Assessment Updates will be posted on this web-site to: 1) Assess
“pre-review” cigars that were not given a rating or score (typically
pre-release cigars); 2) Provide numeric ratings to cigars previously
assessed prior to the implementation of the numeric scoring system; 3) Provide a
re-assessment and re-score of a previously assessed/score cigars.
Today, we assign numeric scores to two previously assessed cigars from Lou Rodriguez Cigars. Lou Rodriguez Cigars is a boutique brand that has surfaced in 2011 and has already made an impact in the industry. Click here to read Cigar Coop’s article for Charlotte Exclusive on Lou Rodriguez Cigars.
Lou Rodriguez Edicion Reserva Connecticut
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| Lou Rodriguez Edicion Reserva Connecticut |
With the market being flooded with Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade cigars in 2011, the Lou Rodriguez Edicion Connecticut was a standout and slipped under a lot of people’s radar.
Lou Rodriguez Cigars prides themselves on using Nicaraguan tobacco, and I subscribe to the theory that it is now the best cigar tobacco in the world. The Nicaraguan tobacco makes up the binder and filler. Of course, the cigar is wrapped with beautiful Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf.
Once again, I smoked the 5 1/2 x 42 sized corona. This is a smaller cigar, so it isn’t going to provide a lot in terms of flavor transitions, but it is going to provide excellent flavors. The flavors are cream, cherry, and cedar spice. The flavors are mild to medium in body. At the same time, this is going to provide a mild strength smoke, although there is a nice little kick at the end of this cigar.
The cigar burns and draws like a champ. This is really a nice Ecuadorian Connecticut cigar and it is one I have certainly enjoyed revisiting.
Click here to read the original assessment of the Lou Rodriguez Edicion Reserva Connecticut.
Assessment: Nice to Have
Score: 90
Lou Rodriguez Edicion Premier
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| Lou Rodriguez Edicion Premier |
In my opinion, the standout cigar in the Lou Rodriguez line, it is the Lou Rodriguez Edicion Premier.
The Lou Rodriguez Edicion Premier is one of two maduros offered by Lou Rodriguez Cigars. The Edicion Premier showcases was a good medium strength maduro should
be – providing good balance between the strength and body. The other maduro is the Edicion Reserva which is going to take things higher in terms of strength.
For the Edicion Premier, it features Nicaraguan binder and filler. Rodriguez is not afraid to hold back that this cigar as a San Andres Negro wrapper from Mexico. San Andres tobacco makes some of the best maduros, and the Lou Rodriguez Edicion Premier is a prime example of this.
Once again I opted for the petite corona-sized 4 3/4 x 42 Bom Bom vitola. Like all of the vitolas in the Edicion Premier line, this is a box-press cigar. The end result provides flavors of pepper, black cherry, coffee, espresso, and natural maduro sweetness. The burn and draw were simply outstanding as well.
Click here to read the original assessment of the Lou Rodriguez Edicion Premier.
Assessment: Memorable
Score: 93
