Initial Thoughts:
Today we continue our series of blind cigar reviews, where our goal is to provide you with a totally objective, completely neutral review of a cigar. Ellory went into this review completely blind; that means without knowing what it is, who made it, how much it costs, or what's in it. To see the entire series of blind cigar reviews, click here.
When I went to pick out a cigar for today's review, I grabbed one that was the size I wanted to smoke. And the Patoro VA Extra Belicoso not only looked and smelled great, but it was about the right vitola for me to enjoy for the sunny afternoon.
Visually, the Patoro VA Extra Belicoso was medium brown in color, and it looked like the binder leaf might be lighter than the wrapper. I don't know if it's different, but it appears so.
Cutting the tapered end, the draw was a little loose, and the cold draw flavors had lots of cedar to them. Once lit, the Patoro VA Extra gave of the aromas of wood and leather.
After the first few puffs, the flavors were somewhat familiar, and my first impressions were very good.
CigarScore:
Brand: Patoro
Line: VA Extra
Size: 5 15/16 x 55
Cut: Guillotine
Light: Torch
Price: $28.50 – Luxury Cigar Club
Wrapper: Dominican Republic
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Smoke Time: 75 minutes
Through the middle of the cigar, the Patoro VA Extra Belicoso was mostly good. There were some burn issues due to excessive moisture in the binder. The draw remained good. And, the flavors of spice, cedar, and leather were pretty good.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Patoro VA Extra Belicoso is a pretty good cigar with some flaws.
The cigar had a couple of burn issues that needed to be addressed. In the final third, there were some problems with the flavors, but they were brief.
Personally, I thought the cigar was about twice as expensive as it should have been. This cigar would be a great option in the $10-$15 range, but at almost $30, it's far too expensive.
Objectively, however, the Patoro VA Extra Belicoso was mostly good and the flaws were minor. And, price vs value is a decision only you can make. So, the Patoro VA Extra Belicoso earns a CigarScore 4.
