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Cigar of the Week

Cigar of the Week: Fundacion Ancestral Pinar del Rio 1941 Torpedo

(Note: This review originally appeared on CigarJack.)

Fundacion Ancestral Pinar del Rio 1941 cigar

Brand: Tabacos de la Cordillera
Line: Fundacion Ancestral Pinar del Rio 1941
Vitola: Torpedo 6 x 52
Origin: Costa Rica
Wrapper: Costa Rican
Binder: Costa Rican
Filler: Costa Rican
Body: Medium-to-full
Strength: Medium-to-full
Box Price: $296.25 (Box of 25)

Tabacos de la Cordillera is an interesting, little-known company. (At least, it was to me before I received these sticks in the mail from Josh at Arango Cigar Co.) TC director John Vogel is a former genetics engineer who prides himself on having cultivated crop after crop of fine tobacco, descended from some pre-embargo Cuban stuff.

Most cigar fans have heard the whole “pre-embargo seed” thing before. I know that when I first checked out the TC site, I scoffed. But when I really started read his story, I got a sense of the knowledge and love Vogel has for tobacco.

He’s a scientist by trade, but he’s passionate about his craft, and it shows with the Pinar del Rio 1941, a zesty, Cuban-tasting cigar that has a spicy, earthy prelight scent. With its double band and thin oily sheen, it’s an attractive cigar.

The Pinar del Rio 1941 has a spicy, earthy prelight scent. With its double band and thin oily sheen, it’s an attractive cigar.

Once I lit up, I found this was a consistent, good smoke. It continued its spiciness, but I found it had a nutty aftertaste with hints of cocoa. It had a slow, even burn throughout with a thin burn line. The draw did get a little tougher at the end, however, but I was still able to suck out all of the taste.

Verdict: It’s a good, rare cigar. If you can get your hands on one of these, go for it. In case your local retailer doesn’t carry it, you can buy it through the TC Web site. I let this one sit for a couple of months in my humidor, and I really got the taste to “pop.”

I also recommend you check out the site. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a cigar manufacturer’s Web site with this much information.

Similar cigars: La Flor Dominicana Ligero. These are both consistently spicy cigars, but they’re not overpowering.