours where of roasted tobacco with a little grass. As the 1/3 of this progressed the burn stayed nice and even and the darw was a great. The cigar took on a light but complex flavour, mainly of roasted with the grassy edge, subtle almost missable coffee hints and points of leather.

As i (soon) entered the 2/3 the cigar came alive a little more of the leathery hints i detected in the first third and a few licorice & earthy tones, the grassy edge faded away but the initial base of roasted tobacco still carried the cigar along. The burn at this point went a little crazy one side burning a good 1/4″ faster than the other side, with the taste not becoming harsh or bitter i persevered. By the time i hit the final third of this cigar the burn had sorted it self out and the cigar again developed a little. The core roasted flavours had gone altogether, a strong woody, leathery flavour come through wtih some subtle hints of spice trying to come through. The cap by this point had become a little clogged with tar and slightly burning on my lips but the final show of colours by this cigars made me continue until i was burning my fingers again.

Overall this cigar was a lot better than i had been expecting, after trying the Guantanamera & Jose Piedra ranges, i have been put off the “cheaper” short and medium filler Cubans. The subtle flavours along with the simple roasted base provide a great introduction to the world of Habanos. While being smooth enough for a cigarette smoker to enjoy, the subtle and at times complex flavours would suit those looking for a short and mellow with a array of flavours. Now i will have to say i got a load of cigars a year ago from a friend who had recently lost a family member, looking at some of the designs on the boxes and the off yellow Davidoff bands im guessing this cigar had some age to it but im not sure, will smoke a young little whipper snapper and see.

Ratings

Construction .. 8/10
Burn .. 7/10
Flavour (1/3) .. 7/10
Flavour (2/3) .. 5/10
Flavour (3/3) .. 8/10

Overall .. 7/10