Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the La Gloria Cubana Criollo de Oro Toro is a shade lighter than medium brown and has a few decently raised veins present. The seams are slightly raised while the caps are pretty well applied. The band is primarily copper and black and carries the brand and line name. The aroma from the wrapper is a light mix of toasted wood and earth while the foot brings musty cedar and tobacco sweetness. The pre-light draw brings an airy and slightly spicy cedar along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar and mild dry earth. At a quarter inch in, a light mustiness joins the profile. At a half inch in, a subtle black pepper appears. The retrohale brings toasted cedar and dry earth. At an inch in, the black pepper picks up a bit and is just behind the toasted cedar, but slightly ahead of the dry earth. At an inch and a half in, the mustiness is now paired with the toasted cedar while the dry earth and black pepper pickup and all components are even. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the musty, toasted cedar and dry earth are even, with the black pepper a bit behind. At a half inch in, the toast level increases. The retrohale is now toasted cedar and dry earth with mild black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the heavily toasted cedar gains a light bitterness while the dry earth remains even and the black pepper is in the background. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the bitterness has dropped from the profile. The retrohale has moved back to just an even mix of toasted cedar and dry earth. At an inch in, the dry earth takes a slight lead over the musty, toasted cedar. As the cigar wraps up, it warms up a bit bringing a vegetal note that is even with the black pepper in the background while the dry earth remains slightly ahead of the musty, toasted cedar. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy throughout, but never required any attention. The ash held on up until the band when I knocked it off so I could remove the band and then held on again until the end.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer, but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted cedar and dry earth, seeing some mustiness join in fairly quickly. Black pepper joined in a bit later. This profile maintained itself until the end of the final third when a vegetal note joined in when the cigar warmed up. Overall, the flavor profile of the La Gloria Cubana Criollo de Oro Toro was pretty boring. A typical profile from the brand that didn’t bring anything unique with the hybrid wrapper. The price point isn’t anything crazy, but not something that I think brings value. Not a cigar I’d see myself coming back to.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.50

Cost/Point

$1.91

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: La Gloria Cubana Criollo de Oro Toro