Today, we review De Los Reyes Cigars’ Saga Solaz in the Corona size. At the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, De Los Reyes cigars introduced a fourth size to its Saga Solaz line in the form of a 6 x 44 Corona. Over the years, many companies have developed “morning smokes” or “nightcap” smokes. Solaz is the Spanish word for “leisure after work.” It was a blend specifically designed to be enjoyed after a long day of work. It also introduced a Connecticut Shade-wrapped offering into the De Los Reyes portfolio.
Saga Solaz Corona by De Los Reyes Cigars – Agile Cigar Review
SPECIFICATIONS
The blend is highlighted by an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper over Dominican-grown tobaccos from the Reyes family farms. These tobaccos include Criollo, Olor, and Piloto Cubano varietals. As with production for all De Los Reyes Cigars, production is handled at the De Los Reyes S.A. facility in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
- Binder: Dominican
- Filler: Dominican
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Factory: De Los Reyes S.A.
- Corona: 6 x 44
One interesting thing is that the Corona comes in a special eight-count soft-pack box, while the other three sizes come in 24-count units.
PERFORMANCE
The Solaz Corona opened up with notes of toast, cedar, cream, wood, and some natural tobacco sweetness. Early on, the wood and toast notes were primary. The retro-hale delivered a layer of black pepper. Once the cigar entered the second third, the natural tobacco sweetness joined the wood and toast notes. The cedar and cream notes remained in the background and were joined by notes of black pepper. The cream notes subsided and dissipated by the final third. The last third saw the combination of natural tobacco, wood, and toast remain primary, with the cedar and pepper a little further back. The final third saw the retro-hale get a little stronger with the pepper.
The flavors were mild to medium-bodied, but when the retro-hale kicked up in the final third, it moved into medium-bodied territory. This was countered by mild strength in the first two-thirds and mild to medium strength in the final third. The burn maintained a straight burn path and straight burn line, requiring minimal touch-ups. The draw was on the open side—a little more open than I prefer, but not loose.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Final Thoughts
I like the concept of a cigar after work, and for the past four years, Saga Solaz has fit the bill. I’ve particularly enjoyed the Churchill size, but many times a Churchill size simply won’t work so I think its perfect to go with the Corona size. While I still like the Churchill size better, the Corona size is a viable and practical option. I also really like what De Los Reyes has done with the soft-box packaging. I hope we see this in more of their releases. This is a cigar I certainly can recommend to any cigar enthusiast. Given the eight-count box and a $9.00 price point, it makes box worthy consideration a no-brainer here.
Summary
Key Flavors: Toast, Cream, Wood Natural Tobacco, Cedar, Pepper
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Very Good
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Mild (1st 2/3), Mild to Medium (Final Third)
Body: Mild to Medium (1st 2/3), Medium (Final Third)
Finish: Very Good
Rating
Value: Box Worthy Consideration
Score: 89
REFERENCES
Previous Assessment: Padrón Family Reserve No. 95 Maduro
News: Saga Solaz Churchill by De Los Reyes Cigars
Price: $9.00
Source: Purchased
Brand Reference: Saga
Photo Credits: Cigar Coop
Note: Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments in a lightweight, shorter format. They will never replace our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time, or it might be a blend we are looking at in a different size.
