The story of ACE Prime Cigars is one that is important to the premium cigar culture. Even with a long lineage in premium tobacco going back generations in Cuba, there is a genuine desire by the founders to improve the lives of people. In the portfolio from ACE Prime is a line called Pichardo Reserva Familiar, named for Don. Eradio Pichardo, the Master Blender for ACE Prime. He spent years at Habanos SA (Cuba) developing many popular blends. Along with Luciano Meirelles and Tiago Splitter, the other founding partners, Pichardo now brings his skills to the lines from ACE Prime and the Pichardo Reserva Familiar line of premium cigars. Here is Matt’s review of the Reserva Familiar Connecticut Toro.
Pichardo Reserva Familiar Connecticut is currently made only in this vitola.
Pichardo Reserva Familiar Connecticut
MSRP: $10.50
Size: 6 x 52
Origin: Tabacalera Pichardo (Esteli, Pichardo)
Wrapper: Connecticut (Ecuador)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Prologue
The wrapper of this cigar has a beautiful golden honey color, with clean seams and barely any oil sheen. It feels a bit heavy for the size. A few of the samples had one or two greenish blemishes, but that never affected the performance. The outer wrapper has very gentle aromas of hay and cedar, while the foot has some deeper notes of dark vanilla and very mild pepper.
Act I
With the first light this cigar has just a gentle punch of black pepper, but that dissipates almost immediately. The flavors mellow into orange blossom honey, cedar, peanuts, and some clean grassy aromas. All of this is cloaked in a nice creamy texture and rich feel. The retrohale in the nose has some beautiful notes of butterscotch candy and a whisper of vanilla.
Act II
The cigar warms up into some nice progressions, while keeping the core flavors. In addition to the cream, peanuts, and cedar, I get some nice additions. Orange peel, light cocoa, and toasted bread notes join the profile. All of these notes are augmented by just the slightest hint of spice and mineral saltiness. That same spice joins the retrohale along with the sweetness.
Act III
This final section of the cigar has a slight increase in spice and depth. With the honey and vanilla notes are notes of charred cedar and a bit of leather aroma. The spice is almost an after effect of a sour citrus and salty flavor, along with that same creamy feel. The retrohale is now progressed into some more full notes of black pepper and wood.
Epilogue
For cigar smokers, clean and classic flavor profiles are highly sought after. As great as the newer generations of ultra-strong cigars can be, sometimes our palates crave a cigar that is refreshing. This cigar delivers that. It is a great example of classic flavor profiles that also delivers just the slightest hint of new-world spice. This is a cigar that would please any experience level, and one I recommend to anyone.
Pichardo Reserva Familiar Connecticut – How Bout That Cigar?
Rating: How Bout A 5er?
Overall Score: 90
PAD: +1.0 (What is PAD?)
Flavor Summary: Cream, Peanuts, Honey, Vanilla, Saltiness, Mild Spice
Strength Assessment: Medium-Minus
Source: Cigars for this review were provided by ACE Prime