Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Pichardo Reserva Familiar Habano is medium brown with some slightly raised veins and some raised areas from the veins on the binder. The seams are smooth but easily visible due to a slightly darker color on their edge. The head is finished with a well applied double cap. The primary band is the standard design for the line and carries a matte red and gold color combination for the Habano variation. The foot band is gold and black and denotes the line name. The aroma from the wrapper is an abundance of hay along with some wood while the foot brings a mix of wood and stone fruit sweetness. The pre-light draw is identical to the aroma from the foot of wood and stone fruit sweetness.

First Third

The cigar begins with a mix of wood and cinnamon. At a half inch in, the cinnamon has transitioned to a more general baking spice. At three quarters of an inch in, the baking spice is quite full while some light mustiness has joined the profile. The retrohale is an even mix of wood, baking spice and mustiness. The third wraps up with the baking spice slightly ahead of the wood and mustiness. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the wood, baking spice and mustiness are all even. At a half inch in, some dry earth joins the profile. The retrohale is musty wood and dry earth. At an inch in, the dry earth now leads the profile with the musty wood in the background while the baking spice is pretty faint. The third maintains the profile of dry earth up front with musty wood in the background and light baking spice. The strength remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the dry earth and musty wood are even while the baking spice has left the profile. The retrohale remains musty wood and dry earth. No changes through the third as it maintains the profile of dry earth and musty wood. Strength remained at slightly above medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy at times, but always caught up with itself. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar began with a mix of wood and cinnamon. The cinnamon transitioned to a general baking spice fairly quickly. Some mustiness also joined the profile. The second third saw some dry earth join and then later take the lead in the profile. The final third saw the baking spice depart. The construction was very good and strength was slightly above medium the whole way. The Pichardo Reserva Familiar Habano had a nice start, but as the dry earth joined in the second third and dominated, it knocked things down to average and maintained that level of enjoyment the rest of the way. With the flavor experience and the price point, this cigar isn’t something I’d see myself coming back too that frequently.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.85

Cost/Point

$1.88

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Pichardo Reserva Familiar Habano