It’s that time again. And I’m not referring to that time of the week were I proudly display the tower of burn. I’m talking about time of the year when the big daddy of cigar media, Cigar Aficionado, crowns a new annual champion. It’s kind of a Miss Universe contest, except the winner is ritualistically burned and inhaled by the judges. It’s all at once disturbing and exciting. And clearly, I need to start putting a little less whiskey in my coffee.
Seriously, though, this selection selection of the top cigar of 2008 came a surprise to a lot of people. Most of the responses I saw on twitter and elsewhere could be summed up by the three questions, who? what? and really? (Or in some cases, silence.) I fell into the “really?” camp. At the recommendation of a local tobacconist, I grabbed a Casa Magna a month or so ago and lit it up. In the social atmosphere of the cigar shop, I could tell it was a decent stick, but not one that knocked my socks off. I definitely didn’t see a crown and a podium in its future. In fact, I didn’t really see a tower of burn in it’s future either. But now that the Casa Magna has made it’s tearful acceptance speech and promise to devote the next year to bring about world peace, I have to give it a second look.
The Casa Magna is the creation of two cigar legends, Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plascencia. The word is that it was introduced this year to replace the Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970. Beyond that, all I know about the cigar is that its rolled in Esteli, Nicaragua and that it is a Nicaraguan puro. But before we proceed with the review, I should mention that technically, the cigar I’m smoking isn’t the 2008 champ. The award went to the robusto vitola. It probably will surprise no one when I say that the robustos were already sold out at the shop I visited. To steal a phrase from every mob movie (and TV show) ever made, whaddaya gonna do? Let’s check it out.
Cigar Stats:
Size: 6 1/4 x 54
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Smoking Time: 2 1/2 hours
Beverage: Water
Price: ~$6.00
The Pre-Smoke
The Casa Magna is a very attractive cigar, it comes wrapped in a thick, textured, very detailed band that does catch the eyes. Under is an equally great looking mottled reddish wrapper leaf that is a little on the veiny side and shows the dark outlines of veins beneath the surface.
To the touch, the cigar is a little veiny, and just a bit softer side. One cigar actually had soft spot about an inch in from the foot.
The scent of the wrapper varied surprisingly between sticks. One stick was mostly compost, another was a combination of honey sweetness and compost, and the final stick had a incredibly pungent, funky B.O. smell. The cold taste varied as well. One stick drew a savory earth while another was a mixture of sweetness and spice.
The Burn
The Casa Magnas burn was generally good, but not perfect. Well with one exception. One cigar committed a burn crime that’s hard to forgive. It tarred up. And even re-clipping the cigar didn’t completely fix the problem. (It helped for a while.) However, as only one of the four cigars sampled for this review had that problem, I’m willing to dismiss it as a dud.
As I was saying, the cigar performed well in this department. The burn line was never really straight for more than a few puffs, but good enough to require maybe one touch up. The draw was also good, if a little on the tight side and the ash was solid and nice looking.
One very impressive characteristic of the Casa Magna was its slow burn. I generally try to smoke my cigars slowly for reviews anyway, but this smoke just lasts and lasts.
The Flavor
This cigar is all about earthiness, but not overpoweringly so. The earth component is like base on which all the other flavors are layered. And the earth flavor itself seemed to subtly changing throughout the smoke. At times it was minerally (most notably the second third), other times it was a little savory and reminiscent of a gritty Fritos corn chip. And sometimes it was just earth.
In addition to earth I noted creaminess early on in the smoke, which was followed by some sweetness that tasted a bit like cherry in one cigar, and more like caramel in another. I also noted a little bit of wood and some pepper in the begging third.
The sweetness took on a slightly creamy almond flavor early on in the second third. Of course, the earth was still very much present, as was a bit of pepper which generally appeared in the finish.
There was a bit of coffee and the earth turned sweet in the final third. I had expected the pepper to turn it up a notch as the cigar headed into the final stretch, but that didn’t happen. There was a little bit of it there, but not quite as much as in some of the earlier thirds.
The Price
It’s unusual to find a stick of such obvious quality for such reasonable rates. Of course, this introduces a problem. Being named cigar of the year for 2008 immediately ups a cigar’s demand considerably. Combine the increased awareness and desirability of the stogie with a low price tag, and you have the materials you need for a sign reading “sold out”. Well, that is as soon as the next magazine comes out. (Internet-savvy consumers have already made their dent in the existing shop supply.) I predict that the Casa Magna has been “Serie V’ed”.
The Verdict
Earth is not one of my favorite flavor components in a cigar. In the past I’ve reviewed cigars with very prominent earthiness only to find that I didn’t care for them. The Casa Magna is different. The earth is blended well with the other flavors really works for me. And the complexity of the flavors kept me interested in the smoke. Because of that complexity, I was going to say that this is a cigar you should smoke only when you can sit and really enjoy the flavor. But having smoked one in a social setting and another while working one afternoon, I can say that this cigar is a good choice either way.
So I did like the cigar, but is this the best cigar of the year? I think you know my answer even before you ask the question. No way. I’m still sticking with the Tempus as my pick. Is it a good cigar? Yes. And it may be one of the best value buys of 2008.
