Jordan, the most excellent manager at The Wharf tossed a few samples at me the other day.  Among them were a couple of Flor De Gonzalez's 90 Miles cigars that I had seen in magazines but never in the flesh.  I was excited to try something new but I decided to sit on them for a few days before trying them out.  This robusto size of the core 90 Miles line was my second selection but my first review.  Sitting on the porch in the 70 degree spring weather, I decided to fire it up.  How was it?  Let's see...

Construction: The sample I was given had me a bit worried.  Along the foot the wrapper and binder were pulled back because of a huge stem in the foot of the cigar.  The rest of the cigar is well put together.  The wrapper is a nice dark brown colorado maduro shade with very few veins.  Cutting is a snap and the draw is wide open.

Pre-light Aroma and Draw: Out of the cellophane I get sweet tobacco, some hay, earth, and leather. The draw continues to be wide open and perfect.

Light and Burn: Despite the massive stem the light was easy and the stem caused no problems at all.  The burn line is a little dodgy here and there but nothing terrible. 

Tasting:  This thing a bit of a shock right off the bat.  The opening is a nice leathery sweet affair that really stands out well.  The first third gives notes of oak, earth, cedar spice, and black coffee all wrapped in a heavy leather flavor.  Very nice.  The second third keeps that leathery core and adds black pepper and cocoa on top of the earth.  The final third shows a bit more spice and black pepper on top of that heavy leather that persists throughout the whole cigar.  Overall, I am sad to put this one out.  While easily a medium to full bodied cigar I would smoke this one just about any time of the day.

Value: Standard price for this complex and tasty cigar is about $6.  Totally worth it and then some.

Final Thoughts: This cigar impressed the heck out of me.  I smoked the Reserva Selecta the other day and it impressed me less than this member of the normal 90 Miles line.  It's an excellent smoke and well worth trying.  For the price, it easily stacks up with the excellent Rocky Patel Edge Habano and that is high praise indeed.  I highly recommend this cigar.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Rosado
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Strength: Medium-Full

Size: 5.5 x 50

A little rough looking....not necessarily a bad thing

Very unique band as well.

Giant stem as mentioned in the review