In 2013, the Camacho Cigars underwent a rebrand and overhauled its line of cigars. While this was a bold move, indeed, it lined up to their campaign of turning to a ‘bold standard.’ This review of Camacho Criollo is for you to figure out if this bold standard fits your taste.
The Criollo originally was under the Havana Camacho line. After the overhaul, Camacho Cigars discontinued the Havana line. As part of the 2013 overhaul, we now call it Camacho Criollo from its use of the Criollo ’98 wrapper. Camacho Cigars’ use of this wrapper may be a good decision, yet there are many other reasons to try this cigar, too.
We can also enjoy the blend changes that made the cigar better. The Criollo uses a fourth priming rather than third priming for its wrapper. Fourth primings are leafier, thicker, and receive more sunlight. The Criollo also included Dominican Piloto Cubano tobacco to make a rich, earthy flavor.
This Camacho Criollo review will help you assess the flavor palette of this wonderful cigar.
| Wrapper Origin: Honduras | Shape: Parejo |
| Length: 5 | Ring: 50 |
| Wrapper: Criollo 98 | List Price: $152 (Box of 20) |
| Origin: Honduras | Strength: Medium |
Appearance
Coming from Camacho’s bold line of cigars, the box represents the brand with a black top and base of rich, lemon yellow. The box has a basic appeal to complement the logo and band’s clean, geometric design. For the cigar itself, the yellow theme is also an excellent color to the sheen of the brown Criollo wrapper.
There is some oil on the wrapper, making it a good color palette, almost having a shiny lemon look with the band. It has a triple cap—but not perfect. Nonetheless, without major veins, the cigar is practically seamless.
Smoking Experience
The pre-draw hinted at cedar, earthy notes. It is reminiscent of a barnyard scent. This is not a strong scent, but just right.
At the first puff, it was a little tight. The smoke is dry. Right off the start, the smoke which came out was a lot. The construction is quite compact, and the cigar is hard, but the draw was smooth.
The first thirds continued, and I was impressed by the razor-sharp burn from the ash. The build-up of the ash was fine with some flakiness to it. On the flavors, the cedar was prominent with some leather notes. Some hints of floral flavors and some creaminess are present as well.
The second thirds were getting more robust flavors with peppery notes. From medium-bodied, it was going to the full-bodied territory. The flavors also got bolder, with the pepper taste edging out the earthy flavors. The ash was still holding up, and the burn rate was consistent.
Lastly, the final thirds showed some nuttiness to taste.
Overall
The cigar lived up to the bold standard of the Camacho cigars. This cigar might not be the most daring, but it has good strength. Dominican Piloto Cubano with the rest of the fillers brings out a rich flavor profile. From earthy to nuttiness, the flavor had creaminess, cedar, leather, and pepper in between. With a reasonable burn rate, you can finish it in a little over an hour. Personally, this goes well with some dark chocolate. I give it a 90.
Other Cigars Reviews
Other Camacho Cigar Reviews
Camacho Connecticut Robusto
Camacho Connecticut is a mild to a medium-bodied cigar with mild flavors and offers a spicy and mild-mannered smoking experience. It comes with a Connecticut Shade wrapper from Ecuador with Dominican/Honduran long-filler tobacco, as well as a Honduran binder. The Camacho Connecticut is known as the tamest cigar of the Camacho line. Every cigar lover may be surprised by its price considering the highly luxurious smoke.
Camacho Triple Maduro Figurado
Camacho Triple Maduro cigars, introduced in 2007 after significant effort, are unique for their use of Maduro tobaccos in the wrapper, filler, and binder. Though these cigars deliver a full-bodied experience, they never come off as bitter or overwhelming. Instead, smokers are treated to a rich, earthy flavor profile, underscored by notes of unsweetened cocoa and coffee that linger in a long finish. Despite its distinct characteristics, the Triple Maduro is a rarity, with only 300,000 sticks available, adding to the allure when considering a review of Camacho Triple Maduro Figurado.
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Alec Bradley Medalist
The Alec Bradley Medalist cigar is a premium offering known for its attention to detail and high-quality construction. Wrapped in a flawless Honduran wrapper, this Robusto-shaped cigar has dimensions of 5 inches in length and a ring gauge of 52. The cigar showcases a light brown Honduran wrapper accented by an elegant band featuring the Alec Bradley logo and a rich color palette. Its flavor offers a journey from light to full-bodied strength, dominated by creaminess, cedar, and nutty notes. The construction ensures an even burn, ample smoke output, and a consistent draw. Recommended as an everyday smoke for aficionados, it pairs well with morning coffee and is commendable for those who appreciate creaminess and subtle spice in their cigars. This detailed exploration provides a comprehensive review of the Alec Bradley Medalist.
CAO Italia Ciao
The CAO Italia Ciao cigar, made in Honduras and wrapped in a Honduran Habano, has been a popular choice for many. Its aesthetic stands out with a vibrant band showcasing colors reminiscent of the Italian flag. When smoked, this cigar produces a tremendous smoke volume initially but presents an odd bitterness at the start. Over time, the taste evolves from a dominant wood note to include hints of spice, cedar, and black pepper. Though the construction and burn quality varied throughout the experience, its flavors remained somewhat inconsistent and often fleeting. Despite its robust strength, the flavors did not always deliver a lasting impression, especially given its price point. This review of CAO Italia Ciao highlights an okay, but not exceptional, offering from the CAO brand.
