Cain Habano Cigar Review
Perhaps you may think that it is a little curious that I would be posting a review of the Cain Habano shortly after the launch of the Cain Daytona (Is it a spring break cigar? I don’t know.). And maybe you have a point, this isn’t exactly the most topical of cigar reviews that are out there.
I have previously reviewed the Cain F and the Cain Maduro with the F receiving a score of 90 points and the Maduro receiving a score of 88 points. As of yet I do not have a review in the hopper for the Cain Daytona and, if my previous predilection towards being topical are any indication, I won’t have one up for a number of months.
All the Cains are perfectly constructed. They might have a few veins but none of them are too pronounced. This Cain Habano 660 is an oily cigar. In the past I have done reviews for the Cain Maduro and the Cain F. My favorite so far is the Cain F but, based off the Cain Habanos I have had thus far, the Cain Habanos will give the Fs a run for its money.
For all of you scientists out there who live for the nitty gritty details about things here is the ligero mixture in this cigar (info from the Cain website):
- 25% Esteli Ligero – Strongest ligero in all the land (well, out least out of these three)
- 27% Condega Ligero – Medium bodied but adds substance
- 30% Jalapa Ligero – More noticeable range of flavors
Cigar Stats
Double Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 60
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: around $6.40/Single | $135.00/Box of 24
March Madness Light!
It starts out with the fury of a hurricane. Unruly spice dominates the palate and it is definitely a full bodied cigar. Actually, I love this kind of a cigar since my favorite flavor is spice. But I also like what the cigar evolves into.
The spice is obviously still there; it’s still the predominate flavor. But it loses its tempest in a tea pot demeanor and takes on the resolute firmness of a Beefeater. Another flavor, oak, enters and becomes a sturdy secondary flavor.
Technically speaking, it is a good cigar. The draw is open throughout and the burn is fairly even. As I mentioned before, it is a full bodied cigar but it isn’t overpowering.
What you should expect when smoking this cigar is pretty straightforward: spice and oak in a full bodied package. In the end, I would peg this cigar a little below the Cain F but it is definitely better than the maduro version.
89 points
Cain Maduro Cigar Review
It is a nice looking cigar without much in the way of raised veins or discolorations. Not exactly the darkest maduro I have ever seen but it has a nice, chocolate hue to it. I am smoking the torpedo and I have noticed that most of the torpedos I got were cracking a little bit near the pointed foot head (Sometimes I forget my cigar anatomy) of the torpedo. This is probably due to the care given to them by the cigar shop and, since the cracked wrapper is never too large, it gets cut off anyway. No harm, no foul in my book. It’s not very oily and has a number of soft spots throughout.
A lot has been made about the fact that this cigar is chock full with ligero tobacco from all the coolest locales. The little booklet that comes with a box of Cains states that it is “25% Esteli Ligero, 27% Condego Ligero, 30% Jalapa Ligero.” So, to put it bluntly, if you like a cigar that packs a punch then you would probably like Cain cigars.
Cigar Stats
Torpedo
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua Ligero (Esteli, Condega and Jalapa)
Price: around $7.00
Crazy Light!
Even before I gently torch the foot I can taste the strength. The center of my tongue lightly touched the newly cut part of the cigar and it stung a little. Knowing that I am in store for a full bodied cigar I light it and can immediately tell that it’s got a great draw. A couple inches into this cigar reveals a steady, even burn and a really strong ash. And, yes, it is a full bodied cigar but, to tell you the absolute truth, the strength isn’t bowling me over like the Cain F has (review forthcoming).
What is really impressive about this cigar is that with all the strength there really isn’t a foul note; it’s a smooth cigar. When I started smoking these cigars I was at least expecting some harshness and maybe some bitterness as well but they are nowhere to be found in the Cain Maduros I have smoked.
The second most impressive thing about this cigar is that it burns evenly. When I got these cigars I was fully prepared to do the occasional touch up but, for the most part, I haven’t had to touch up any of the Cain Maduros I have smoked.
Coffee, chocolate, a dirty earthiness and some other rich flavors lead the way with this cigar. The spice, which is a cross between cracked black pepper and a warmer spice like cinnamon, play well as a secondary (definitely not background) flavor profile. There is also an underlying sweetness evident in this cigar that works to accentuate the Cain Maduro’s overall robustness.
Interestingly, the spice, which is a strong supporting flavor profile, is what lingers the longest on my tongue, which is preferable to me.
After the halfway point the spice takes over the top flavor spot. There is also a nuttiness that starts to come through.
Overall, this cigar does not live up to the amazing amount of hype that has been heaped on it. While there is a lot of different flavors evident in this cigar none of those flavors really stand out. All of the different flavors play well with each other but it’s not amazing.
This all brings me to the conclusion that it’s a lot better to ignore the hype surrounding a cigar and to just appreciate it for what it is. It’s a semi-enjoyable cigar flavor-wise with a decent amount of kick. Don’t expect great things if you pick one of these up.
88 points
Cain Cigars
Like a pride of lions circling and then devouring a hapless baby rhino, cigar connoisseurs have been ferociously smoking Cain cigars since their release a short time ago. They are billed as being brazenly full bodied and loaded with flavor. Oliva’s newest creation has definitely created a storm amongst brothers (and sisters) of the leaf.
Even though I rarely fall into the innovator grouping in the “Diffusion of Innovations” I couldn’t pass this opportunity up. I have done what many others have done and bought a box of Cain cigars. I bought a box of maduros and I also picked up a five pack of the Cain Fs.
Based off of the couple of maduros I have smoked they are very good cigars with chocolate and some spice comprising the main flavors with some grassy flavors making up the rest of the flavor palette. As I write this, I am smoking a Cain F and it is definitely more full bodied than the maduro. Spice, wood and some earthiness make up the main flavors for the Cain F with some sweetness added in as well. I can’t say that the Cain F has knocked me on my ass but it is really enjoyable, that’s for sure.
One last thing: if you want to win a custom motorcycle then you should head on over to the Cain website. You need to hurry though since the deadline to enter is August 8th, 2010!
