Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Casa Turrent 1880 Toro is dark brown and has a few slightly raised, prominent veins running the length of the cigar. The seams are slightly raised and also easily detectable due to some color variation in the wrapper. The head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. There are two bands with the primary being black, cream and gold and designating the brand name. The secondary band is black gold and white and designates the line and blender. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of rich soil and cocoa while the foot brings slightly sweet wood and dark chocolate. The pre-light draw brings the same lightly sweet wood I got from the foot aroma along with a mild spice on my tongue.

Pre-light Experience

The Casa Turrent 1880 Toro has a dark, rustic wrapper with veins visible throughout the wrapper. The cigar is double banded with both having a consistent styling of gold lettering and accents on a black background. The secondary band says “1880 by Alejandro Turrent”, with the primary band indicating “Casa Turrent”. The wrapper has aromas of medium strength leather, along with cedar. There is mild hay in the foot.

First Third

The cigar begins with a profile of dark wood and earth. There is a subtle cocoa note in the background. At a half inch in, the cocoa is no longer detectable as some mustiness has joined in to go along with the dark wood and earth. At an inch in, a mellow black pepper joins the profile. The retrohale brings dark wood and mustiness. As the third comes to a close, some oak pokes through the general dark wood note to go along with the earth, mustiness and mellow black pepper. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

The 1880 begins the first third with sweet baking spices and a wood combination that causes me to immediately salivate. There is sweet creaminess on the retrohale with mild cocoa and wood to finish. Malty sweetness builds in intensity on the retrohale, with baking spices following. The post draw establishes itself as cocoa and earth, with light leather eventually joining as the cigar settles in. Cocoa and black pepper move to the mid palate minutes later, and I found all the of the flavors are balanced well at a medium minus strength. Leather begins to define the post draw, but not in an unpleasant way.

Second Third

As the second third begins, a light cocoa returns to the profile. The oak note is no longer present as it’s back to the dark wood and earth profile. At three quarters of an inch, some char joins the profile. The retrohale maintains the combination of dark wood and mustiness. At an inch and a half, the black pepper and cocoa have dropped out. The charred dark wood and mustiness are up front with the earthiness faint in the background. The strength in this third dropped back to medium.

Second Third

The second third begins with light plus cedar with a delayed sweetness that hits at the end of the draw. Mild dark chocolate and earth combine in the post draw, eventually being joined by cedar that finishes the draw and brings a drying mouthfeel with it. Once the second third has settled in, cocoa comes through at the mid palate, and over time mingles with cedar. I pick up minerality throughout the remainder of the second third. In the bottom half, intense earth takes over the post draw, and the overall cigar strength is above medium at this point. Cocoa begins to bleed into the post draw but is stopped abruptly by the intensity of the earth.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the char becomes very faint as the dark wood and mustiness remain. At a half inch in, the cigar warms up a bit bringing a toast note to the profile. The retrohale is continuing on with the musty dark wood. At an inch in, the char is increasing and even with the musty dark wood. As the cigar wraps up, the char has continued to build and takes the lead. The strength in this third bumped back up to slightly above medium.

Final Third

Dry cedar carries the profile moving into the last third. Medium minus post draw earth still defines the post draw. Some mid palate baking spices join as the last third settles in, but has a short finish as the cedar and then earth take over the palate. Vegetal notes are detectable by the halfway point, at a mild level.

Burn

The burn was wavy throughout and went out once in the middle third requiring a re-light. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Burn

The cigar has a relatively straight burn, with ash holding up to 2 inches. The burn becomes slightly uneven in the second third requiring a touch-up. No issues through the final third.

Draw

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

Overall

The Casa Turrent 1880 Toro provided about what I expected with a majority of it being Mexican tobacco. It was a dark wood and earthy combination with some hints of cocoa. The first third was good, but as the cocoa faded away, the rest of the cigar became a bit average. I hope to smoke more from Casa Turrent as I’d like to experience more Mexican tobacco focused offerings. While this isn’t a cigar I’d return to often, when I’m in the mood for a darker profile with some strength, this may be a draw. The price point is a bit of a deterrent, so it will cause me to look for other offerings in the portfolio.

Draw

The draw had some resistance to it, up to 2-1/2 to 3 notches. The resistance didn’t seem to impact the burn or flavor profile at all.

Overall

The Casa Turrent 1880 Toro was an overall good experience with darker flavors of baking spices, wood, maltiness, cocoa, leather, earth, minerality and a mild vegetal component. I found the cigar well balanced through the first and second thirds. Total smoking time was 2 hours and 13 minutes.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.90

Cost/Point

$2.88

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

6.52

Cost/Point

$2.61

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Casa Turrent 1880 Toro