BRILLIANT BOUTIQUE CIGAR MAKER

Tasting the best of La Tradicion Cubana! Los Angeles, August 3, 2007 The inventive Luis Sanchez, whose La Tradicion Cubana factory has become so successful that he’s, opened a second factory, Tabacalera L.T.C., S.A., in Santiago in the Dominican Republic. Luis Sanchez opened his La Tradicion Cubana factory in Miami in 1995 and has been turning out interesting and unique cigars ever since. One of his specialties is producing some of the largest cigars made anywhere and his awesome “The Big One” in the La Tradicion Cubana line is 12 inches long by 192 (!) ring gauge. It’s the largest production cigar in the world and weighs almost a pound. La Tradicion Cubana: [Miami, Florida: available in 10 sizes] The flagship of the La Tradicion Cubana factory has been on the market since 1995 and has earned a reputation for consistency and value. Three wrapper shades are available and we tried the light brown, Ecuadorian-grown version which gave the blend a medium body with a light, spicy aroma. The flavor is calm and relaxed, with a smooth, creamy taste and a beautifully even burn. The finish is short, but it’s easy to smoke and easy to enjoy. There’s a modest undertone of pepper in the second half, but it only signals the end of a very pleasant and well-made cigar. Overall grade: A-: Excellent.

Las Memorias Cubana: [Miami, Florida: available in 4 sizes] Luis Sanchez knows how to make big cigars. And although there are only four sizes in this line, they’re all enormous: the Gordos is five inches long by 64 ring; the Especiales is six inches by 64; the Campanas is 6½ inches by 60 and the Especiales XXL 6½ by 96 ring. Introduced in 2003, the blend is surprising for such large cigars. Full in body for sure with a spicy aroma, the taste is spicy and has a peppery finish, but with excellent balance and a measured tone that’s never harsh or bitter. Nevertheless, you’ll feel the pinch of the peppery finish on your tongue as the cigar gets going. The real trick is to be able to handle such a large cigar – a full inch in diameter – in the mouth. But if you can, the construction is excellent with an easy draw and a more gentle flavor in the second half. Let’s just call this line a “gentle giant” and leave it at that. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. Luis Sanchez can be rightly proud of the top-quality cigars he offers. Sanchez runs his own production facility, Bravo! ~ Rich Perelman