Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Valacari The Messenger Toro is medium tan with some shades of green in various places. There are some slightly raised veins present with some raised seams as well, while the caps are well applied. The band is off-white and gold and has the line name on the front with the brand name on the back. The aroma from the wrapper is musty hay and some cedar while the foot brings cedar, sweet pastry and mild spice. The pre-light draw brings a light, airy cedar.

First Third

The cigar begins with lightly toasted cedar, earth and mild black pepper. At a quarter inch in, some young hay joins the profile. The retrohale is toasted cedar and light earth. At an inch in, there is a very faint creamy coffee note. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar gains a light mustiness while the earth is right behind and there are light amounts of hay, black pepper and creamy coffee in the background. The strength was slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, a light bitterness becomes present. At a half inch in, the hay note picks up a bit. The retrohale remains toasted cedar and light earth. At an inch in, the toast and bitterness levels both pick up a bit while the creamy coffee note has departed. As the third comes to a close, the profile is musty, toasted cedar with some bitterness ahead of dry earth with some hay and black pepper in the background. The strength remained at slightly below medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the bitterness increases a bit more. The retrohale is now musty, toasted cedar and dry earth. At three quarters of an inch in, the toast level increases a bit more. At an inch in, the black pepper increases as the hay note departs. As the cigar comes to a close, the profile is musty, heavily toasted cedar with a decent level of bitterness up front with dry earth and black pepper right behind. The strength bumped up to medium.

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 lightly toasted cedar, earth and mild black pepper. Some young hay joined fairly quickly and a faint creamy coffee a bit later. The second third saw some bitterness join and the creamy coffee depart. The final third saw the toast, bitterness and black pepper increase as the hay departed. Construction was absolutely perfect. The Valacari The Messenger Toro had a nice start with a good combination of flavors. The profile dropped down a level in the second third and maintained that enjoyment level the rest of the way. The cigar provided a pretty typical Connecticut shade flavor profile and the bitterness which is present in many of these blends, did present itself and build up. The price point is really nice, but the overall experience isn’t one that would draw me back to this cigar all that frequently.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$1.31

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Valacari The Messenger Toro