The look and feel of the El Rey pyramid are underwhelming. The wrapper is not impressive, it looks and feels like a piece of leather, with some medium-sized veins and a few vegetable glue splotches for good measure. It’s a toothy cigar that seems firmly wrapped but it was a bit dry in parts. I took the cigar and rolled it between my fingers at different points and noticed some crackling at the head.

The aroma is a different story. The wrapper smells of roasted nuts and tobacco, which heightened my expectations and desire to light up. So I did.

The light was uneventful and the smoke announced itself right away. The business end of the smoke was burning unevenly at first, but righted itself within the first inch or so. The ash held firm until I put it out of it’s misery at the 1-inch mark. The flavors burst forth like a rocket and were full from the get go. Wood and pungent tobacco flavors dominated my palate early and took a stranglehold of my tongue and wouldn’t let go. (that’s a good thing, by the way).

The smoke continued to get bigger as it proceeded with an excellent burn to the nub. This stogie is not for the feint of heart, nor the empty of stomach. I highly recommend to those who like a full-bodied smoke.

~Doc