Cigar Aficionado’s 2011 Cigar of the Year, need we say more? Sure – it’s not that expensive either!

I’m going to start off by saying this cigar frikin’ rocks! Yeah, we’ll get into tasting notes and whatnot, but this is one of the best full cigars I’ve had in ages. The only bad thing about this Pensado is that it took me 2 years to acknowledge its existence. For all intents and purposes I’m rebranding the Pensado to El Guapo.

El Guapo is constructed from a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos and really built around the wrapper which comes from a special farm in southern Honduras (the Trojes region). The wrapper is maduro-colored and doesn’t have that undesirable veiny character to it. Speaking to aesthetics – It’s handsome and beautiful at the same time. When you smoke this cigar you feel like you’re David Livingstone on what is now an African game preserve. Confidently and inquisitively you’re pondering your recent travels under a thorn tree at dusk jotting down notables in a journal. Likely with a brown liqueur in hand and a woman fixing something up in the safari camp a stone’s throw away. The body is firm and in the three times I smoked this in under a week never noticed any soft spots. The draw is more moderate than light, but still excellent.

Initially, there are hints of spice with a sort of peppery finish. Notes of leather and chocolate present themselves as well. The finish has been described as long and lush – where I’d have to agree. This cigar is a slow one with an even burn. Account for that with more than a few thumbs of a good scotch and you’ll set yourself up for a fine evening.

It’s this type of cigar that really makes you enjoy the finer things in life. The first time I smoked this we were on the side of an interstate at sunset for 4 hours broken down waiting for someone…anyone to pick us up. The evening was mild, a storm off in the distance, farms and rolling hills to our left. Wasn’t all that bad being stranded there especially in the presence of El Guapo.