Cigar Mission #18

My name is Agent 8. My mission was to review the Jose La Piedra Crema. As an asset of The Cigar Spy agency, I promise to respect the A.S.H.E.S. code of honor. The information below is my debrief.

Target Name:

Jose La Piedra Crema

Target Vitals:

Wrapper: Cuban
Binder: Cuban
Filler: Cuban
Vitola: Crema 5 1/4 x 39
Manufactured: Machine Made
Strength: Medium
Price: $45.00 – 50.00 per box of 25

Background Info:

The tobacco used in the cigars is grown in the Pinar del Rio province of Cuba. A popular domestic brand within Cuba, most likely because of the low cost for the cigars themselves.

Mission Debrief:

I realized awhile ago that I have yet to do a Cuban cigar review of any kind. Walking downstairs, I parsed through the section of my humidor that all my friends and family should be familiar with: the “Do not take anything from this area under penalty of a gruesome death” section. Two good cubans available: a Monte #2 which is being saved for when my best friend get back from Afghanistan and a Pinar Maduro. No dice. However, moving to the next section, buried under some generics from CI were a group of Jose La Piedra Cremas, a recommendation from The Great Torpedo himself.

This cigar is unique to almost all that I have smoked in the past in that it is not an attractive cigar. The veiny wrapper accentuates a rugged-looking appearance throughout the length of the stick, almost as if it was an afterthought to the machine roll. On a couple that I had smoked in the months prior, the wrapper was just beginning to pull away from itself. The band was plain and did nothing to make the cigar stand out in anyway, other than to assist customers in knowing what they are buying.

Using a punch and butane lighter, I gave this cigar a hearty draw. Met with an easy draw, I was met with an almost dull hint of pepper but nothing else of real complexity. I could tell I was smoking a Cuban due to the added weight to the medium-bodied flavor; it hits the body a little bit different than cigars from other countries. However, the effects were not as potent as a premium Cuban, like a Monte #2 or #4. Smoking time on this cigar was about 75 minutes tops. A good salt-and-pepper ash with this cigar. It held together well as I gently flaked it off from the edge of my ash tray. An average finish to the cigar; I could tell a few hours afterward that I had smoked but it was nothing that stayed with me the next day.

Recommendations:

Keep in mind this is not a high end, premium Cuban cigar. This is a much more economical Cuban that just about anyone can afford. It is not a cigar that will charm you with looks and it doesn’t have the complexity or plethora of flavors that would make the seasoned connoisseur stand up and cheer. This is simply an inexpensive, anytime cigar cigar that you can enjoy anywhere: morning, afternoon, evening, the golf course, wherever. While I enjoyed this cigar and certainly won’t hesitate to turn one down, I find that I can spend a little bit more (or less) for a much better quality non-Cuban brand and get more enjoyment out of my smoking time.

- 8 -