Quintero Favoritos
A real Habano, hand-rolled, embodying authenticity.
As we mentioned in our article dedicated to Quintero, the brand has undergone many changes in terms of production and vitolario. If some of its cigars were produced at the beginning of the brand, and are still in production today: such as the Londres Extra, the Brevas, and the Panetelas, others have completely disappeared and others have been introduced, adapting to the new consumption trends towards shorter and thicker cigars. We are talking about Favoritos, a Conchas No.2 (50 × 115 mm), introduced in 2012; Petit Quintero, a Petit Cazadores (43 × 105 mm) introduced in 2014 and Tubulares, a Brevas JLP (42 × 133 mm) introduced in 2016.
Let's take a look today at one of these novelties, the one offering the most important cepo: Quintero Favoritos. This Conchas No.2 has a 50 cepo and a length of 115 mm. The Favoritos belongs to the large family of the Petit Robusto but is a unique vitola, exclusive to the brand. With it, Quintero joins the new trend of "Short Smokes", more and more appreciated by aficionados because they offer a complex aromatic profile for a relatively short tasting time.
As we also mention in our article, despite all the updates to its catalogue in terms of modules, Quintero, unlike other brands considered to be the most robust, such as Bolívar and Partagás, which have seen their flavours become rounder in recent years, has remained constant in terms of strength and flavour. The Quintero blend remains unchanged, not worrying about the change in the dominant taste of the market, moving towards lighter cigars. Let's check this with a tasting.
When young, Quintero cigars have a reputation for being rather bitter and tannic, a characteristic that does not suit everyone, but which Spaniards and Cubans love.
Looking at our Favoritos, one can notice some slight imperfections such as veins, but the wrapper leaf, barely oily, is perfectly homogeneous in terms of colour. As for the touch, it seems to reveal a rather neat and regular construction.
The raw draught surprisingly does not suggest a full-bodied blend and reveals notes of oak and cedar, with a creamy edge.
After lighting, the good draw is confirmed and the smoke volume is generous from the first puffs.
As expected, the first third reveals a slight bitterness. This tends to diminish as the tasting progresses, leading to the start of the second third, with peppery notes, leather and a hint of coffee beans.
The volume of smoke is truly incredible and makes for an immersive, truly enjoyable tasting.
The second third allows our Favoritos to really reveal itself and reveals its full personality. The power is undeniable but not overwhelming, on the contrary. The peppery flavours have disappeared and are replaced by leather and burnt tobacco, we are indeed in the presence of a Quintero!
Having reached the last third, it is almost regrettable to see the end of the tasting approaching! This last part does not show any real evolution on the gustatory level but it does increase in quality, as if until then it had been a draft and we were now in the presence of the final copy.
The burnt tobacco notes assert themselves and are created in harmony with the leather notes, a virile but terribly pleasant taste experience.
A Swiss expression sums up this tasting, the Quintero Favoritos "disappointed us in good"! In other words, it pleasantly surprised us. Indeed, the Favoritos is not usually a first choice cigar, however, once you have tasted one, you understand how much sense it makes.
It is a nice alternative to the Partagás Serie D No.5 for example, a very versatile cigar to have in your humidor, which you could smoke regularly for example.
The amateurs of great complexity will certainly not find their account there but for the others, beginners or informed aficionados, will be able to enjoy a cigar, rolled with the hand, offering one hour of tasting, embodying well the identity of the brand and more largely the flavours of an authentic Habano with a medium strength.
QUINTERO Favoritos - Box of 25 or Pack of 5
Vitola: Conchas No.2 (50 x 115 mm)
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