The JRE Aladino Cameroon Elegante was a good cigar throughout, with perfect burn and construction. The natural comparison will be with the Lonsdale release last year, and while the Elegante was enjoyable, it did lack the layers of complexity that the Lonsdale release delivered.
The JRE Aladino Maduro Corona started with an average profile and remained that way until the final third when the heavy char knocked things down some. If you're a fan of charred wood and heavy black pepper, you'll find something you like here. I just felt it was too much and didn't provide an enjoyable version of those components.
This was a tasty little cigar. Well balanced and full of flavors, never letting off the gas pedal from first draw to last. Minerals, baking spices, roasted chestnuts, milk creaminess and white pepper spice. Nothing to dislike about that flavor combination. I thoroughly enjoyed the JRE Aladino Habano Vintage Selection Rothschild and it's an easy recommend.
The JRE Aladino Cameroon Lonsdale has to be one of the best cigars I've smoked and reviewed during 2020. The first third is a harmonized and complex list of flavors that kept my palate highly engaged. The rest of the cigar wasn't as complex, but still good with enjoyable flavor combinations. Burn and construction were great on the cigar, no doubt elevating the smoking experience.
I liked the JRE Aladino Connecticut Robusto and thought it was a nice addition to the Aladino brand. I was not blown away by it, and would not say it is a Connecticut that you have to search out, but it is a solid release. With that being said, well priced and a nice smoking experience.
The JRE Aladino Corojo Reserva Toro is simply fantastic and a great addition to the Corojo Reserva line. It offers those great flavors from the Robusto in a larger format and a format that really speaks to the American market. The cigar has complexity and depth from start to finish and the transitioning is great. This cigar is hard to beat!
I enjoyed the first third and then the rest of the JRE Aladino Elegante was fairly average. With a cigar of this length, I was hoping for a little more in terms of the composition of the flavor profile and transitions. I'd have no problem smoking more of these, but I'd probably lean towards a vitola in the line with a shorter length and larger ring gauge.
This is no doubt quality Honduran Corojo. I enjoyed the slick and oiliness of the profile a lot with the minerals, baking spices, non-sweetened cream and nuts. I would smoke the JRE Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto again without a doubt.
Being 100% Corojo, I had worried that the cigar may be fairly drying, but that wasn't the case. This was a really nice introduction to the JRE portfolio and has me eager to try the other lines.