Sometimes we review new cigars from old brands. Other times we review old cigars from old brands. But today we're smoking and reviewing the Don Doroteo El Alcalde Belicoso 15 Years which, as you might expect, has been aging for, well, 15 years.
Initial Thoughts
The first thing I noticed about the Don Doroteo El Alcalde Belicoso 15 Years is that it says “15 Years” on it. Rolled in 2008 at the La Aurora Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic, the El Alcalde has been sitting, resting, and aging for a decade and a half just waiting for us to smoke in about two hours.
The Don Doroteo El Alcalde Belicoso 15 Year features a baby blue foot band and a veiny Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Before lighting the cigar, the wrapper smelled leafy while I tasted something sweet on the cold draw.
To demand a $30 price tag, the El Alcalde better smoke for 3 hours or be perfect in every way. Will it earn its hefty price? Let's find out.
CigarScore:
Brand: Don Doroteo
Line: El Alcalde
Size: 6 1/4 x 52
Cut: Guillotine
Light: Torch
Price: $29.75 – Luxury Cigar Club
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Brazil, Dominican Republic
Smoke Time: 95 minutes
Strength: ••••
Final Thoughts
I was able to smoke the Don Doroteo El Alcalde Belicoso 15 Years for right at 95 minutes; with tax, that comes to 34 cents a minute. For an hour and a half smoke, that's pretty expensive.
Regarding the flavors, the first half of the El Alcalde was better than the second half. The spiciness was present through the entire cigar, but the doughy sweetness seemed to fade about half way through. That said, I very much enjoyed this cigar.
My main issue w/ the El Alcalde was the price point. If this had been a $17-$20 cigar, Don Doroteo would have a home run on their hands. While I don't think this cigar is worth $30, I do think it's a great first cigar for this brand. The Don Doroteo El Alcalde Belicoso 15 Years earns a CigarScore 5.