Liked It: Yes
Buy It Again: Yes, if it’s still in stock!
Recommend It: Yes, it’s worth a shot
Tower of Burn
Here for your viewing pleasure is my trademark Tower of Burn.
Excellent written review as always and the T.O.B. pics are great!
Very good review Jerry, but I miss your video reviews.
Tempus is a great tasting cigar but every cigar(purchased at several different shops), I smoked had serious burn issues and you could barely get a good draw. I found the Tempus to be the most frustrating cigar of 2008.
Yeah Jerry, great review!? Just kidding Brian. Another exceptional job. When this cigar was announced as #1 I smoked one of the Magnas I had in my humidor (a robusto which is my preferred RG). I too found the earthiness but mine seemed more on the savory side. I did get a little pepper in the first third but then it died out. The cigar was smooth, kind of sweet at times, and had a decent burn and draw. In terms of strength it was more medium to medium-full (but if it replaces the Antano then Antano lovers will be disappointed by its strength). The price is nice as well (a factor that played a part in it being #1 according Gordon Mott). I like this cigar and will definitely smoke more. Is it #1? I’m with you, I don’t think so.
I guess I’ll have to give this one another try. I got a couple at the Vegas Big Smoke in November and tried one soon after arriving back at home. The overwhelming flavor I got from it was ammonia…a sign that the tobacco has not aged long enough, I believe. Could just be a bum stick, but I haven’t gotten around to smoking the second one yet. Maybe I’ll pick up one that definitely from a different batch and give it a try.
Thanks guys!
That’s too bad CWS, because it’s really a great cigar. I don’t recall ever having a bad enough burn issue with the Tempus to spoil the experience. (Though I did have some humidity-related burn ugliness in one I smoked.)
Gotta agree with you Irish Mike, Antaño lovers will not be pleased if this replaces their cherished smoke! Heck, I didn’t even realize there was a plan to replace it until I did my homework on the Casa Magna.
dmjones,
Yeah, it’s possible you got a rushed or a bum stick. Rushihng the process been known to happen when the manufacturer is trying to stock up for a big show. You might consider just picking up a stick at a local shop and letting those smoke rest a while.
Funny stuff Brian! Well written…I want to snag a couple before my shop gets serie V’d as well. Or maybe I’ll just restock my Tempus supply.
Thanks for the review.
Al
“. . . Though I did have some humidity-related burn ugliness in one I smoked.”
I actually emailed Alan Rubin on a whim about those issues. I will give him credit – he replied and looked into the matter. The explanation was that a specific lot was affected by humidity related problems at the cigar factory.
None-the-less, I’ve tried to smoke several from different stores and even internet retailers and I get the same result. All total it was close to 10 cigars.
I love the taste – just too hard to work for it. The guys at Holt’s in Philly have run into the same problems and feel it has something to do with the filler.
Oh well . . . there are many other cigars to enjoy.
There is a big marketing push in many of the shops in the Philadelphia metro region for the Casa Magna cigars . . .
Nice review Brian and very timely indeed! I will definitely be trying to hunt down a couple of these but I can’t help but think that I am going to be a little disappointed, sort of how I was a couple years back with the Coronado.
Clint.
Nice Review! My local B&M does not carry these….is there a recommended online shop that does?
Thanks again for a first class review!
-Beezer
Beezer, from Silo Cigar’s website this is one of those cigars that the manufacturer does not want to be put online for sale. However, I know you can call Silo Cigars and order from them but they do not sell them via online ordering. The same may be true of places like CI and Famous where you may have to call and ask.
Very Nice Review Brian. I do miss the videos though. is it just the pic or does the second pic of the foot have a little mold on it?
Sorry, maybe thats the pic of the Tar on the head.
I had one when they were first rated #1 and was not impressed, just picked up another to try…
wow, I have one of these and didnt know it was worth soo much…
That was a great post…I love this site…Thanks
nice review of a very good smoke.
When I was on holiday in Arizona at the end of March, I bought a box of these (as well as many more) to take back home to Scotland.
I never got around to trying one until a couple of weeks ago and am, in fact, enjoying one right now 🙂
I have not had issues with burn and find the flavour just right for me.
Its a good long enjoyable smoke and the next time I venture to the USA I am sure I will be asking for a box of these again.
Great site by the way.
The casa magna is a very well made and tasty smoke. The tempest to me is a much better smoke;It is “to me” not the cigar of the year by a long shot.
this cigar is out of this world! I just smoked one right after an oliva v churchill which I really enjoyed, and it was still undeniably better. More sweetness, more leather, better draw, black pepper…just stupendous…
Smoked a Casa Magna Maduro last night for the first time. Picked up a couple at a local shop. Asked the proprietor about a quality affordable smoke and he pointed these out.
Very impressed what I received for $6.
I really enjoyed the long, slow burn. The veiny, oily wrapper was very enjoyable and impressed me greatly.
Great review, fantastic site. It’s in my favorites. Keep up the great work!
The TOB is off the hook!