Pre-light Experience

The wrapper of the JRE Aladino Elegante is light brown and carries a few slightly raised veins. The seams are smooth but easily visible. The head is finished off with a well applied triple cap and the band is the traditional design for the brand. The aroma from the wrapper is a hay forward barnyard while the foot brings a general wood note. The pre-light draw brings a mixture of wood and black tea with a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with wood and an intense baking spice. At a quarter inch in, a fair amount of mustiness joins in which slightly mellows the baking spice. At an inch in, the wood has gained a toasted note while the baking spice has morphed into black pepper and is right behind, followed by the mustiness. The retrohale has a significant black pepper zing to it with light amounts of musty wood behind it. At an inch and a half, the toasted wood, black pepper and mustiness are all at equal levels. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, a slight char joins the profile. At an inch in, the musty note takes a lead over the toasted and charred wood as the black pepper is now in the background. The retrohale is musty and toasted wood. At an inch and three quarters, the char leaves the wood while the black pepper has dropped out and the toasted wood is up front with the mustiness behind. The profile is slightly drying. As the third comes to a close, the char returns. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the toasted wood with light char is up front with the mustiness in the background. At an inch in, most of the dryness has left the profile. The retrohale is now just toasted wood. At an inch and a half, a slight mintiness joins the profile. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Burn

The burn was straight the entire way. The cigar went out twice, requiring re-lights. The ash held on in one inch increments.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar started with toasted wood and an intense baking spice. The baking spice morphed to black pepper and some mustiness joined in. As the cigar progressed the black pepper faded away and the final third ended with just the toasted wood. Construction was great other than the cigar going out twice. Strength was right around medium the whole way. I enjoyed the first third and then the rest of the JRE Aladino Elegante was fairly average. With a cigar of this length, I was hoping for a little more in terms of the composition of the flavor profile and transitions. The cigar isn’t bad and is enjoyable when you have the opportunity to sit back with it and enjoy. I’d have no problem smoking more of these, but I’d probably lean towards a vitola in the line with a shorter length and larger ring gauge.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.07

Cost/Point

$1.32

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: JRE Aladino Elegante