Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Cuesta-Rey Centenario Natural No. 60 is medium tan and has a network of decently raised veins along with some wrinkles. The seams are smooth and the caps well applied. The band is the traditional design for the brand with the red, blue, yellow and green color combination. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of hay and earth, while the foot brings stewed fruit and graham cracker. The pre-light draw is primarily cedar along with light amounts of graham cracker and floral notes and a mild spiciness on my lips and the tip of my tongue.

First Third

The cigar begins with a slight dry, toasted cedar, earth and mild black pepper. At three quarters of an inch in, a light mushroom mustiness joins the profile. The retrohale is toasted cedar with light earth and black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, the black pepper mellows a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is up front, with earth a bit behind and light amounts of black pepper and mushroom mustiness in the background. The strength was mild-medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the overall profile becomes a bit dry. At a half inch in, the black pepper has departed. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, mushroom mustiness and light earth. At an inch and a quarter, the earth picks up a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth with some mushroom mustiness in the background. The strength bumped up to slightly below medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, a light vegetal note becomes present. At a half inch in, a very mild black pepper rejoins the profile. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth and light vegetal note. At an inch and a quarter, the black pepper picks up a bit more. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth with black pepper just a bit further behind and mushroom mustiness and vegetal note in the background. The strength remained at slightly below medium.

Burn

The burn line was fairly wavy in the second third, but straight throughout the bookend thirds. 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 a slightly dry, toasted cedar, earth and mild black pepper. A light mushroom mustiness joined in a bit later. The second third saw the black pepper depart. The final third saw a vegetal note join in and the black pepper rejoin and build up. Other than some waviness to the burn in the second third, construction was top notch. The Cuesta-Rey Centenario Natural No. 60 had a nice start with a good combination of flavors and a smooth delivery. Things took a step down in the second third as the black pepper departed and maintained that level the rest of the way. I was hoping the profile of the first third would have lasted longer, as it was a nice, mellow and smooth delivery. The price point is attractive, so I could see coming back from time to time, but it’s not a cigar where I’d sit down to focus on flavors, but more of something I’d smoke as part of a pairing or while doing other activities.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.00

Cost/Point

$1.60

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Cuesta-Rey Centenario Natural No. 60