Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is varying shades of medium brown. It starts darker at the head and lightens as it reaches the foot. Near the foot there are some green spots on the wrapper as well. There are a couple of slightly raised veins visible and the seams are very noticeable due to the color change of the wrapper. The head appears to be finished off with a well applied double cap. The band is very nice with the company name on a design consisting of red, black and gold. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of slightly damp wood and leather while the foot is a general wood note. The pre-light draw is quite tight but does give a sweet hay note along with a spicy tingle on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Flor de D’Crossier Selection 512 Maduro Coloniales has a medium brown wrapper showing good oil content. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll firm and the head finished off with a well applied triple cap. Nosing the wrapper tells cedar and hay. Nosing the foot gives sweet hay, soft white pepper and cedar. Cold draw reveals hay, cedar and light white pepper.

First Third

The cigar begins with a mix of oak and cinnamon. A quarter inch in, a slight creaminess joins in which really enhances the mix of oak and cinnamon. The retrohale also reflects this same profile but with a slightly higher cinnamon kick. At a half inch in, the cinnamon builds up a slightly higher level of spice. At the inch mark, the profile is pretty nice with the cream working well with the cinnamon and oak. The spice level of the cinnamon also fluctuates on different draws. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

The first third’s flavor profile tells sweet cedar, toasted wood and barnyard. As the cigar progresses, dry nut bitterness forms. Retrohaling gives increased dry nut bitterness, an introduction of white pepper and cherry like stone fruit characteristic. The finish is medium in length with bitter mixed nuts and toasted wood. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

Getting into the second third, the oak begins to take the lead from the cinnamon while the creaminess remains as a supporting note. At a half inch in, the oak is gaining a slight char as the levels of cinnamon and cream are remaining the same. The retrohale still carries an even mix of oak and cinnamon with some supporting cream. At an inch in, the cinnamon fades back slightly while the charred oak remains up front along with some cream still in the background. At an inch and a quarter a slight saltiness joins the profile. The strength in this third bumped up to medium-full.

Second Third

The second third shows no major changes to the flavor profile. The only change is a slight increase in strength, nearing medium-full. In terms of flavors, it is still sweet cedar, toasted wood, barnyard and bitterness of mixed nuts. Body remains medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the cinnamon and saltiness have completely left the profile. It is now charred oak with a bit of cream in the background. At a half inch in, the cigar begins to heat up which brings a slight mintiness to the profile. At three quarters of an inch in, the charred oak adds a slight mesquite note which is short lived. At an inch in, some mustiness joins the slight mintiness while the charred oak is what is up front. The strength in this third remained at medium-full.

Final Third

The last third has a slightly sharper showing of both the bitter dry nuts and cherries. Aside from that, the profile is still overall medium/medium with sweet cedar, toasted wood and barnyard. The finish also picks up a slight increase in bitterness as well, providing a medium length finish of bitter mixed nuts and toasted wood.

Burn

The burn was fantastic as it was razor sharp the entire way. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Burn

Burn performance was overall average. The wrapper consistently had a difficult time burning in conjunction with the filler and binder leaves. This caused two fairly major re-lights. Aside from that, the ashes did hold on tight and burn temperature was cool.

Draw

The draw was quite snug even with a second cut and using a draw tool. If the tight draw affected the flavor profile negatively, then a better draw would make this cigar shine.

Overall

I was a bit fearful that the very tight pre-light draw was a sign of things to come, but even with a snug draw during the smoking experience, the cigar produced some really good flavors. I’d like to revisit this cigar in hopes of a better draw to see if the flavor is even better than what this one provided, but as it stood, I would easily recommend this cigar. Some really nice oak and cinnamon notes through the first two thirds and then a drop in flavor in the final third as the tight draw caught up to the cigar. This is a great new release for Santana and I’m looking forward to smoking more.

Draw

Draw was overall good but was noticeably tight.

Overall

As expected (based on my experience with other Flor de D’Crossier lines), the Selection 512 Maduro Coloniales was a cigar focused on good, balanced flavors. The burn although not affecting the flavors, was an annoyance due to having to pay too much attention to the draw (frequent draws). But the main focus should be the blending of flavors.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.52

Cost/Point

$0.92

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.57

Cost/Point

$0.91

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Flor de D’Crossier Selection 512 Maduro Coloniales