Initial Thoughts:
Right off the bat, I noticed an intoxicating aroma coming off the Kristoff Habano Corona. While I don't think we've reviewed a Kristoff cigar before, we have smoked them in the past, even if it's not a brand we pick up often.
Today's cigar is the Kristoff Habano Corona, and after pulling the cigar out of the cellophane, the aroma was like a tobacco potpourri – interesting, and delicious!
Visually, the Brazilian habano wrapper is dark, veiny, and oily. Since this cigar has a pigtail end, I decided to go the classic route and just twist off the end instead of cutting it. The result was a decent enough draw to give the experiment a green light.
After torching the cigar, the Kristoff Habano had lots of spice, rich flavors, and a great draw, but it did taste more like a budget cigar. I initially tasted cinnamon and pepper spice. And, while the first few puffs weren't terribly impressive, after just a few minutes, premium and delicious flavors decided to shop up.
CigarScore:
Brand: Kristoff
Line: Habano
Size: 5 x 44
Cut: Guillotine
Light: Torch
Price: $5.89
Wrapper: Brazilian Habano
Binder: Brazilian Sumatra
Filler: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Smoke Time: 57 minutes
At about the 30 minute mark, the construction remained excellent. The draw was fantastic. The burn was almost razor sharp. And, the flavors were really nice.
Final Thoughts
I must admit, my first impressions were wrong. The Kristoff Habano Corona, which introduced itself as a budget stick, quickly evolved into a cigar that was rich, delicious, and complex. If you want to enjoy a cigar with lots of spice but don't want pepper, give this stick a try.
The Brazilian habano wrapper delivered tons of great flavors. The price point was right if you're looking for a cigar that you can enjoy in less than an hour. With great construction and great flavors, the Kristoff Habano Corona earns a CigarScore 5.
