2016 Cigar of the Year Countdown: #17: Saga Short Tales-Tales of High Priming by De Los Reyes Cigars

“Many cigars lay claim to being a full strength, full-bodied cigar and in some cases, I’ve found the cigar to fall short in meeting those thresholds advertised. With the Saga Short Tales – Tales of High Priming, there is no question – this is a full strength, full-bodied cigar…while Tales of High Priming delivers plenty of firepower, it does not sacrifice its flavors.”

Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf, Dominican (including Negrito)
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (De Los Reyes SA)
Short Gordo: 4 x 58
Price: $8.49
Review: Saga Short Tales-Tales of High Priming
Brand Appearances on Countdown: 1 (2016)

Coming in at #17 is the Saga Short Tales-Tales of High Priming by De Los Reyes Cigars. Saga Short Tales is a new series from De Los Reyes Cigars. This is a series of shorter smokes with each installment having a different theme to it. The first installment, “Tales of High Priming” made its debut this year. As the name indicates, the theme of this cigar is the use of high priming tobacco – resulting in one of the most powerful smokes ever to come out of the Dominican Republic.

De Los Reyes Cigars is owned by the Reyes family in the Dominican Republic. Many know of the Reyes family through sixth generation cigar maker Augusto Reyes Sr,. The Reyes family has been involved in the tobacco growing and leaf brokerage business for over 160 years. Day to day operations of the company are run Reyes’ daughter Nirka.

Saga Short Tales – Tales of High Priming is the first cigar from the Saga brand to make the Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown. This cigar is made at the De Los Reyes factory in the Dominican Republic- which is no stranger to the Countdown as this is the third consecutive year this factory has landed a cigar on the Countdown (Debonaire and Indian Motorcycle Cigars which come out of that factory).

The packaging for Tales of High Priming is designed in the form of a classic novel – complete with a “story” of the cigar included. Given it is the first blend in the series, Tales of High Priming is dubbed Tomo I – meaning Volume 1.

The blend of the Saga Short Tales of High Primings incorporates high priming Corona tobaccos including U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf and Reyes-family grown Dominican tobaccos (including Dominican Negrito). In addition to the cigar utilizes an Indonesian binder to facilitate combustion of the high priming tobaccos in the filler. The cigar is finished with a Nicaraguan wrapper. The blend comes in one size – a 4 x 58 Short Gordo.

As mentioned, Tales of High Priming is a full strength, full-bodied cigar that easily is one of the most powerful cigars ever to come out of the Dominican Republic. While the strength level will definitely be felt on this cigar, it’s not at the expense of the flavor. The cigar delivers notes of cedar, generic wood, natural tobacco, black pepper, and a subtle black cherry note. Many times higher priming tobaccos have burn and combustion issues – no such problems with the Tales of High Priming as it consistently scores consistently well in this area.

Overall this short, powerhouse cigar delivered an excellent smoking experience. If you are looking for a box worthy cigar with plenty of firepower and flavor, you can’t go wrong with Tales of High Prming.