The HVC La Rosa 520 Rare of Rare was a balanced cigar with a complex flavor profile. Lots of depth with some transitioning throughout the thirds. Nice strength and body; match the flavors of the cigar well. It has been some time since I have had a really good Ecuadorian Sumatra release, feels like years, but this delivered that great lighter Ecuadorian Sumatra flavor profile I enjoy.
This HVC Selección No. 1 Esenciales was a really good cigar, and a cigar I would come back to over and over again. A strong cigar that has a flavor profile to my liking as well. Wood, leather, earth and cocoa qualities. Lots of pepper. I would smoke these all the time. Bring it on first thing in the morning. With that being said, this cigar lingers on the palate after smoking. It is great to see some awesome corona gordas released in 2022.
The HVC Black Friday 2021 started well, with a nice combination of flavors, but the second third dropped down as some components left the profile and maintained this level the rest of the way. I really liked how the cigar started, but it just couldn't maintain the mix of flavors. The cigar also finished out with a bit of a strength punch. The price point is attractive, but it just isn't a cigar that I'd see myself coming back to that often.
The flavor profile of the HVC Serie A Famous Exclusivo was fairly muddled throughout and didn't do anything to really maintain my attention. The cigar was about on par with the Perlas vitola I had reviewed earlier. The price point is attractive, but I just don't see it as a cigar I'd really come back to.
Once again, HVC puts out a good cigar with the HVC 10th Anniversary that delivers a range of flavors and nuance keeping me engaged for the majority of the review experience. I will add this to the pile of blends Reinier Lorenzo has put out that I would happy to return to.
The HVC Black Friday Firecracker packed a significant amount of flavor complexity, given the small size that it had to work with. It was also easily the strongest HVC that I've ever smoked, and even though I'm very used to smoking cigars at the full end of the spectrum, the HVC hit me solidly with strength at a few points.
The HVC 500 Years Anniversary Selectos had some enjoyable complexity in the first third, and while I found the middle and last thirds to be pleasant, they lacked the same complexity that would elevate the experience to a good rating. For an anniversary cigar, I was anticipating more complexity, as HVC has managed to deliver on these type of releases in the past.
I really wish the start to the HVC Hot Cake Corona Gorda would have maintained itself throughout as we'd then be talking about a really special cigar. The price point is quite attractive and I'd be willing to come back to this just for what the first inch provided. Definitely something I'd recommend people check out.
United Cigars is releasing a second Limited Release Firecracker with HVC Cigars called the HVC Black Friday Firecracker, uniting the success of the HVC Black Friday released in 2015.
I was incredibly pleased with the HVC 500 Years Anniversary and would consider it one of their best cigars. In some ways, he truly created a cigar that honors Havana. With wonderful packaging and aging potential, this is a cigar to buy boxes of to smoke now and age.