Lightweight, Rookie Smoker Review and Recommendation, by Pat Cross

Hi Bob,

    I'm a very new listener, (via i Phone podcasts).  A couple weeks ago you caught my attention when you were surprised to hear many smokers only smoke 1-2 cigars per month.  I fall into this category, as do ALL of my friends who smoke cigars.  I wanted you to know this so you will realize my recommendation should be put in its proper perspective and will probably not be appropriate for you and your friends with much more developed tastes and palates. 

 

    Us "lightweights" look for something quite a bit different, specifically a very tasty MILD strength cigar.  Preferably low cost.  I think I have found one that fits the bill for the "occasional" smoker.

 

    The "Free Cuba," with it's decidedly un-pretentious cigar band, seems to be a winner amongst my "rookie" smoker friends.  The literature says it's made by Jochy Blanco in Santiago, Dominican Republic.  (Not to be confused with Jose Blanco, I'm sure.) The wrapper is a Connecticut Shade Windsor, with modest but fine feeling 'tooth', surrounding the long filler combination of "patiently aged" Cuban seeded Dominican Long filler.

 

    I found the smoke very mild, allowing my "wanna be" buddies and I to actually enjoy finishing the 7.2", 50 gauge Churchill.  The flavor was creamy and light, with NO signs of oak, leather, cocoa, woodsy, earthy, or peppery tastes found in most medium to full bodied cigars.  The flavor is decidedly not complex, but rather a smooth balance which was remarkably consistent throughout the entire cigar.  I detected some subtle, possibly vanilla sweetness with faint coffee tones, like a cappucino in a double expresso world.  The rollers knew their business, as the cigar's draw and smoking characteristics, evenness of burn, ash color, were exceptional and better than cigars costing 10-20 times the price.  The Churchill took about an hour and a half to finish, and was thoroughly enjoyable down to the last 3/4".

 

    The price?  A BUCK for the Robusto and Toro sizes.  Add a dime for the Torpedo and Churchill sizes.  (This was mail order, so store would probably be $2 to $3 a stick.)

 

    I know you are rolling your eyes right now, as are all of your serious cigar smoking listeners.  However, I gave out about 50 of these for Christmas and assorted events, and 100% of the recipients loved them.  I have never had this positive of a reaction to any cigar, including high priced well known name brands.  EVERYONE wanted another, even the women.  Most said it was the best cigar they ever smoked.

 

    Make no mistake, this is not the cigar for anybody who loyally listens to your show each week.  Your Cuban friends would probably want to count smoking this stick as one serving of vegetables.  However, if you want to have an inexpensive great tasting stash of cigars for your non-smoking friends, for the golf course, birth of a child, graduation party, a fly fishing smoke, or as a stocking stuffer for Christmas, the "Free Cuba" would do the job very nicely.

 

Pat Cross

Milford, MI

 

Comments

[Dave From Toledo]

Pat,

Great review. I tend to be a one a day man and prefer a medium body cigar. Your comments on the Free Cuba are tempting me to try some. I'm tired of the trend pushing fuller cigars. Do we really need an all ligero cigar? At times milder is better and I'm glad your found a cigar to match your taste profile.

Dave from Toledo