A handful of these corona-sized sticks were given to me in September by my brother-in-law. He had received a box of these as a gift from one of his loyal customers. Quintero is a Cuban brand, but is one of the rare Cubans that is manufactured elsewhere in the country besides Havana; the Quintero y Hermanos factory is in Cienfuegos. As for the price, alas! I didn't buy it; but I have seen these on sale in Canada for a few loonies apiece. When compared to the other Havanas, that price certainly places the Breva into the entry-level Cuban category. Cuba does have a lot of poor-quality, machine-made cigars out there, though; however, this product does differentiate itself from these cheaper sticks. The tobacco used by Quintero comes from the famed Vuelta Abajo, so the quality of the raw materials "should" be good.
 |
The initial lightup impression was one of smoothness and mildness. There was absolutely no punch. However, it certainly got my wife's attention; she described the first aroma as having been soft, without that typical lightup harshness.
The flavor of this Quintero was definitely enjoyable. It could be summed up in one word: creamy. It was pleasingly mild, not at all bland -- but rather, much like sipping a good cup of coffee with a luxurious amount of cream in it. It wasn't exactly sweet, but (just as my wife described the aroma) the flavor was soft. Supple. Gentle. But with a certain subtle spiciness in the background, just enough to make it interesting.
The ash was semi-compact, and had that characteristic Havana grey mottled appearance. (I am not insistent on a white ash, as are many aficionados; im my experience, the ash color has more to do with the origin of the tobacco rather than the quality thereof.) The ash reached one inch in only twelve minutes, but was still hanging firmly to the smoke. I gently tapped it off at 1.5", because only then was it beginning to appear fragile.
The character of this Breva remained unchanged as it approached the halfway mark. It was still a smooth, creamy, mild but interesting smoke. It might even have been slightly nutty. However, well into the second third, it began to bite a little. Pleasantly, though. It was a welcome addition to this stick's mildness and subtlety.
After a short 40 minutes only a one-inch stub remained. The cigar had burned perfectly, and even at this point it remained smooth and enjoyable.
This stick is hardly a characteristic Havana; it is mild and subtle and of a decidedly different construction from the very best. However, it does exhibit a hint of that unmistakabe Havana aroma, and it is a nice, mild but interesting smoke in its own right. Don't try one thinking that you'll be experiencing a typical Havana. But do so, fully informed, and for the right reason: enjoyment of the cigar itself. With all this in mind, and for sheer economy, I would say that the Quintero Breva is recommended.
After a short 40 minutes only a one-inch stub remained. The cigar had burned perfectly, and even at this point it remained smooth and enjoyable.
This stick is hardly a characteristic Havana; it is mild and subtle and of a decidedly different construction from the very best. However, it does exhibit a hint of that unmistakabe Havana aroma, and it is a nice, mild but interesting smoke in its own right. Don't try one thinking that you'll be experiencing a typical Havana. But do so, fully informed, and for the right reason: enjoyment of the cigar itself. With all this in mind, and for sheer economy, I would say that the Quintero Breva is recommended.
