Don Tomas Special Edition No. 300 has always been one of the finest cigars hailing from Honduras. I was introduced to this personal favorite when I was still relatively new to the luxury of smoking premium cigars. To this day, I always have several stocked in my humidor for when I’m craving for the perfect medium-bodied smoke to savor alongside a café au lait or to enjoy with good company. Whenever I share a few of these with friends, there’s always no shortage of gratitude and plenty echoes of ‘wow’s and hums of satisfaction.
Getting their start in the 1970s, the venerable Don Tomas Cigars has carved a space for itself in the world of the oldest names of cigars and has survived the ups and downs of the cigar market. After acquiring ownership, the General Cigar Company reworked the brand to perfect the fine line between top-quality handmade cigars and no-nonsense, affordable smoke. Blends like the Don Tomas Special Edition No. 300 have long earned the industry respect that the brand deserves among novices and aficionados alike.
Pull of Cigar
Don Tomas Special Edition No. 300 is blanketed in a golden-brown Connecticut Shade wrapper with very mild and subtle veins. When held, it feels sturdy, which speaks of its excellent construction — very well rolled with a nice, even consistency and firm spring when pinched. The filler embodies a powerful trio of Nicaragua, Mexico, and Dominican Republic long leaf tobacco. As soon as the cap is off, the aroma reveals tantalizing tobacco and creamy butter combination. The cold draw had a touch of resistance which is ideal in my book.
Taste
Upon lighting, I can pick out mellow notes of creamy butter as well as butterscotch. Notes of cedar and crushed peanuts, paired with sweet spice and aromatic smoke, give this cigar a luxurious feel for a steal. While the first puffs lingered in the mild-bodied realm as expected of a Connecticut Shade cigar, the mid-point transitions to a more medium-bodied earthy core of toast that melds perfectly with the creamy tobacco and creating thrillingly gratifying initial draws.
As the second half is underway, the signature Connecticut Shade creaminess is subtly joined by spice and grassy nuances. A straight burn path and firm, white ash made the experience even more enjoyable, considering nothing is worse than having to touch up constantly or having ash crumble all over your lap. Going into the final third, a subtly sweet and creamy backend swirl into a festival of goodness and brings a grandly textured finale to the memorably satisfying medium-bodied journey.
Overall Review of Don Tomas Special Edition No. 300 Review
This Robusto is definitely a valuable component to the Don Tomas Connecticut line of affordable cigars that feature a smooth draw and world-class flavors at prices that are a no-brainer for an everyday smoke. It needs little in the way of touch-ups to maintain a straight burn path. The white ash was relatively firm and held on until about an inch into the second third. This receives a 90 rating from me. Each aspect of the Don Tomas Special Edition No. 300 cigar deserves an incredible score — the impeccably balanced flavors, spectacular aroma, meticulous construction, and consistent burn rate. It’s definitely an approachable blend, and I wholeheartedly endorse this to any level of cigar enthusiast.
Other Cigars Reviews
Other Medium-Strength Cigars
Brick House Fumas Robusto
The Brick House brand is celebrated for its top-tier cigars, known for their exceptional quality and unique taste. Their Fumas Robusto variant, wrapped in a Sumatran Maduro with a blend of Nicaraguan tobacco, offers a medium-bodied experience with hints of coffee and nuts. Despite its affordable price, the cigar’s performance is marred by a challenging draw and inconsistent burn, delivering a somewhat monotonous flavor profile lacking in transition. While it’s a reasonable choice for budget-conscious smokers, the overall experience might not prompt repurchase, encouraging seekers of value-for-money options to explore other brands. This analysis forms part of a comprehensive review of the Brick House Fumas Robusto.
AJ Fernandez La Gran Llave Connecticut Toro
AJ Fernandez cigars, renowned in the cigar industry, present the premium AJ Fernandez La Gran Llave Connecticut Toro, notable for its rich, multifaceted flavor profile. Crafted in Nicaragua with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, this cigar offers a symphony of taste notes including cedar, wood, leather, black pepper, and vanilla, all wrapped in a beautifully constructed, velvety Connecticut shell. While the smoking experience reveals a progression of flavors from sweet hints to a stronger spice kick, its medium strength and excellent construction, despite some initial uneven burn, make it an ideal choice for special occasions rather than everyday indulgence due to its premium price point. The only drawback noted is a tendency to dry the throat, which may not appeal to all aficionados. Despite this, its complex flavor evolution and celebratory nature make it a worthy future purchase, as suggested in the review of AJ Fernandez La Gran Llave Connecticut Toro.
Other Honduran Cigar Reviews
Rocky Patel LB1 Toro
The Rocky Patel LB1 line, crafted with aged Ecuadorian wrapper leaves from high-quality Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco plants, offers a well-balanced, elegant, and sweet smoking experience. The Toro variant stands out in this line, notable for its perfect harmony of flavors. This cigar, featuring a medium-brown Habano-seed wrapper, has a composition that promises an intriguing blend of creamy, spicy, and chocolatey notes, evolving to reveal rich leather and coffee tones, with citrus and spice nuances. Despite a critique of its somewhat linear aromatic journey, the cigar’s consistent burn, intricate packaging, and flavorsome profile justify its commendable 88 rating. The review of Rocky Patel LB1 Toro acknowledges it as a valuable addition to any aficionado’s collection, despite not being the pinnacle of all cigars.
Baccarat Rothschild
Craving a sweet, creamy tobacco pairing, the author indulged in a Baccarat ‘The Game’ Rothschild from their humidor, a choice known for its enchanting sweetness and calming effect at formal gatherings. Made in the Camacho factory and part of Davidoff’s top-shelf offerings, the cigar impresses with its aesthetically pleasing Connecticut shade wrapper and quality construction, featuring Havana-seed Honduran long filler and a Mexican binder. The author appreciates its mildness, sweetened cap, and smooth draw, introducing a symphony of flavors, including cedar, mild spice, and faint pepper, with later hints of cocoa, nutmeg, and wheat. After a satisfying 30 to 45-minute experience, the cigar is praised as an ideal everyday choice, perfect for various pairings and occasions, earning a favorable score of 89 in the review of Baccarat Rothschild.
