Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a very deep brown. There are a few visible veins and the seams are somewhat visible due to a darker color at the edges of the leaf in some sections, but they are very smooth. The caps are applied very nicely. The band is simple but elegant. The edges almost look like a perforation from and older postage stamp that came on sheets and required you to moisten the back to apply. The gold borders and lettering appear to be the same gold that is used on the Sobremesa. The navy blue background is a good complimentary color to the gold. The aroma from the wrapper smells of barnyard (manure and leather) while the foot aroma is a very sweet hay. The pre-light draw is a mix of light hay and leather. There is also a fairly spicy tingle to my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Mi Querida Ancho Largo has a gorgeous Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. The wrapper has good oil content and sports a rustic red hue. The cigar feels well bunched and rolled with no soft spots and a uniform give. Veins are well pressed and seams invisible. The head is finished off with a thick and well adhered double cap. Nosing the wrapper provides quality cedar, damp earth and white pepper. Nosing the foot gives white pepper, damp earth, sweet and grassy natural tobacco. Cold draw tells namely dry cardboard, sweet natural tobacco and lip tingling white pepper spice.

First Third

Initial draws bring a lot of pepper and wood. After a few draws, the pepper settles down slightly and a little black coffee comes in to mix with the pepper and wood. A half inch in and the pepper is really just a background note now. The coffee has morphed into an earthiness along with some wood. The retrohale does carry a little more pepper and also some wood. At an inch in, the earthiness reverts back to coffee along with the wood. I’m also getting a slightly chalky finish in the mouth. An inch and a quarter in, the coffee and wood morph into a slightly charred oak. This same profile is also what the retrohale consists of. Nearing the end of the third, a dry cocoa powder joins in with the slightly charred oak. The strength in this third is right at medium.

First Third

The first thirds profile creates a slick and oily mouth feel. Rich and medium full bodied flavors of damp earth, dry cocoa, tongue layering mild white pepper spice and rich cedar. My favorite part is the retrohale, providing slightly nose stinging white pepper spice, hay, bread, damp earth and slight floral notes. The finish consists of namely white pepper spice, aged cedar and dry cocoa. Roughly an inch in, a delicious biscuit consistency and sweetness enters the profile. This note carries forth to the entire first third. Strength is at a solid medium.

Second Third

As this third begins, the slightly charred oak goes back to the earthiness I was getting before. The cocoa is still in the background. The retrohale is primarily oak. A half inch in, the earthiness moves back to oak and the cocoa from the background has gone away. At an inch in, the profile has continued to alternate between the earthiness and charred oak. An inch and a half in and we’re back to the earthy profile and it has become even dirtier than it was before. The retrohale remains just oak. As the third comes to a close, the dirty earthy profile remains. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Second Third

Second third for the most part is on pace with the first third. Still a bounty of damp earth, tongue layering mild white pepper spice, biscuits and rich cedar. The dry cocoa has transitioned into a milk chocolate, adding a nice touch of creaminess. Through the nose, still the same (and tasty) slightly nose stinging white pepper, hay, bread, damp earth and slight floral notes. The finish is a balanced white pepper spice realized mainly on the rear palate, aged cedar and dry cocoa. Body is still at medium full, and strength still a solid medium.

Final Third

As this third begins, it goes back to the oak profile, but without the char. A half inch in and the profile goes back to earthy, but not as dirty as it was previously. An inch in, things revert back to the slightly charred oak. The retrohale remains a straight oak. As the cigar comes to a close, the slightly charred oak profile remains. The strength in this third has ramped up to medium-full.

Final Third

The last third mimics the second third with one key difference; the cedar transitions from a rich and aged cedar to a fresh cut and sharp cedar. In addition to the sharp cedar, notes of damp earth, tongue layering mild white pepper spice, biscuits and milk chocolate. Through retrohaling, still the semi nose stinging white pepper, hay, bread, damp earth and slight floral notes. The finish consists of a balanced white pepper on the rear palate, sharp cedar and dry cocoa. Body continues to be medium plus and strength continues to be medium.

Burn

The burn was pretty much perfect. No attention was necessary and it was nice and straight the entire way through. The ash held on is just over one inch segments.

Burn

The burn was great. Total smoking time of 2.5 hours with a consistent strong and sturdy ash averaging 1.5 inch increments. Burn line was slightly wavy within the first third but corrected itself on the second and last third.

Draw

The draw was fairly tight the entire way. I tried a draw tool to loosen it up, but it didn’t have any effect. I don’t think the tight draw affected the flavors at all.

Overall

Back to Broadleaf on this release from Steve Saka and I think it was successful. Primarily charred oak and dirty earthiness makes for an enjoyable profile. I wish the draw was better on this sample, but I have smoked another one that the draw wasn’t an issue on. For fans of Broadleaf and a darker profile, I think this is a must try. It has some strength to it, so those adverse to nicotine may want to be prepared. This would be something I recommend for a later in the day smoke and think would pair nicely with a dark spirit or coffee.

Draw

The draw was perfection. Just enough resistance allowing me to taste all the nuances and complexities.

Overall

There’s no doubt fans of Connecticut Broadleaf will enjoy this cigar (I certainly did). I found the cigar to be a rougher around the edges version of the Sobremesa. Not saying the Mi Querida is rough around the edges, the Sobremesa just tasted more refined and balanced as compared to this cigar. For my palate, I prefer the more refined Sobremesa (especially in the Cervantes Fino and El Americano sizes). But this cigar, especially factoring in the cheaper price point of $9.45 a cigar and given its danker and more edgy profile, is not one to be missed and very much still enjoyable.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.60

Cost/Point

$1.43

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

8.53

Cost/Point

$1.11

Scoring System