The Churchill Report

IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB reviewing nearly two-dozen hand-rolled premium Churchill size cigars, but somebody’s got to do it. That somebody in this case turned out to be a panel of seasoned cigar veterans and gifted palates who have recently taken to the leaf – reflective of our overall audience. Each cigar was evaluated according to an exhaustive list of criteria, including aesthetic presentation, construction, wrapper, draw, how it lit, aroma, flavor, ash and aftertaste. Thinking ourselves the arbiters of good taste – that’s what they pay us for around here, after all – we’ve issued a pithy report (each Churchill can be outstanding, superior, worthy, mediocre, or unpalatable). But much like a Zagat review, this is merely a guideline, a compilation of opinions; with premium cigars (as with fine wines) everything is ultimately a matter of personal taste. This is ours…. -the editors

Arturo Fuente Double Chateau Fuente Sun Grown
The aroma of this stick (and its taste during the dry draw) sounds like a pretty good day on the farm: “sweet,” “honeyed,” and “hay.” Ditto the medium-bodied flavor, summarized as “hay,” “flora,” and “woody.” The cigar itself was tightly constructed, with “some veins – not too bad” and a “smooth” wrapper. The draw itself was thought “slightly tight” by some, “smooth” by others, while the stick was “a little difficult to light.” Aftertaste was nonexistent.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
$5.75/stick
$105.00/box of 20
CONCLUSION: WORTHY

Ashton Heritage Puro Sol Churchill
Once lit, this cigar “draws smooth as it looks,” producing both an aroma and flavors of wood (“a hint of cedar”) and earth. A “nutty” dry draw transformed a “consistent…not particularly pungent” smoke (with a flavor of “light spice, pepper, and sesame seed notes”), which finished with a light and “not overpowering” aftertaste. “I’d smoke this one again,” said one reviewer, who thought the cigar would go nicely paired with a port.

Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
$9.25/stick;
$231.25/box of 25
CONCLUSION: WORTHY

Bolivar Corona Gigante
The “berry” and “fruity” notes experienced during the dry draw turned out to be a preview for this “perfectly wrapped” cigar’s heavy fruit aroma and fullbodied “salty, fruity, berry” flavor. The cigar’s draw, once lit with only a little difficulty, was extraordinarily tight for some, peerlessly easy for others. There was “consistency in blend throughout the box,” with reviewers experiencing the same taste and scent notes as the cigars burned towards their “effervescent” (and relatively aftertaste-free) ends.

Wrapper: Cuban
Binder: Cuban
Filler: Cuban
$30/stick
$750/box of 25
CONCLUSION: OUTSTANDING

Camacho Corojo Churchill
“Very classy” in its presentation but “slightly uneven” in the construction, this cigar presented radically different sensations to different reviewers, who alternatively described the dry-draw taste as “hay” with “roots,” “green tea,” and “almond-like.” The cigar itself lit and drew smoothly, with a flavor of “leather, spice and earth,” and a poignant yet pleasant aftertaste. “A very original and elegant cigar.”

Wrapper: Honduran Corojo
Binder: Honduran Corojo
Filler: Honduran Corojo
$5.90/stick
$147.50/box of 25
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR

CAO Cameroon
Lighting “easily,” this cigar had an “excellent” draw (“like a highway,” in the parlance of one) but with “unremarkable” flavor and “not much aroma” — although the highwayman also thought the dry draw had an unmistakable “woodsy” taste. Aesthetically, the stick had a “sleek, sexy, nice sheen” and “firm construction.” Despite the extremely mild flavor (Cameroon wrapper), the aftertaste was found to be “slightly bitter.”

Wrapper: Cameron
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
$7.80/stick
$156/box of 20
CONCLUSION: WORTHY

Carlos Toraño Virtuoso
The sleek, dark and oily wrapper intimidated at least one reviewer, who lit it (easily) expecting the sort of smoke that leaves your tobacco newbie seeing stars. However, looks can sometimes be deceiving, as this Churchill offered up a “nice perfume” of an aroma, and a “subtle and rich” flavor with “hints of spices and nut” – albeit with a pungent aftertaste “like eating bark.” The burn was slightly uneven.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan & Panamanian
$6.96/stick
$174/box of 25
CONCLUSION: WORTHY

Cuvée Blanc Churchill
“Very nice, but not super-memorable,” one reviewer summarized. Indeed, this symmetrical and handsome stick, “spongy” to the feel with “slight veins,” had a lot going for it: A virtually nonexistent taste during the dry draw turned into a “salty,” “woody” flavor, with aromas of “berry, honey, and wood.” The stick lit easily and burned coolly, and then exited stage left with a faint aftertaste that was “light, toasty, with a touch of earth.”

