Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the HVC Serie A Famous Exclusivo is light brown and has a network of decently raised veins present. The seams are smooth and the caps are pretty well applied. There are two bands, with the primary being the traditional black, orange, gold and white design for the line. The foot band is gold and black and denotes Famous Exclusivo. The aroma from the wrapper is musty hay and earth while the foot brings a full delivery of raisin and wood. The pre-light draw brings a detailed cedar with raisin slightly behind, along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with oak and potent baking spice. At a quarter inch in, the baking spice has transitioned to a slightly sharp black pepper. At a half inch in, the black pepper is no longer sharp, but still very potent while a light mustiness has joined the profile. The retrohale is musty oak and with a decent black pepper zing. At an inch in, the black pepper mellows a bit. As the third comes to a close, the musty oak gains a slight toast note while the black pepper is now a bit behind. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the mustiness and toast levels pick up a bit. At a half inch in, the black pepper becomes a bit dull. The retrohale is musty, toasted oak with mild black pepper. The third wraps up with musty, toasted oak up front and dull black pepper a bit behind. The strength remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the toast level picks up a bit. The retrohale remains musty, toasted oak with mild black pepper. At an inch in, the toast level becomes pretty heavy and a light vegetal note joins the profile. As the cigar wraps up, the musty, heavily toasted oak is up front with the vegetal note in the middle and black pepper in the background. The strength in this third bumped up to medium-full.

Burn

The burn was fairly wavy throughout as there were a couple of times where nearly half the wrapper didn’t want to burn. The cigar also went out once, requiring a re-light.

Draw

The draw was fairly snug throughout, and probably led to the cigar going out once.

Overall

The cigar began with oak and potent baking spice that quickly transitioned to black pepper. Some mustiness also joined in and the oak gained a toast note. The final third saw a vegetal note join in as the toast level ramped up. Construction was just OK as the draw was tight and a good portion of the wrapper didn’t want to burn. 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.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.15

Cost/Point

$1.84

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: HVC Serie A Famous Exclusivo