Earlier this year, Warped Cigars released the Don Reynaldo 10th Anniversary, marking a decade since the original Don Reynaldo line was introduced. Originally created in 2014 as a tribute to the father of brand owner, Kyle Gellis, the Don Reynaldo quickly gained attention as a limited-edition blend made at El Titan de Bronze in Miami. The cigar took on a cult status among collectors and enthusiasts, receiving the regular-production treatment the year following (albeit in a new 5″ × 46 size).

Dubbed the ‘Grand Reynaldo,’ this release is part of Warped’s anniversary series, which also includes 10th-anniversary renditions of the El Oso and La Colmena lines. The Don Reynaldo 10th Anniversary was limited to 750 boxes of 10 cigars, featuring a Dominican Corojo wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. On paper, this is the same recipe as the standard Don Reynaldo, though the specific leaf selections are said to have been tweaked in order to provide a fuller-bodied take on the blend. Finally, the cigars were rolled in a 6″ x 50 toro format, significantly larger than the coronas for which the line is known.

While the company later branched out to have their cigars primarily rolled in Nicaragua (and, eventually, the Dominican Republic), Warped was originally known for its close ties to the boutique-minded El Titan de Bronze operation, located on the famed Calle Ocho (Eighth Street) of Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood. This led to a close association with top-tier craftsmanship, touting traditional Cuban techniques such as entubado bunching, triple-capped heads, and other decorative elements that often included pigtail caps and closed feet. The Don Reynaldo 10th Anniversary continues to be rolled at El Titan de Bronze, maintaining the same production quality that brought the line to prominence a decade prior.

Don Reynaldo 10th Anniversary Breakdown

  • Wrapper: Dominican Corojo
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua | Dominican Republic
  • Factory: El Titan de Bronze (USA)
  • Production: Limited Edition (750 boxes of 10 cigars)
  • Vitola: 6″ × 50 “Grand Reynaldo” (Toro)
  • Price: $24.00 (MSRP)
  • Atlantic Cigar Sale

Appearance

The Don Reynaldo 10th Anniversary presents itself as a well-proportioned toro, though feeling surprisingly lightweight for its dimensions. The cigar is topped with a triple cap and wrapped in a leaf that showcases a pretty standard natural hue, reminiscent of well-oiled saddle leather. Its coloration leans toward a medium-brown—possibly a touch darker than the original release. The construction is impressive, boasting practically invisible seams and thin veins that contribute to its refined appearance. There’s a consistent springy feel from head to foot when gently squeezed, indicating careful bunching. While this holds true for most samples, it’s worth noting that some displayed subtle ripples and minor blemishes, which was slightly concerning, considering the cigar’s hefty price point.

The wrapper’s aroma is understated, requiring a bit of focus to discern. Gentle notes of barnyard mingle with roasted nuts, creating an intriguing yet subtle character. The foot offers a more complex profile, leading with aromatic nutmeg, followed by a rain-soaked mineral quality, a hint of light caramel, and barnyard hay undertones. With a straight cut, the pre-light draw shows a nice resistance. It introduces an unexpected vegetal quality reminiscent of bell pepper, complemented by a bright citrus note that livens up the experience.

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Smoking Experience

The Don Reynaldo 10th Anniversary lights up with a dry initial blast, evoking imagery of burning brush. It’s not until the third or fourth puff that a subtle sweetness emerges, gradually rounding out the profile. The retrohale introduces notes of cinnamon and milky caramel, with only a light pinch of spice. A curious flavor of fermented milk lingers through the finish, accompanied by nutmeg through the nostrils. As the experience progresses, the profile livens up incrementally. An almost tart, tangy fermented cream quality develops, creating a chewable, lip-smacking finish. This is complemented by the taste of cut tobacco against the tongue, adding depth and complexity between the retrohale and a lively sensation on the tongue.

At about three-quarters of an inch in, the burn line shows a slight wave but remains generally even. The smoke output is medium, while the draw leans slightly to the firm side—a touch tighter than ideal, but not especially concerning. At this point, the cigar presents medium-plus flavor, medium-light strength, and an overall medium-light body. The ash is a pleasing medium to light gray, being solid without noticeable layers or flakes, building to about one-and-a-quarter inches. A touch of floral lemon plays nicely with the fermented cream, creating a lightly sweet and tangy profile. One could make a case for lemon meringue with toasted whipped cream, partially felt from a lingering sensation on the sides of the cheeks and roof of the palate, causing a puckering reaction like you might expect from a lemon.

