Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Micallef A Gordo is a marbled medium brown with the lightly raised veins carrying a slightly darker color. The seams are smooth and the caps well applied. There are two bands, both carrying a dark blue, red and gold color combination. The primary carries the company name and logo while the secondary band denotes the line. The aroma from the wrapper is a light mix of wood and cardboard while the foot brings smoky wood. The pre-light draw brings cedar and floral perfume.

First Third

The cigar begins with a lightly smoky oak and some mild black pepper. At a quarter inch in, the oak gains a slightly stale note. The retrohale is smoky and slightly stale oak. At an inch in, a light mustiness joins the profile. As the third comes to a close, the smoky, slightly stale oak gains a toast note while light amounts of black pepper and mustiness remain in the background. The strength in this third was right at medium.

Second Third

The second third continues with the toasted, smoky and slightly stale oak up front with black pepper and mustiness in the background. At a half inch in, the toast level has increased a bit. At three quarters of an inch in, the overall profile is now a bit dry. The retrohale is musty, toasted, smoky, slightly stale oak. At an inch in, the mustiness has increased to now blend in with the toasted, smoky, slightly stale oak. At an inch and a quarter, the black pepper picks up a little bit. At an inch and a half, some dry earth joins the profile. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the toast level on the oak moves up to a light char which carries some bitterness. At a half inch in, the dry earth is now even with the charred and musty oak as the smokiness and staleness are no longer detectable. There is still a bit of black pepper in the background. The retrohale is musty, toasted, smoky oak along with dry earth. At an inch in, the char picks up a bit. As the cigar comes to a close, the profile is musty, charred oak and dry earth even with some black pepper in the background. The strength bumped up to slightly above medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy at times, but always self-corrected to keep things in line. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar began with smoky oak and black pepper and the oak gained a stale note fairly quickly. Some mustiness joined a bit later and the oak became toasty. The second third saw some dry earth join in,. The final third saw the toasted oak transition to char which carried some bitterness. Construction was very good. Overall, the Micallef A Gordo was fairly mundane. The stale note to the oak was a bit of a detractor and the finish with the char and light bitterness was a bit of a bummer. For the size, the price is fairly attractive, but you’d need to really like the flavor profile to make it work. For me, I don’t see myself returning to this one.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.30

Cost/Point

$1.79

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Micallef A Gordo