Pre-light Experience

The wrapper coloring on the Solitaro The Hook Toro is marbled and on the darker side of medium brown. There are a few prominent veins present and the seams are smooth in some areas and raised in others. The head is finished off with a very well applied triple cap. The band is various shades of blue, black and gold and shows a fisherman smoking a cigar while lounging on a fish hook. The aroma from the wrapper is wood and light tobacco sweetness while the foot also brings wood, but the light sweetness is a bit more syrupy and dense. The pre-light draw brings musty cedar along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with musty cedar and light baking spice. At a half inch in, the cedar gains a light char. The retrohale brings musty and lightly charred cedar. At an inch in, the baking spice has transitioned to a dull black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, the cedar transitions to a general wood note and maintains the light char. The strength in this third was right at medium.

Second Third

The second third is a continuation of the first third. At an inch in, the char picks up a bit. The retrohale is now musty cedar. As the third comes to a close, the profile is musty and charred wood with mild black pepper. The strength has bumped up to slightly above medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the black pepper has departed. At a half inch in, the char has increased a fair amount and some bitterness is now present. The retrohale is now musty and charred wood. The cigar wraps up with the heavily charred and bitter wood and mustiness. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Burn

The burn was slightly wavy but always kept up with itself. The ash held on in inch and three quarter increments.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar started fairly average with a profile focused around slightly charred cedar and then a general wood note, mustiness and spice. It maintained that level until the final third when the char increased and some bitterness became present. It’s always fun trying something from a new brand to see what may come about, but with this Solitaro The Hook Toro, it was a fairly average experience that ended on a bit of a down note. I don’t see myself returning this cigar, but would be interested to see what future releases may come from the brand.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.15

Cost/Point

$1.48

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Solitaro The Hook Toro