Pre-light Experience

The HVC First Selection Limited Edition Broadleaf Toro is beautiful in hand and solid to touch. There are few veins present and it has a solid maduro coloring. The texture of the wrapper is between silky and fine grit and it a well made cigar. I am picking up aromas of soft chocolate, cream, raisins and almonds, and there is a faint red pepper note present on the finish.

First Third

The first third begins by delivering some dark cocoa powder notes and it is accompanied by some leather and this hay quality that is also smokey. There are some dry wood notes present as well and I am getting some nice red pepper flakes and espresso beans on the finish. I would classify the strength as being between medium-full and full, and the body and flavors at that medium-full level.

Second Third

The second third is where the cigar really takes off and starts opening up. I am getting dark cocoa powder notes along with some earthy and tobacco qualities. It has a nice peppery spice to the cigar and it is delivering great red pepper notes. I am picking up some wood and cinnamon qualities also, and the finish has this bread and espresso profile which is lovely. In terms of strength, body and flavors, I have the cigar around the medium-full level.

Final Third

The final third delivers flavors of leather, wood, dark cocoa, espresso and peppery spice, and I would classify the cigar as being medium-full in all areas in this third. A lovely finish to the cigar.

Burn

The burn on the cigar was amazing from start to finish. Well made cigar with a beautiful burn line and solid light charcoal colored ash.

Draw

Draw was perfect from start to end.

Overall

I’m a big fan of the HVC First Selection Broadleaf releases. I think the Robusto and Toro are simply fantastic and capture the old and great qualities of awesome Connecticut Broadleaf over flavorful and strong Nicaraguan tobacco. This is what Broadleaf over Nicaraguan tobacco is all about. The HVC First Selection Broadleaf Toro is complex while showing transitioning and smoking at a medium-full level. You can’t ask for more out of a Broadleaf release. With that being said, these cigars do well kept at a lower humidity level and I think they are better to smoke right now. Don’t age them. Smoke them!

Seth Geise

SCORE

7.87

Cost/Point

$1.46

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: HVC First Selection Broadleaf Toro