Pre-light Experience

Aaron: The wrapper on the Cachitos Connecticut is medium tan and has some lightly raised veins. The seams are smooth and the caps well applied, with the top cap being medium brown. The foot has a bit of excess wrapper folded over. The cigar does not wear a band. The aroma from the wrapper is a light mix of wood and earth, while the foot just has a light woody aroma. The pre-light draw brings cedar with a bit of wood smokiness along with a mild spiciness on my lips.
Seth: The Cachitos Connecticut is a good-looking cigar. I don’t know what’s up with the dark circle on the cap, but I dig it. The Connecticut wrapper is not very Claro, more Natural with some faint Colorado aspects. It doesn’t have that golden hay coloring. Darker. It is still silky in texture throughout with small veins. The cigar is firm in hand with a little bit of the wrapper overhanging the foot. Aromas of cedar, barnyard, earth and warm spices.
John: The Cachitos Connecticut comes in cellophane and does not have a UPC sticker or a band. For artisanal complications, the cigar features a partially closed foot, which the company refers to as the “Flavor Lock.” I weighed the cigar at 9.1 grams and measured the humidity with the Humidimeter Pro at 63.7%. Aromas from the wrapper included sweet vegetal notes, earth, green wood and moss. From the foot, I was picking up sweet tobacco, hay and wood.
Jiunn: The Cachitos Connecticut has a golden brown and smooth Colorado Claro wrapper shade. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll even and the head is well wrapped and capped. Pre-light aromas tell of cedar and barnyard with a slight cotton candy note as well.

Cachitos Connecticut

First Third

Aaron: The cigar begins with toasted cedar, earth, black pepper and a unique mustiness. At a quarter inch in, some coffee joins the profile. The retrohale is toasted cedar, earth and lightly zingy black pepper. At an inch in, a paper note becomes present just behind the toasted cedar. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is up front, with the paper, now carrying a bitter note, just behind. Earth and black pepper are a bit further behind and some coffee is in the background. The strength was right at medium.
Seth: The first third opens with sharp spice notes paired with cedar, leather and cream. Earth notes are present as well with some mineral notes on the finish. Medium to medium-full in strength and body.
John: The first third opens with sweet tobacco as bread and wood combine in the center of the profile. Mild spices join and team up with lingering wood through the finish and into the post draw. Mossy earth moves into the center of the retrohale as the first third settles in. Some mild, bitter hay joins the finish as the cigar progresses to the halfway point of the first third.
Jiunn: The first third’s flavor profile is incredibly sweet and creamy. The levels of this is high as it gives a pastry and dessert like sweetness at the same time. Retrohaling brings cedar and subtle pepper spice. The finish is short and clean with layered cedar wood. Strength and body is medium.

Cachitos Connecticut

Second Third

Aaron: As the second third begins, some creaminess joins the profile. At a quarter inch in, the bitterness from the paper mellows a bit. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth, lightly zingy black pepper and some coffee. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the paper with light bitterness, while the earth and black pepper remain in the middle and some lightly creamy coffee is in the background. The strength remained at medium.
Seth: The second delivers some cedar, cocoa, cream and pepper spice flavors. Mineral notes are present with leather on the finish. Like the first third, the cigar is medium to medium-full in strength and body.
John: The second third begins with creamy chocolate combining with bread and dry wood. Dry hay and wood carry the finish, with a delayed bitter hay joining the post draw. The profile remains consistent through the second third, with dryness on the post draw increasing slightly toward the bottom half.
Jiunn: The second third’s flavor profile is unchanged. I love how much sweetness and creaminess the profile continues to deliver. This, mixed with a clean finish and a layered pepper spice on the retrohale, is a great fit. Strength and body remains medium.

Cachitos Connecticut

Final Third

Aaron: As the final third begins, the toast level and black pepper both increase a bit. The retrohale remains toasted cedar, earth, lightly zingy black pepper and some coffee. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the paper with light bitterness, black pepper a bit further behind and then earth in the middle and some lightly creamy coffee is in the background. The strength remained at medium.
Seth: The final third continues to deliver those flavors present in the second third. Cedar, cocoa, cream, leather, minerals and pepper spices. Medium to medium-full in strength and body.
John: The final third kicks off with creamy, mildly bitter hay and wood. Dryness and bitterness rise to medium-minus strength through the post draw. The flavor profile remains consistent through to the bottom half of the final third.
Jiunn: The final third has mainly reduced to cedar wood and mild pepper spice on the finish. The sweet and creaminess is primarily an afterthought at this point. Strength and body finishes the same medium.

Cachitos Connecticut

Burn

Aaron: The burn was straight throughout and the ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.
Seth: The burn is perfect from start to finish.
John: The burn was straight and even through the entire review process.
Jiunn: Burn performance was spot on. Even burn, tight ashes and cool burning temperatures.

Cachitos Connecticut

Draw

Aaron: The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.
Seth: The draw is great throughout the cigar.
John: I measured the draw at 40 inches of water with the CigarMedics draw machine. Subjectively, I found the draw to be at most one notch toward the resistant spectrum, which still puts it in the ideal range.
Jiunn: The draw was also spot on, giving a good balance between air flow and resistance.

Overall

Aaron: The cigar began with toasted cedar, earth, black pepper and a unique mustiness. Some coffee joined in fairly quickly. Later, a paper note joined in, which gained a bitter note. The second third saw some creaminess join in. The final third saw the toast level and black pepper increase a bit. The construction was absolutely perfect. The Cachitos Connecticut had an average flavor profile throughout and the profile was pretty linear with some some minor transitions. The lightly bitter paper held this profile back I believe. With it being towards the front of the profile, it just didn’t let the supporting notes shine enough. This cigar is cheap enough that I’d probably come back to it, but it’s not something I’d smoke frequently as there are other shade offering that perform better at a not much higher price point.
Seth: I love every aspect of the Cachitos Connecticut. I love the flavor profile, strength, price and overall performance. I even love the little dark circle on the cap. I don’t know what that is all about, but I dig it. It’s a quick smoke, but that is great for this time of the year. There is a nice bit of strength and body with this Connecticut wrapper, and the filler tobacco compliments the traits of Connecticut Shade. Cream, cedar, cocoa, spices and earth throughout. I really hope these stay consistent over the years.
John: The Cachitos Connecticut offered a pleasant start with sweet tobacco and bread flavors accented by light wood and spice. The first third showed the most complexity, with mossy earth and mild bitterness adding character. The second and final thirds were consistent but more muted, dominated by dry wood and hay. Excellent construction with a flawless burn and draw performance contributed to an enjoyable experience. Once you factor in the price point, I think this could be a daily driver for a lot of cigar smokers. Total smoking time was 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Jiunn: This Cachitos Connecticut feels like you can get away with having dessert for breakfast. The intensity of pastry and dessert like sweetness and creaminess is off the charts in the best way possible. It’s also important to note it’s not cloyingly sweet, as it’s well matched by a clean finish and a nice layered spice on the retrohale. Great little cigar.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.75

Cost/Point

$1.08

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

7.17

Cost/Point

$0.87

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$1.02

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.82

Cost/Point

$0.91

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Cachitos Connecticut