The cigar:
Sanch Panza Extra Fuerte Cordoba
Nutritional Information:
Vitola: box pressed 5.25 x 44
Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Honduras
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras/Nicaragua
Humidor time: 6 months
This line is an old favorite of mine, and I know that many others enjoy SPs as well for their quality and value, so I thought I'd post up a review.
The Marketing:
From CI:
A serious Sancho for a serious Sancho enthusiast! Take one puff off this Honduran handmade and you’ll instantly notice some serious power. Wrapped in a shiny, reddish Honduran-grown Cuban-seed leaf and boasting a long-filler blend of hefty Nicaraguan and Honduran leaves, this baby starts and ends with a kick, while adding a few punches in between. Balanced to the T with an assortment of rich, bold flavors backed by a little pepper, the Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte is perfect for any seasoned enthusiast and will add a great finishing touch to that hearty steak dinner.
From JR:
A Honduran long leaf tobacco blend spiked with Nicaraguan ligero, the Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte is the newest addition to this value-priced premium cigar brand. Firmly trunk pressed like its predecessors, a dark, reddish-brown capa surrounds this rich, spicy recipe of rich viso and ligero. A long, peppery finish makes this a robust cigar that is packed with flavor best suited for the seasoned smoker, but does so without being overwhelming to the palate.
Prelight: A square pressed lonsdale that sports a reddish, somewhat rustic Honduran Havana seed wrapper and a dark red label. It won't win any beauty pageants, but it's firm, well-bunched, and solid in the hand.
Burn: It lights and draws easily, burns straight and slow, and produces a firm white ash and abundant smoke. Very well constructed. What's not to like?
Flavor: Let's clear up one thing at the start: "Extra fuerte" is all marketing. It's got flavor, but it's not that fuerte. Don't be scared of it; it starts out on the medium side of mild, and ends solidly medium.
The opening notes of this smoke are pepper, wood, and a slight sweetness. It mellows, settling into a flavorful, less peppery, and not super complex smoke. On some puffs there's a bit more wood, on others more spice, occasionally a floral or cherry note. All of the flavors intensify as the smoke progresses, but it's balanced and relatively smooth, even when exhaled through the nose. I've found that this vitola, with the 44 ring, can get a little overheated if you smoke too fast. But if you take your time, this is a very good, reliable, very well-constructed, everyday smoke. At about $1.50 per when bought by the box (even boxes of 10), they're an outstanding value.
BlackIrish