Boutique Wedneday Cigar Review: El Tiante Series 23 Habano
Size: 6×54, Belicoso (Torpedo)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Habano Nicaraguan
Strength: Medium
Price: Box of 23, $175
Grade: 8.8
The El Tiante 23 Series is named after and created by Red Sox legend Luis Tiant. Completely handmade at the Tabacalera Tambor factory, it is rolled in the style of Old Cuba. Available in a Habano and Corojo wrappers, the 23 Series is the staple of El Tiante. Currently there is not a lot of information about the cigars on their website, but they are working on a new, interactive website that will unveil very soon. With these changes, they are also working on a new blend and updating the bands on the Series 23, which currently makes no distinction between the Habano and Corojo. Today we are taking on the medium bodied Habano and we will visit the Corojo later.
For more information be sure to check out our interview with Luis Tiant (here) or visit El Tiante online and on Twitter. Now, on to the toast!
Pre-light, 1.7:
The Habano torpedo was quite stout, having been well rolled and packed, and had minimal veins. The light brown exterior was slightly rustic but overall very clean. The band is highly glossed and shows Luis Tiant in full windup, with 1964 and 1983 on either side. The aroma was very clean with a nice zest to it. It also had notes of earth with an aged barrel aroma in the background. The pre-light draw was excellent and revealed some leathery notes.
Burn, 1.7:
This stick lit easily with a couple matches and pulled nicely from the start. The burn was slow up front but sped up as the smoke progressed. The smoke emitted is very thick with a very sweet aroma. The ash was a nice whitish gray and held well, with a bit of flake along the edges. The second third required some minor touch-ups and had some hilly burning; the draw also got a little tight so I had to pay a bit more attention, but it never went out. There were no real problems to speak of in this category.
Flavor, 2.7:
The mouth was covered in pepper at first light, on the tongue and in the back of the throat, and there were some very strong earth notes immediately present. This profile continued through the first third, with some creaminess and a long finish. Overall, some fairly typical Nicaraguan flavors of earth and pepper dominated the first third. The Habano produced one of the thickest finishes I’ve had on a cigar. As the second third began, the pepper faded and the earth remained with a continued long finish. The final third brought a return to the creaminess evident up front with some continued hints of spice.
Overall, 2.7:
With all of the spice on this stick, I’d personally prefer a smaller size; the Robusto would be ideal for me. At just under $8 a stick, the price is just a bit strong in my opinion for a boutique cigar that has similar flavor profiles to Tatuaje, Illusion, and Brickhouse—I’d likely pick these up before I grabbed the El Tiante. These are also hard to come by. But overall, it provided a good burn, solid flavors, and a great exterior. If you see this one, go ahead and grab a couple; you won’t find anything necessarily new, but you’ll find a very comfortable and consistent smoke.
(Total: 8.8)
Question of the Day: Do you have a cigar budget or do you just stock up when you start getting low?
There are 14 Comments to "Boutique Wedneday Cigar Review: El Tiante Series 23 Habano"
Nice review but if they have a similar profile to Tats, Illusione and BH I would definitely grab those first.
I generally begin to stock up when I am low; sometimes to the detriment of my credit cards.
“Covered” in pepper and earth; sounds great!
Yah, I have a budget all right: my official budget is $0. That’s where terms such as “off balance sheet financing” meet microeconomics!
Looks great!
Definitely on a budget! My wife hates when I go to the B&M….. Or online sites….
Thanks for the review!
No definite budget. I usually pick up a stick when I go to the local shop & I’ll grab a great deal if I see it online.
Another great review! I have been wanting to try these, but like you said, they are hard to find.
I wouldn’t say I have a budget. I usually buy when I see a good deal, even when I don’t need them at the moment.
I like Tabac Tambor… Victor is a great guy.
And as for cigars… I win contests… That’s how I re-fill my humidor… Joking. I buy when I need… no budget.
Thanks for the review! I’ve heard interesting things about this cigar.
I do have a cigar budget, but i only have enough money to actually buy a box about once a year. Otherwise it’s random singles from the B&M like twice a month.
No budget per se. I keep it “reasonable” (whatever that means). Maybe totaling two boxes per year?
Budgets?! We ain’t got no budgets! We don’t need no stinkin’ budgets!!
I just buy as I go. Sometimes I will buy bundle for everyday, but I have budgeted enough to buy a box for my new baby coming in two weeks.
Very nice review. I think I will try a few. I can’t stay on a budget because just when I think I have enough, I go out and buy a few more if it grabs my interest.
I second Tadd’s comment. Pretty much a newbie here so I just pick up single here and there trying to find out what I like.
I’m only able to buy one or two whenever I happen to get some extra money.
[...] The El Tiante 23 Series is named after and created by Red Sox legend Luis Tiant. Completely handmade at the Tabacalera Tambor factory, it is rolled in the style of Old Cuba. Available in a Habano and Corojo wrappers, the 23 Series is the staple of El Tiante. Currently there is not a lot of information about the cigars on their website, but they are working on a new, interactive website that will unveil very soon. With these changes, they are also working on a new blend and updating the bands on the Series 23, which currently make no distinction between the Habano and Corojo. Today we are taking on the full bodied Corojo. Sometime ago we reviewed, and enjoyed, the Habano, which you may view here. [...]