Aladino Classic Toro

If you are anything like me, then you love it when you discover a new cigar brand that suits your palate almost perfectly. This was definitely the case when I was introduced to the Aladino brand by JRE Tobacco Company. I thoroughly enjoyed smoking my way through all of their offerings, yet just when I thought that I had discovered a new company on its ascent, my hubris was knocked down a few notches when I learned that the Eiroa family has been a force behind such iconic brands as CLE, Camacho, and Asylum, to name a few. I find it exciting that no matter how much I think I have learned about this industry that I love, there is always so much more I have yet to become cognisant of.

Now for a little backstory on JRE Tobacco Co. (and then I promise we’ll get down to the review itself). This excerpt from the JRE Tobacco website describes the brand best, and encompasses what I feel is the “core” of their cigars… pun intended.

JRE Tobacco is a family-centered company, founded by Julio R. Eiroa and his son Justo M. Eiroa, together they manage all aspects of the cigar growing and manufacturing for your enjoyment. This is a crop to shop operation as we like to call it.

We are fully committed to providing sustained quality and satisfaction on every Aladino, Rancho Luna and Tatascan we make. This self-imposed standard covers the entire cigar manufacturing process. Our commitment to quality and consumer satisfaction is never compromised or circumvented. As the premier Corojo grower in the industry, I, Julio Eiroa, Master Cigar Blender and Tobacco grower, guarantee that all our brands will provide you the opportunity to enjoy an Authentic Corojo taste, the same as cigars from the 1960’s. Join us on this journey and be part of a history making cigar smoking experience like no other.

JRE Tobacco Co. made its debut in 2015 with the Aladino, Rancho Luna, and Tatascan cigar brands, with the Aladino brand being the flagship of the company. They were originally shipped through CLE cigars, which is owned by Julio Eiroa’s son Christian Eiroa, until JRE took over all aspects shortly after.

The latest offering, and the cigar I am reviewing today, is the Aladino Classic. At the time I’m writing this, there isn’t a lot of information available on the cigar itself, but what they do divulge is that it is a Honduran puro with all tobaccos grown by JRE Tobacco on their farms in the Jamastran Valley.

Aladino Classic Toro Breakdown

Appearance

Familiar yet different is the best description I can give for the look of the Aladino Classic. The wrapper has the same faded leather appearance of most Aladino lines, and is very similar in hue to the Aladino Habano Vintage Selection. The veins of the tobacco are slightly raised, and are distinctly lighter than the rest of the leaf, giving it a worn appearance. I dig it. Moving to the cigar band, I can say that I am not as intrigued. I feel that they are going for more of a premium look by swapping their classic yellow and brown color scheme for a metallic gold, bright red, and brown palette. But the color combination of brown and gold seem to fight each other, causing the bright red to stand out in a bad way. The look reminds me of a girl I knew in high school that wore a way-too-bright shade of red lipstick that didn’t match her complexion at all. The seams are very expertly placed, with no lifting, and the head of the cigar is expertly finished, expressesing quality construction.

The 6″ x 50 toro I am reviewing today is of what I would consider an average heft for a vitola of this size. The wrapper itself is very smooth and supple, with just enough tooth to not give it a waxy appearance. The cigar is firm yet pliable between my fingers, and I notice a distinct hard spine on one side that runs almost the entire side of the stick.

Aromas of sweet grassy hay, cinnamon, and red pepper rise from the wrapper and are quite pleasant. Clipping the cap with my guillotine cutter, I find a slightly snug draw that is hesitant to give much flavor. Sweet raisin, salted peanuts, and a floral coffee note are about all I can discern.

Smoking Experience

The toast and light are effortless, and the first long, slow draws that I take on the Aladino Classic greet me with sourdough toast, light white pepper, and a cinnamon sweetness. It’s a flavorful start, and the retrohale amplifies the pepper slightly, but is still very easy on the sinuses.

Moving past first light, I find the smoke to be very coating on the palate, but without it having a chewy or oily texture. A cayenne pepper is making its appearance now, and the sweet cinnamon is evolving into more of a rye spice note akin to the finish on a neat pour of Sazerac. The floral coffee flavor is becoming more earthy, with a tangy cedar backing. The cigar itself is burning rather quickly, even though the draw is a slightly snug 6/10, so it will be interesting to see how long the smoking experience lasts. However, the burn line is very sharp and even for such a quick burn. Flavor is medium-plus, body is a solid medium, and strength is slowly building to medium. The ash has already fallen, and does not want to hang on past a quarter inch, being on the loose yet not flaky side.

As I approach the middle of the cigar, the flavors are beginning to mix and muddy the waters, as it were. The rye spice has flattened to a raw cinnamon, intermingling with notes of hickory wood and dark-roast coffee. Pepper spice zings my nostrils on the retrohale, being primarily black pepper with a little cayenne mixed in to give an extra twang. All of these earthy flavors combined together are slightly boring, with the pepper being the only accent to the smoke. The draw has opened up slightly, and the burn is continuing to cruise at a quick rate, though the burn line itself is staying very even. The finish is long, and red pepper tingles on my tongue in between puffs, which is something I have grown to enjoy as my cigar smoking journey has developed. Flavor, body, and strength have settled to a medium level across the board, and I am hoping I see some change as I move towards the last half of this cigar.

The burn rate of this Aladino Classic Toro is definitely an issue, as the last half of the cigar has moved so quickly that the flavors have become flat. Only a slight roasted nut and wet cedar profile remain. It’s very reminiscent of coffee that has been sitting on the warmer for WAY too long. These flavors stay through the final few puffs of the cigar, with only the nutty characteristics becoming more intense. The burn of the toro has stayed on point throughout the smoking experience, and no touchups were needed on either cigar smoked for this review. There wasn’t ever a shift in body, flavor, or strength through the entire cigar. It stayed at a steady medium for the entirety of the stick, and the draw finished at acceptable yet slightly snug 7/10.

Would I Smoke This Cigar Again?

Based on the very similar experiences on both cigars I smoked for this review, I would have to say that I would not smoke this again. While it had moments that I enjoyed, the overall smoking profile was very flat, with the flavors stepping on each other and never really developing into what I would call a theme. I really enjoy the Aladino brand as a whole, and smoke them on a fairly regular basis, but when you combine the profile of this cigar with the quick burn time, the Aladino Classic is essentially the only Aladino thus far I wouldn’t reach for.

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