This El Rey Pyramid has a slightly box-pressed shape. That is, it’s not radically box-pressed so that the corners are sharp, but just pressed enough to have some flatness to the sides, but the corners are still rounded. The wrapper on this cigar is not impressive, it looks like a piece of leather, with some medium-sized veins and has a velvety look and feel. But oh the aroma. The wrapper smells of roasted nuts and tobacco. This heightened my expectations so I lit up.

The light was perfect. This cigar was wrapped snugly near the foot, which always helps with an even light. The first two or three puffs were divine, it was rich and flavorful from the get go and I can only imagine what lies ahead.

But then it happened, the dreaded “hole.” I felt it coming, the cigar draws but doesn’t emit much smoke and I knew there would be a hole. And what a cavern it was. It ruined the first third of the smoke and caused the wrapper to bubble and burn radically uneven. I hate it when this happens, it’s just sloppy workmanship in the rolling of the cigar. It was obvious that the burn would not even out so I had to let the cigar sit and die out, tap out the ash and start over.

As is the case with relights, the cigar burned fine afterwards. The flavors are very nice, the richness of the tobacco causes more salivation and dilutes the flavors so I can taste a hint of sweetness, even though the cigar is strong. This cigar has truly good tobacco, a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper is rich and satisfying and the Honduran binder and filler give it strength. It’s a well-balanced and complex smoke. I may have to try another one soon, to see how a well constructed version will fare. Recommended for experienced smokers who enjoy an upper medium to full-bodied smoke.

~Doc