No. 2 Best Cigar Pick of 2014 “Senorial Cigars by Jose Blanco”

Now is a good time as ever for Jose Blanco to come out with his own brand. His great grand-father, his grand-father and his father all grew tobacco back in Tamboril, Santiago, Dominican Republic – all from the Blanco-side. It was Jose´s Uncle Arnaldo Blanco who founded Tabacalera Palma in 1936, and it is now Jose´s first cousin Jochi Blanco who is running the factory.

Jose Blanco learned to work tobaccos with his family ever since his first cigar when he was 16 years old and onwards. He spent 30 years working for La Empreza Leon Jimenes, former owners of La Aurora. He served in multiple leadership roles in the company while also cultivating his blending abilities. Blanco retired from La Aurora in 2011 in order to start his own brand, but he did serve as Senior Vice President of Joya de Nicaragua for two years based on his deep interest in Nicaraguan tobaccos. In February 2014, he and his wife Emma Viktorsson founded Las Cumbres Tabaco and began producing their first cigar, Señorial.

This cigar has a gorgeous reddish-brown wrapper with a great pre-light aroma of earthy, woody notes. You will find a slight resistance but a very smooth draw once lit, eventually giving way to some dense smoke and a slow, even burn. It left a good clean texture on my palate with some spice through my nose.

Right away, you will notice a full and rich aroma and great flavors. As I continued through the smoke, the flavors only continued to build in strength and improve in taste. An excellent burn produced a very nice ash with mouthwatering texture. Overall, Señorial is an easy going, medium body cigar that had a great balance of spice and a long, flavorful finish. The quality is evident in both its construction and complexity. It is a tasty and effortless smoke that I highly recommend.

“Character and Culture in a Cigar”

  Myron Gooch Sr.

 Time Smoked: 2 hours.

Cost: $9.50

Wrapper: Habano Ecuador.

Binder: Nicaragua.

Filler: Dominican Piloto & Dominican Corojo.

Size: 6 x 54.

Rating: 92