Warped Don Reynaldo 10th Anniversary cigar smoking

Approaching the midpoint, a hint of minty, piney nutmeg rises again, accompanied by a velvety finish. Big, vaporous notes of caramel and cream emerge, reminiscent of bourbon cream or eggnog—this is made especially obvious when paired with bourbon during the smoking experience. The texture can become dry with too frequent puffing, so a measured pace is required. Approaching the band, the profile darkens slightly, introducing background notes of anise. The body fills out, bringing the experience to a solid medium-plus across flavor, strength, and body.

In the final third, the spice profile intensifies, featuring more pronounced anise, toasted nutmeg, and clove. A cool, almost menthol-like feel develops on the palate, while earthy root flavors emerge in the finale. That distant kefir note still lingers, now accompanied by a black licorice sweetness. The raw tobacco taste continues to provide balance, while fresh-cut nutmeg and raw ginger add complexity. While not quite as engaging or complex in its second half, the cigar pushes close to medium-full in intensity. The finale is dominated by black licorice notes with a cherry-like finish, evoking memories of those classic Wax Lips candies.

Warped Don Reynaldo 10th Anniversary cigar ash

Would I Smoke This Cigar Again?

It may not be the Don Reynaldo fans expect, but the amped-up anniversary blend holds its own. This is a cigar you’ll want to take your time with—I had vastly different experiences smoking this casually vs smoking without distractions. The cigar tends to want to smoke hot, leaning too much into fiery elements when not pacing yourself. However, with a slow and contemplative smoking session, it does, in fact, show off some rewarding complexities. I think, considering the price, availability, and experience, that the box purchases are best left to the collectors on this one, with the everyday enthusiasts leaning more towards the single-to-five-pack range.

Additional Info
  • The original Don Reynaldo was rolled in the 5½” x 42 ‘Coronas de Luxe’ format, with the regular-production ‘Regalos’ being sized at 5″ × 46. Warped has also released the cigar in a 6½” x 48 belicoso format (Don Reynaldo 70th), which launched in Dec. 2022 in celebration of Gellis’ father’s 70th birthday.
  • The Don Reynaldo Regalos cigar is tied for Cigar Dojo’s highest-rated cigar (96 points), reviewed in Oct. 2015.
  • I don’t think this cigar captures the same Cubanesque muskiness and evolution of complexity that made the original sizes such standout modern classics (at least, in our experiences here at Cigar Dojo). That said, this amped-up 10th Anniversary version is enjoyable in its own right, but it’s a bit of a departure from the original—it’s almost like it’s carved out its own category.
  • At the time of this review, the Don Reynaldo 10th Anniversary has a “100% Smokable” rating on Dojoverse, ranking in the top 44 percent of cigars on the all-time leaderboard.

Profile
  • Flavor: Medium-Plus
  • Strength: Medium
  • Body: Medium-Plus
Core Flavors
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • Floral lemon
  • Earthy root
  • Anise
Tips
  • Smoke Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes
  • Pairing Recommendation: Cinnamon maple whiskey sour | Bourbon (around 100–110 proof) | Latte | Sazerac cocktail
  • Purchase Recommendation: Fiver

Warped Don Reynaldo 10th Anniversary cigar nub finished

Warped Don Reynaldo 10th Anniversary
Building on the fan-favorite Don Reynaldo blend that made Warped Cigars an enthusiast-favorite brand during the craft-fueled era of the twenty-teens, there's no question that the Don Reynaldo 10th Anniversary jumped to the top of hobbyists' wishlists when announced earlier this year. As with the original, the cigars were rolled out of the famed El Titan de Bronze factory in Miami, featuring a similar (albeit amped-up) recipe that was rolled in a toro format, being much larger than previous sizes in the line. In my experience, the cigars don't quite evoke a nostalgic experience, at least in terms of profile. Gone are the nuanced complexities reminiscent of musky Cuban Habanos. Instead, the cigar lights up with a fiery character through the retrohale, eventually leading to some unique complexities throughout. I'd say the highlight comes around the two-inch mark, hitting a lemon meringue note before morphing into a vaporous caramel and cream component that came across like bourbon cream or eggnog. While I don't quite think it lives up to the price tag, the cigar delivers in complexity, so long as you're willing to baby it with a slower-than-average smoking pace.
Appearance89%
Burn/Construction90%
Draw92%
Flavor89%
Complexity92%
Pros
  • Complex flavor profile (if smoked extra slowly)
  • Solid construction
  • Zesty yet balanced retrohale
Cons
  • Doesn't come across like a more premium rendition of the original Don Reynaldo blend
  • Some inconsistencies between samples
  • Can easily become overheated
90%Pace Yourself
  • Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
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