Cigars.ie

La Gloria Cubana Glorioso - RE United Kingdom

The La Gloria Cubana Glorioso was released in 2008 as part of the Regional Edition program for the UK. The Glorioso was the first ever regional to be released by the brand, so Habanos had to put together an attractive package for this demanding region. The popularity of La Gloria Cubana has been fading in the UK, and the aim of this release was to revive the interest for the brand. The brand currently has only 3 vitolas in regular production, and with the Medaille d’ or No.1 and No.3 having been axed, it needed some boost.

The Glorioso is a Robusto Extra, measuring 6.1″ in length by 50 ring gauge and was released in 2,040 boxes of 10. It comes in an attractive varnished semi bote nature box. The cigars wear a brand new band, especially redesigned for this vitola. The colours are more vivid, there is extra embossing and the lady in the middle looks a lot better! I really cannot understand why this label is not being used for all newer La Gloria Cubana. This cigar has been sitting in my humidor for a few months now and I am looking forward for my first encounter with it.

Appearance 14/15

The Glorioso strikes you from the first look with its beautiful appearance. The wrapper is smooth and oily, with a deep, golden-brown colorado shade. Only a few veins are present and there is no wrinkles or spots. The new label is stunning and adds a lot to the image of the cigar. The cap is well rounded and well applied and the bunch is good, without any soft or hard spots. A strong and sweet aroma of  wildflowers and chestnut is present on the foot of the cigar and a the wrapper leaves a sweet taste on the lips. The prelight draw is good, leaning towards the tight side.

Draw & Burn 20/25

The Glorioso lights up very easily and the draw has the right amount of resistance. The burn starts uneven, and continues in the same way until the second half, when it evens out and stays like that till the end. The cigar has good combustion and creates a decent amount of smoke. The ash is solid and dark grey in colour, and reaches an inch in length before it falls. The coal is pyramid shaped.

Flavour & Body 21/25

The cigar starts with a mild to medium body and a punch of espresso, with a creamy texture. In the first third, the cigar tastes like a candy stick! Very sweet, with honey dominating, followed by vanilla and liquorice, with a sweet and peppery finish. Towards the second third, the cigar relinquishes its sweet profile, with wood, grass and tobacco flavours taking over. The finish is long, with a taste of black pepper. On the last third the cigar changes again. The body gets medium to full and a smoky flavour appears, followed by earth, grass and wood. The cigar has a slightly unpleasant acidic finish, which turns stronger as you get towards the middle of the last third. In the last inch and half, the cigar gets too hot and harsh, and has to be put to sleep early…

Overall 32/35

If you dont like smoking a cigar until the end, or if you were to do a third-of-the-first-third style review, the Glorioso would have scored over 95 points. While it keeps the mild, sweet and spicy profile of La Gloria Cubana, it does not fail to capture your attention. Its so smooth and sweet on the first third, changing to a stronger profile on the second third and finishing with an unpleasant taste. It has some burn issues, which I felt they affected its flavour, making it more bitter as it was approaching the end. Aging is a must for this cigar. Five to ten years on its back, would help it refine its flavours, keep its consistency on the last third, and it could easily become a classic.

Total 88/100