Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the rectangle pressed A Bronx Tale is dark tan and has a couple of raised, knotty veins along with a network of fine veins. The seams are smooth and the caps are well applied. There are two bands, with the primary being black, gold and white and denotes the brand. The foot has a gold ribbon. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of cedar and graham cracker while the foot brings cedar, bread, earth and mild spice. The pre-light draw is cedar and floral soapiness along with a mid-level spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar and cinnamon graham cracker. At a quarter inch in, some dusty earth joins the profile. At a half inch in, the graham cracker note mellows and loses the cinnamon while the earth picks up a bit. The retrohale brings lightly toasted cedar and some dusty earth. At an inch and a half in, the overall profile is a bit dry. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is up front, with the dusty earth not far behind and some graham cracker in the background. The strength was slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, a mild black pepper becomes present. At a half inch in, the graham cracker note departs. The retrohale is now toasted cedar and dry earth. At an inch and a half in, the toast level increases and carries a dryness of its own while the black pepper picks up a bit as well. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is a bit ahead of the dry earth, with black pepper in the back half of the profile. The strength bumped up to medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the dry earth is now even with the toasted cedar up front. At a half inch in, the toast level becomes very heavy. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, dry earth and some zingy black pepper. As the cigar wraps up, the heavily toasted cedar is even with the dry earth up front, with black pepper now in the middle of the profile. The strength bumped up to slightly above medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy at times and the cigar went out twice, requiring re-lights. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted cedar and cinnamon graham cracker. Some dusty earth joined in fairly quickly and then the graham cracker mellows and loses the cinnamon note. The second third saw some black pepper join in and the graham cracker depart. The final third saw the earth become even with the cedar and the cedar became heavily toasted. The A Bronx Tale had an average flavor profile throughout. The cinnamon graham cracker was nice at the beginning, but didn’t last long. Overall, it seems like a cigar that would be approachable to many, which makes sense based on the brand and the market it targets, but for me, it isn’t something I’d see coming back to.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.45

Cost/Point

$3.67

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: A Bronx Tale