Some of my first premium cigars were from La Gloria Cubana. The brand became known for their full-bodied blends, and that style is very popular with a lot of their fans. In 2021, General Cigar formed a sub-division called Forged Cigar Co. which would become the new home for LGC and some other brands. Here is Matt’s review of the La Gloria Cubana Criollo De Oro Toro.
As of the publishing date of this review, the La Gloria Cubana Criollo De Oro is also available in a 7 x 48 Churchill.
La Gloria Cubana Criollo De Oro Toro
MSRP: $10.49
Size: 5.75 x 54
Origin: General Cigar (Dominican Republic)
Wrapper: Criollo de Oro (Dominican Republic)
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf (U.S.A.)
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras
Prologue
The cigar has a mottled and uneven coloration to the wrapper. There are some green spots and small holes above the band. The appearance is very dry with very little texture to the wrapper leaf. The aroma from the wrapper is basically non existent, with maybe a tiny hint of cedar. The foot smells a little peppery and earthy. The cold draw reminds me of barnyard and a wet forest floor.
Act I
The main flavor at the beginning is bold black pepper with some roasted nuts in the background. The uneven burn progresses into a grassy aroma that is almost like perfume or cleaner. The palate is somewhat dry and sour. There is a lot of pepper spice on the retrohale, along with a little dry grass.
Act II
After a few relights, the flavors start to remind me of dry pumpernickel bread. There’s still an abundance of black pepper and dry grass on the palate. Some sourness and bitterness sits on the back and sides of the overall profile. The retrohale is unchanged.
Act III
The end of the cigar is really heavy with that perfume characteristic. It’s almost reminiscent of pine or juniper. The fell on the palate is very dry and sour. There is just a tiny hint of peanut aroma, but it is overshadowed by a bitterness. As before, the retrohale is really just black pepper.
Epilogue
La Gloria Cubana was one of the early brands that I came to love back in the early 2000s, but this cigar did not do anything for me. All of the ones I smoked required multiple relights, and the overall flavor and aroma profile was relatively unpleasant. I can’t see myself returning to buy more of these, but I would be willing to try other sizes.
La Gloria Cubana Criollo De Oro Toro – How Bout That Cigar?
Rating: How Bout Try One?
Overall Score: 72
PAD: -1.5 (What is PAD?)
Flavor Summary: Grass, Sourness, Black Pepper, Nuts
Strength Assessment: Medium
Source: Cigars for this review were provided by General Cigar