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| Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve 2012 |
The Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve 2012 was one of several cigars launched by Miami Cigar and Company at the 2012 IPCPR Trade Show. It is a follow-up to the original Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve that was launched at the 2011 trade show. Like the 2011 version, the Grand Reserve 2012 is a limited production cigar with plans for 1500 boxes of ten to be released. The 2012 version is being positioned a stronger cigar than the 2011 version. In a recent press release by Miami Cigar and Company, Nestor Miranda said: “With the 2012 edition, we were looking to add another dimension to the
Grand Reserve and what we have come up with is a cigar that is a full
bodied powerhouse.” I recently have had an opportunity to sample the Grand Reserve 2012, and found this sequel to be better than the original. This is a great cigar.
The original Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve was a favorite of ours in 2011. It made our list of “Honorable Mentions” in our 2011 Cigar of the Year countdown. Like the 2011 version, the 2012 version also is made at the My Father Cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.
Let’s take a closer look at the Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve 2012 and see what this cigar brings to the table:
Blend Profile
One of the key differentiators of this Grand Reserve 2012 blend from the 2011 is that there is additional ligero in the filler. In my opinion, it not only provided additional strength, but additional flavor.
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitolas Available
The Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve 2012 is currently only available in a single vitola – a 6 1/8 x 52 box-press torpedo.
Appearance
The Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve 2012 has a coffee bean wrapper – similar to the 2011 version. Like the 2011 version, the wrapper of the 2012 is not oily. There are both visible wrapper seams and visible veins on the wrapper of the cigar.
There are two bands on the Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve 2012. The first band is pretty much a blue version of the emerald colored band on the Grand Reserve 2011. I like the color change because it helps the 2012 version establish its own identity. The first band contains “Nestor Miranda” in gold cursive font on a blue background. There is a blue diamond toward the top of the cigar with plenty of gold adornments on the band.. The blue skews darker toward the bottom of the band. The text “Esteli Nicaragua” sits on a gold ribbon in a thin brownish cursive font. Toward the bottom of the band is the text “GRAND” followed under by by “RESERVE” – both in a white font arranged in a slightly curved fashion.
I also like how there is now a secondary band on the Grand Reseve 2012 – helping to further give this cigar its own identity. Like the first band, the second band has a blue background that skews darker toward the bottom of the band. There are some gold stripes across the top and bottom with white pinstripes bordering it toward the inner part of the band. There is also some gold design on the band. On the center of the band is the text “2012” in gold.
Preparation for the Cigar Experience
Given this was a torpedo vitola, I defaulted to a straight cut through the tip. The next step was to begin the pre-light draw. The dry draw notes were very good on the Grand Reserve 2012. I was treated to notes of coffee, slightly-sweetened chocolate, and a touch of spice. I found the dry draw of the Grand Reserve 2012 much more flavorful than the 2011, so I wondering if this was a sign of things to come as I prepared to toast the foot of the 2012.
Flavor Profile
I did find that the Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve 2012 had less in the way of flavor transitions than the 2011 version, but as mentioned above, it definitely had no shortage of flavor. While the 2011 had a coffee/chocolate component to its flavor profile, I found it much more pronounced in the Grand Reserve 2012.
The Grand Reserve 2012 starts out with a combination of chocolate and classic black pepper notes. The pepper notes didn’t provide a “Garcia pepper blast” up right away, but it did surface in the first 5 minutes of the smoke. Once it surfaced, it took on the quality of what I would say was a “deferred” Garcia pepper blast.
The pepper settled down and moved to the background. The chocolate notes were soon joined by some coffee flavors. The chocolate and coffee notes had individual characteristics as opposed to being a combined “mocha” flavor. Meanwhile in the background, some cream notes joined the pepper.
In the second half, the pepper increased. It would eventually go on an even playing field with the chocolate and coffee notes. The cream notes remained. The pepper moved ahead of the chocolate and coffee toward the end. The finish was spicy, but not rough. The resulting nub was soft to the touch, but cool in temperature.
Burn and Draw
When the Grand Reserve 2011 came out, I was surprised how good a burn and draw it had. I say surprised because usually my expectations are lower when it comes to torpedo vitolas. However the torpedo vitola really had no adverse effects on the Grand Reserve 2011 as it had an excellent burn and draw. The Grand Reserve 2012 follows on this path. The burn line remained sharp from start to finish requiring little in the way of touch-ups. The resulting ash was firm and white throughout the smoking experience. The burn rate and burn temperature were ideal. The draw was also outstanding – this was as good a torpedo as any to puff on.
Strength and Body
When I smoked the original Grand Reserve 2011, I originally had it on the upper end of medium to full in terms of strength and body. After smoking some more, I moved the needle to the lower end of full in terms of strength and body. The Grand Reserve 2012 goes to the next level as it is squarely in the center of the full strength and full body spectrum.. While there is definitely a lot more strength here, there is also a lot more flavor. Both the strength and body balance each other nicely making an excellent smoking experience.
Final Thoughts
The Nestor Miranda brand from Miami Cigar and Company has produced some outstanding cigars. As of the writing of this article, this one now stands at the top. While I still would have loved to see this blend in a box-press toro, the torpedo does just fine here. As I said up front, this is a case where the sequel does do better than the original – and the original was very good. Given this is a full strength, full-bodied smoke, I would recommend this to more experienced cigar smokers who prefer a smoke in this range. As for myself, I look forward to smoking this again .
Summary
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Low
Strength: Full
Body: Full
Finish: Good
Assessment: Memorable
Score: 92
Source: The cigars for this assessment were purchased from Outland Cigars in Charlotte, North Carolina.
