Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Micallef Black Toro is medium brown, with some thick, raised veins running down the back and side of the cigar along with some fine tooth. The seams are a bit raised, while the head is well finished. The band is black and gold and carries the company name and logo. The aroma from the wrapper is dark earth and cocoa powder while the foot brings wheat bread and cedar. The pre-light draw brings raisin bread and cedar.

First Third

The cigar begins with dark earth, toasted oak, cocoa powder and some black pepper. At a half inch in, the black pepper increases as the cocoa powder mellows a bit. The retrohale is toasted oak, earth and some black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, the black pepper is exhibiting a long, slightly dull finish. As the third comes to a close, the dark earth and toasted oak are even up front, with the black pepper a bit behind and light cocoa powder in the background. The strength was slightly above medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the black pepper mellows a bit and the cocoa powder has departed. At a half inch in, the black pepper has mellowed some more. The retrohale is now toasted oak, earth and mild black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the dark earth and toasted oak are even up front, with the black pepper a bit behind the middle of the profile. The strength remains at slightly above medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the black pepper is now pretty mellow and the earth is now a bit dry. The retrohale remains toasted oak, earth and mild black pepper. At an inch in, the dry earth takes a slight lead over the toasted oak. As the cigar wraps up, the dry earth is a bit ahead over the toasted oak, with some black pepper in the background. The strength bumped up to medium-full.

Burn

The burn was straight throughout and the ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar began with dark earth, toasted oak, cocoa powder and some black pepper. The pepper increased and the cocoa mellowed fairly quickly. The second third saw the pepper mellow and the cocoa powder depart. The pepper continued to mellow through the third. The final third saw the pepper move to the background and the earth became a bit dry and took a slight lead in the profile. The construction was absolutely perfect. The Micallef Black Toro had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around earth and toasted oak. The cocoa powder in the first third was nice, but it mellowed out and couldn’t elevate the profile. This Toro vitola wasn’t at the same level as the Robusto reviewed previously and I wouldn’t see myself returning, but for those that like really earthy profiles, it’s definitely something to check out.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.75

Cost/Point

$1.39

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Micallef Black Toro