Wrapper: Connecticut
Binder: Vis us Dominican
Filler: San Vicente Seco (Dominican)
Piloto Cuba no Seco (Dominican)
Olor Ligero (Domincan)
Peruvian Seco
$7.20/stick
$171/box of 24
CONCLUSION: WORTHY

Davidoff Aniversario No. 2
This “perfectly” constructed cigar had a wrapper with smooth texture and few veins. With virtually no taste on dry draw, reviewers caught “the aroma of hay,” which flowed into a medium-bodied “hay” and “sweet” flavor once the cigar was actually lit. Everyone felt the stick had an extremely mild aftertaste.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian (CT shade seed)
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
$26.70/stick
$667.50/box of 20
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR

Dunhill Signed Range Churchill
One experienced reviewer found this the “surprise of the tasting,” not knowing quite what to expect upon lighting up. The “spongy but firm” construction and “smooth” wrapper boded well before the smoke; the dry draw had a distinct “fruity” taste, while the flavor was “salty,” “acidic,” and “effervescent,” with a “light but bitter aftertaste” reminiscent of “roasted nuts.” Overall the cigar had a “smooth draw” and a “leathery, woody aroma.” Paired with drinks, the Dunhill could go well with an Oregon pinot noir.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaraguan &
Dominican Republic
$14.50/stick
$362.50/box of 25
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Churchill Especial
“Classic” in its aesthetic presentation, with a smooth wrapper, this was definitely a full-bodied cigar – one reviewer described the taste as “knockout,” while another (a huge fan of strong smokes) summed it up with pithy “Oh yeah!” The flavor itself was “hints of English leather” with “a bit of fruit,” although a cigar neophyte classified the aroma as “locker room.” One on the panel thought the draw was a bit tight, noting that it “made me feel light-headed.”

Wrapper: Ecuadorian sungrown
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
$8/stick
$160/box of 20
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR
(recommended for seasoned cigar smokers)

Fonseca Vintage Churchill
From the silky wrapper to the aroma of almonds, our reviewers found this stick “inviting.” That positive vibe continued with a clean and even lighting. Dry draw had “a touch of cedar, but not much evident,” and although the draw was slightly tight after lighting, the cigar seemed to open up after the first inch, unleashing flavors of “toasted marshmallows, fruit and peaches.” The aftertaste was decidedly nutty, “light and lingering.” As one reviewer concluded: “A perfect lunch smoke.”

Wrapper: Ecuadorian (CT seed shade)
Binder: Dominican Olor
Filler: Dominican Cuban Seed
$7.35/stick
$147/box of 20
CONCLUSION: OUTSTANDING

Graycliff Chateau Grand Cru Presidente
There was some inconsistency in the box: one reviewer found a “smooth” wrapper and “solid” construction, while another found their wrapper “uneven and bumpy.” Nonetheless, there was a pleasant dry draw (one reviewer described the taste as reminiscent of “a farm” or “a field”) followed by a medium-bodied flavor with hints of “brandy,” “cedar” and “fruit.” Aftertaste was “a little bitter.”

Wrapper: Costa Rican
Binder: Ecuadorian
Filler: Nicaraguan, Costa Rican,
Ecuadorian & Zimbabwean
$22/stick
$110/5-pack
$500/box of 25
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR

Gurkha Grand Age
If you’re the type for whom no meal is complete unless it’s doused in some industrial-grade hot sauce – perhaps accompanied by some 150-proof alcohol – then the Gurkha Grand Age may be the smoke for you. Its tight construction led to a slow lighting and burn. The dry draw was described as “spicy, woody,” while the “slightly arid” aroma was definitely “pumpernickel or toasted rye.” Flavor was “harsh, with a real bite to it,” followed by a “thick, earthy aftertaste.” Great packaging did not equate to a great cigar.

Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan & Peruvian
$11/stick
$550/box of 50
CONCLUSION: MEDIOCRE

Hoyo de Monterrey Churchill
Our reviewers found that this cigar, from an aesthetic point of view, lacked a certain degree of elegance, with an uneven construction and prominent veins. It turned out to be a dependable smoke, though, lighting evenly (and drawing tight at the first few puffs), with a decidedly “heavy” flavor, an “earthy” aroma, and strong aftertaste.

Wrapper: Cuban
Binder: Cuban
Filler: Cuban
$19.55/stick
$488.75/box of 25
CONCLUSION: WORTHY

Montecristo White Churchill
This stick, light and smooth on the outside, packed tight with tobacco within, produced a “woodsy” dry draw, a “sweet, somewhat spicy” aroma and a “bland, sweet” taste with “a herbal note.” A medium- to full bodied smoke, the cigar was found difficult to light, with a tight draw. Another found it fine on all counts, summing up with: “I’d love this in summertime with a cold Corona on the beach.”

Wrapper: Ecuadorian(Connecticut Seed Shade)
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan
$10/stick
$250/box of 25
CONCLUSION: WORTHY

Partagas 160 Cifuentes Especial
The Cameroon wrapper on this cigar had “sunspots” and “pronounced but not excessively large veins, which adds to the allure of age.” The dry draw was “spicy,” “slightly peppery,” but “subtle.” The stick lit easily and had a “sweet and slightly peppery” aroma, combined with mild- to medium-bodied flavor notes of “nutmeg, raw honey, and cinnamon” as well as “almond.” This is not a cigar to be smoked quickly (otherwise it develops overly heated smoke). It had a noticeable aftertaste. “All around a fulfilling and enjoyable smoke,” said one reviewer.

Wrapper: Cameroon (1977)
Binder: Mexican
Filler: Dominican & Mexican
$30.90/stick
$309/box of 10
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR

Rocky Patel 1992 Vintage Churchill
After a flavorless dry draw, this uniform-colored and well-constructed cigar “lit right up” and had a “smooth” draw, but tongues were scoured by a taste like “toasted or burnt earth” (according to one reviewer). Another gave high marks to the “light and toasty” aroma, but found the aftertaste a bit heavy. The cigar produced “solid ash” and had a “nicely consistent burn,” even though one stick had to be re-lit multiple times.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra (aged 10 years)
Binder: Nicaraguan (aged 7 years)
Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan (aged 7 years)
$7.75/stick
$155/box of 20
CONCLUSION: MIXED--TRY IT--YOU MAY LIKE IT, YOU MAY NOT

Romeo y Julieta Churchill
One of the more famous brand names in the business came out of the gate strong; one reviewer opined that the “well rolled” cigar appropriately “looks great.” Some experienced tastes of “berries” or “a field” during the dry draw, along with a “floral” aroma. Flavor was medium-bodied. Some reviewers had difficulty lighting their sticks, and experienced an uneven burn, while others had no issue with either. Aftertaste was “mild and pleasurable.”

Wrapper: cuban
Binder: cuban
Filler: cuban
$17/stick
$425/box of 25
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR

Stradivarius de los Maestros
Long before the matches come out, the Stradivarius’s long wooden box makes a huge impression – “impressive,” “great packaging.” Fortunately, the cigar inside seemed just as carefully made – “beautifully rolled,” someone said, “with a nice cup.” Dry draw before lighting was “buttery and smooth,” with tastes of “hay and cedar,” while it lit “like a moth to flame.” One reviewer classified the “velvety” taste as “pancakes,” and another thought it “grassy.” During the smoke, the cigar produced flaky ash and a “light-bodied” aftertaste.

Wrapper: Connecticut Shade(aged 15 years)
Binder: Dominican Havana Seed(aged 2 years)
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan & Mexican
$34/stick
$340/box of 10
CONCLUSION: WORTHY

Troya Clasico LXIII (Churchill)
With a taste-free dry draw opening up into the “sweet aroma” of “wood, cinnamon and honey” and a full-bodied flavor with “pepper and cinnamon notes,” this was one (“firm but spongy,” “smooth,” “well-constructed”) cigar unanimously praised. Our reviewers disagreed on the aftertaste, with some finding it sweet and others sour, but it was generally agreed that the stick lit and smoked easily. “This would be perfect if paired with a red-rare steak and a big Bordeaux.”

Wrapper: nicaraguan
Binder: nicaraguan
Filler: nicaraguan
$9.50/stick
$190/box of 20
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR