Archive for the ‘falto’ Category

Falto Ingenio #10

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

Once again I am reviewing a Falto cigar. I was sent a variety of blends, and I’ve sporadically reviewed each one over the past year. Since this is a small boutique company, Luis can be directly involved in all aspects of his blends. I was introduced to Falto Cigars, as well as Luis himself, at an event Bonita Smoke Shop was having awhile ago. Needless to say, all of us enjoyed the cigars. Luis was also a cool laid back guy to hang out with.

Today I am reviewing the Ingenio #10. They come in a nice presentation. Each cigar is enclosed in it’s own cedar coffin as well. I smoked a few of these, and this time around I paired with water.

1 Falto_Ingenio_#10 cigars

Wrapper: Ecuador Corojo

Binder: Nicaraguan, Estelí

Filler: Nicaragua, Brazilian, Dominican, and Cameroon

Size: Perfecto 6 x 60

Price: ?

2 Falto_Ingenio_#10 cigars

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The chocolaty brown wrapper had an oily appearance with few veins or flaws. The odor coming off of the wrapper and foot was cedar. The cigar was very solid and evenly packed. The draw was a little snug but within my tolerances. When taking a pre-light draw, I got an interesting flavor that was hard to pin down. I’d say it was cedar, earth, and a sweet fruitiness.

As you’d expect in a Perfecto, as I dug into the larger parts of the cigar, the draw opened up and was perfect. The ash held for about 1.5 inches, and the burn required a few minor corrections.

3 Falto_Ingenio_#10 cigars

Flavor:

The first third opened up with cedar and spice. When passing smoke through the nose, I picked up that classic Nicaraguan peppery zing. After about an inch of smoking, the smoke feel took on a sweet creaminess that resembled cocoa.

4 Falto_Ingenio_#10 cigars

The second third kept that sweet creaminess. Cedar, earth, and sweetness dominated the flavor profile. Fruity notes lingered in the background and in the aftertaste. Overall the flavor profile opened up and became fuller in flavors. This may be attributed to the taper in the cigar. The larger the ring gage got, the more fuller the flavors became. As I headed to the last third, the ring gage of the cigar obviously became smaller. The flavor profile reflected this as you’d expect.

5 Falto_Ingenio_#10 cigars

The last third had dominant cedar, cocoa, coffee, and notes of earthiness. The sweetness remained, but coffee sometimes took it’s place. Through the nose is where the sweet spicy zing was really noticeable. Every now and then that fruity note I mentioned before would appear and go away.

6 Falto_Ingenio_#10 cigars

Conclusion:

This was a very good, solid medium to full bodied cigar. Since I don’t know the price, I can’t use that to influence my opinion. The cigar holds it’s own, price aside. The flavors changed up and had a full, refined feel. There is really nothing bad to report. Since Falto is a small boutique company, distribution is limited. I know Bonita Smoke Shop carries their lines, and I think Falto is worth looking into.

The History of Tabacalera Falto

Saturday, September 3rd, 2011

I am often a sucker for small boutique cigar companies. They often are more focused on quality in smaller quantities. Such is the case of Falto cigars, which at times reminds me of Canimao, another small boutique company. These cigars require your attention due to their subtle flavor delivery.

The 28 minute video below get’s in to the history and mentality of Luis Falto and his cigar company. While this is a promotional video, I still found it interesting. The video is sub-titled, but I enjoyed it and thought a few of you may feel the same.

As always, you can click on the HD button on the player and view this in hi-def. Check it out.

Falto Privilegio Mi Viejo #9

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

1_Box_Falto _Privilegio_Mi Viejo_CigarI reviewed the #8 earlier this year. As you all probably know, I don’t care much for back stories about a cigar. But I figured this was worth pointing out…

The Falto Privilegio Mi Viejo took Luis Falto a long time to develop. In the end, he ended up with two blends that his family and friends liked. Some liked one, some liked the other. He finally chose to include both blends in each box. You get 10 of the Liga #8, and 10 of the #9.

While both blends are essentially the same, the big difference is in the Viso leaf. The Liga #8 has a Viso of Cuban seed tobacco, while the Liga #9 has Dominican seed Viso.

It is claimed that the #8 “Delivers a medium to full flavored smoke with a rich balance and singular complexity.” The #9 is said to have “More full flavored smoke with a richer complexity and exquisite balance.”

Today I decided it was time to see how the #9 differs from it’s counterpart.

 

Wrapper: Corojo Ecuador

Binder: Dominican Olar

Filler: Nicaragua, Brazilian, Dominican

Size: Churchill 6 3/8 x 48

Price: $9.50

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper looked nice, and had some medium sized veins with minimal flaws. There was a small tear but it was barely noticeable. The wrapper had the smell of cedar. The foot had cedar and pepper. The cigar was well packed, and got a little softer towards the head. The pre-light draw had some resistance, but not too much. The pre-light flavor was a mind earthiness with cedar.

The burn required one minor correction, and the ash held firmly for just over an inch.

1 Falto_Privilegio_mi_viejo_no9 cigar

Flavor:

The first third had a nice dominant cedar flavor. There was slight earthiness in the background. When passing smoke through the nose, the peppery spice was smooth with a little bite. There was a nutty component as well. As I approached the end of this third, the smoke feel became less dry and felt slightly creamy.

2 Falto_Privilegio_mi_viejo_no9 cigar

The second third kept that dominant cedary flavor. Like before, there were earthy and nutty notes in the background. The pepper was still there but calmed down a bit. Some draws were dry and crisp, while others were thicker and creamy.

3 Falto_Privilegio_mi_viejo_no9 cigar

The last third kept pace with previous thirds in terms of flavors. Like before, the smoke was creamy in some draws, and crisp and dry in others. The aftertaste was woody and spicy. It stuck to the mouth and lips for a little while.

4 Falto_Privilegio_mi_viejo_no9 cigar

Conclusion:

Like the #8, this was a solid medium to full bodied cigar. The main difference was that this cigar lacked the sweetness that the #8 had. This wasn’t a good or bad difference. Otherwise, the core flavors were pretty much the same. The flavor profile came together nicely and had a refined feel. In the end, I liked this cigar. I think this boutique company is worth checking out. Thanks again to Luis Falto for letting me try his cigars.

Falto Privilegio Mi Viejo Liga #8

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

2_Box_Falto _Privilegio_Mi Viejo_CigarAnyone who visits here knows I usually don’t care about the back story behind a cigar. But I thought this was interesting enough to share, especially considering the effort put into the blends. So here we go…

The Falto Privilegio Mi Viejo took Luis Falto a long time to develop. In the end, he ended up with two blends that his family and friends liked. Some liked one, some liked the other. He finally chose to include both blends in each box. You get 10 of the Liga #8, and 10 of the #9.

While both blends are essentially the same, the big difference is in the Viso leaf. The Liga #8 has a Viso of Cuban seed tobacco, while the Liga #9 has Dominican seed Viso.

It is claimed that the #8 “Delivers a medium to full flavored smoke with a rich balance and singular complexity.” The #9 is said to have “More full flavored smoke with a richer complexity and exquisite balance.”

Today I will be reviewing the Liga #8. Stay tuned, as I will be reviewing the #9 very soon.

 

As always, I paired this cigar with water and here are my thoughts.

 

Wrapper: Corojo Ecuador

Binder: Dominican Olor

Filler: Nicaraguan, Brazilian, Dominican

Size: Churchill 6 3/8 x 48

Price: $9.50

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper had a nice sheen to it, with some small to medium veins here and there. The cigar was evenly packed, and bounced back when squeezed. The wrapper and foot had a sweet cedary odor. The pre-light draw was good, and had a sweet natural tobacco and cedar taste.

The ash held for just over an inch, and the burn required a couple minor touch up’s.

1Falto_Privilegio_Mi_Viejo_#8 Cigar

Flavor:

The first third was very smooth with an simple blend of flavors. In the distance was earthiness. A combination of cedar and nuts rounded things out. There was a little spice as well, and was very noticeable when passing smoke through the nose. The aftertaste had a tinge of sweetness. It really stuck to the palate and lingered for awhile.

2Falto_Privilegio_Mi_Viejo_#8 Cigar

The second third took a sweet turn, sometimes… Essentially it kept the same flavors, but at times they had a sweetness wrapped around them. It would come and go. Other then that, it kept pace with the first third.

3Falto_Privilegio_Mi_Viejo_#8 Cigar

There wasn’t a lot to report in the last third. The spice mellowed out a bit. Otherwise, everything remained the same. The body may have picked up a notch, but remained medium.

4Falto_Privilegio_Mi_Viejo_#8 Cigar

Conclusion:

This was a good, solid medium bodied cigar. I think it lived up to it’s description of “A rich balance and singular complexity.” The flavors were pretty consistent throughout, but they mixed together nicely, and overall it was very refined. This kept it from being a boring experience. If you run across Falto Cigars, I recommend trying them. Thanks to Luis Falto for sending these to me to try!

Falto Mentor

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

Luis Falto was kind enough to send me a box of these for review. The Falto Mentor is in honor of Luis’ teacher, Manuel Inoa. Manuel is the master blender and production coordinator for La Aurora. Luis and Manuel have been working together for around 16 years. What attracted me to the Mentor was the beautiful, classy looking box. Inside you find 20 great looking cigars, and an autographed note explaining what this cigar is about (in Spanish). Falto is a small boutique company, which means Luis can be directly involved in every aspect of his brand.

I paired this cigar with water, and offer you my thoughts on the Falto Mentor.

!Falto Mentor Box

Wrapper: Habana Vuelta Arriba grown in Ecuador

Binder: Brazilian grown Sumatra & Cameroon

Filler: Dominican, Brazilian, & Nicaraguan

Size: 5 3/4 x 54

Price: Around $7.50

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The chocolate bar looking wrapper had no real flaws, and had a few medium sized veins. Holding it in the light, it had an oily glisten. Sniffing the wrapper, I found it to have a mild cedar and earthy odor. The foot had a mild natural tobacco smell. Squeezing the cigar, I found no inconsistencies, and barely any sponginess. The pre-light draw was free, with just a little bit of resistance. The pre-light draw had a sweet cedar flavor.

The ash held for about two inches, and the burn required no corrections.

1_Falto Mentor

Flavor:

The first third greeted me with pillowy clouds of smoke. Initially there was a smooth woody taste with earthy undertones. The flavors opened up a bit after the first inch. When passing smoke through the nose, there was a pleasant spice that had a little kick. The smoke became somewhat creamy and took on some sweetness. That sweetness eventually became co-co with a coffee-ish tint.

2_Falto Mentor

The second third remained smooth and creamy. The core flavors were basically the same. There were woody notes, but the prominent flavor was a coco-ish, sweet creaminess. Coffee notes were still there, and I could swear I picked up some fruity undertones from time to time. Through the nose, the spice was still pretty mild, but the strength of it’s kick varied. The aftertaste lingered on the palate long after exhaling.

3_Falto Mentor

The last third basically rotated dominant flavors. Sometimes it was real woody, and other times it was creamy coco. All the while cinnamony spice made the mouth tingle. Through the nose, the spice kicked up a notch in strength with a cinnamon spice.

4_Falto Mentor

Conclusion:

This was an excellent medium bodied cigar that may have crept into the full range in the last third. The overall flavor profile was very good and well refined. I still am debating on if my crude review does it justice. No matter, this cigar tastes good, burns slow, and made me relax. Luis – Thanks for being so generous and letting me try this cigar. The Falto Mentor is a winner, I say try it!

Falto Gran Reserva Especial Prominente(Perfecto)

Monday, December 27th, 2010

I am back with another line from Falto Cigars. Luis Juan Falto (founder and CEO) was kind enough to send me some samples after we met awhile back at the Bonita Smoker Shop. Falto Cigars is a very small boutique company with limited distribution. This allows Luis to be directly involved in every aspect of his product.

This perfecto shaped cigar is manufactured using a wooden mold from 1923. When you buy a box, it includes a card that indicates when it began its cedar aging, when it was packaged, and when it left the factory. Luis signs each card as verification.

I am always willing to try new blends or brands. So with a glass of water, I started to pick this thing apart. Let’s see how it went.

 

Wrapper: Cameroon

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

Size: 4.5 x 42/47

Price: Around $7.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper had a rugged look, with a few medium veins and an overall rustic appearance. The odor off of the wrapper was cedar. The cigar was evenly and very well packed. The pre-light draw had a slight resistance, and had a sweet woody flavor.

Despite being a small cigar, the smoke volume was plentiful and the burn was cool. The ash held for an inch, and I did no burn corrections.

1FaltoGranReservaEspecialProminente

Flavor:

The first few puffs of the first third were prominently earthy. As the cigar burned past the small perfecto opening, the flavors opened up a bit. A toasty, woody flavor seemed to meld with coffee notes. A slight peppery spice was noticed when passing smoke though the nose. As this third came to a close, the flavors started to have a sweet tinge to them.

2FaltoGranReservaEspecialProminente

The second third continued with those sweet toasty notes. The peppery spice was easy with just enough kick when passing smoke through the nose. A nice sweet coffee was dominant, and the woody/earthy flavors became hard to detect at times. As time went on, the smoke feel went from a toasty feel to more of a creamy sensation that coated the mouth and lips.

3FaltoGranReservaEspecialProminente

The last third became very creamy. The dominant flavor was sweet and almost mocha. The woody and earthy components would rear their heads from time to time. The sweet spice remained consistent with the second third, with a nice sweet cinnamony zing.

4FaltoGranReservaEspecialProminente

 

Conclusion:

This was a very nice medium bodied, slow burning cigar. The flavors switched up and evolved as time went on. For such a small cigar, it didn’t lack in flavors. I could see this being a good after lunch smoke. Definitely worth a try. Thanks to Luis for letting me try them!

Falto Lonsdale

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

The Falto Lonsdale has the exact same blend as the Robusto. The obvious and only difference is in the size. When Luis Falto offered to send me some cigars to try, I graciously accepted. It wasn’t long before a big box arrived. Inside were samples of every line of cigars he offers. Looks like I have some reviewing to do! I paired this cigar with water, so lets see how this compares to the robusto size.

 

Wrapper: Sumatra (Indonesia)

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

Size: Lonsdale 6.5 x 42

Price: $6.80 at Bonita Smoke Shop

 

Pre-smoke & Construction:

The wrapper had a semi-rugged look to it, with small to medium veins and some bumbs and blotches. The odor off of the wrapper was barnyard. The foot had the same smell, with a touch of earthiness. The cigar was evenly packed and hard to the touch. As is common in smaller ring gauge cigars, the draw was a little stiff. It wasn’t over the top and fell just within my tolerances. The pre-light draw had notes of cedar and slight earth.

The burn required a couple minor touch up’s in the first third, and the ash held for an inch.

1FaltoLonsdale 

Flavor:

Much like the robusto, the first third opened up with smooth, mellow woody flavors. There was a very slight spicy note when passing smoke through the nose. It was so subtle that you could easily miss it. As this third came to a close, the pepper increased ever so slightly in strength. The aftertaste had a tinge of earthy creaminess.

2FaltoLonsdale 

Like the first third, the second third had dominant woody flavors. The spice remained mellow, and a nice sweetness entered the picture. The sweet flavor resembled mocha or chocolate, but didn’t quite reach that level. Earthy notes were in the background.

3FaltoLonsdale

The last third crept a little higher in body, but remained in the medium range. That dominant woody flavor remained, and the sweetness developed into a mocha/chocolaty flavor. I had to really pay attention to the sweetness, or I would have missed the mocha/chocolaty notes within. Passing smoke through the sinus revealed a nice sweet peppery spice that had a little kick. The smoke feel became creamier and coated the mouth. Smoke volume increased as well.

4FaltoLonsdale

Conclusion:

Like the Robusto size, this was a good medium bodied cigar. There wasn’t much difference in flavor when compared to the robusto. It basically boils down to what you’d prefer, a robusto or lonsdale. Personally, I would prefer the robusto. Whatever you choose, I think this cigar is worth trying for sure. Thanks again to Luis for sending me these sticks to review.

Falto Reserva Especial Tres Luises-Petit Belicoso

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Once again I am reviewing a cigar provided to me by Luis Falto, President & CEO of Falto Cigars. This cigar comes in two sizes, the Ballibo, which is 6 3/4 x 35, and is named after the grandfather of the founder. The other is what I am reviewing today.  The Ballibo basically has the same flavors as this one, but it’s small ring gage seems to focus the flavors a bit more. As always, I paired this cigar with water.

 

Wrapper: Cameroon

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

Size: 5 x 52

Price: $8.00 @ Bonita Smoke Shop

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The delicate Cameroon wrapper had small to medium sized veins and some bumps here and there. Overall there were only minor cosmetic flaws. The wrapper had an odor of hay and earth, while the foot had a mild natural tobacco smell. The pre-light draw was free, and had a mild sweet earthy taste. Overall the cigar was a little soft to the touch, and bounced back when squeezed.

The burn required a few small corrections, and the ash held for an inch.

1FaltoReservaEspecialTresLuises_Petit Belicoso 

Flavor:

The first third began with a mild and smooth woodiness. A very mild and somewhat creamy spice was detected when passing smoke through the sinus. Earthiness lingered in the background.

2FaltoReservaEspecialTresLuises_Petit Belicoso 

The second third developed a nice sweetness that resembled mocha and caramel. The woody flavor was there and resembled cedar. Notes of nuttiness replaced the earthiness I mentioned before. The sweet spice remained and became even creamier. The smoke was thick and coated the inside of the mouth. The aftertaste was of sweet caramel.

3FaltoReservaEspecialTresLuises_Petit Belicoso 

The last third didn’t have a lot of change. The flavor profile remained sweet with mocha and hints of caramel-ish flavors. The smoke kept it’s creamy feel with hints of sweet spice through the nose. Basically the last third was the same as the second, which wasn’t a bad thing.

4FaltoReservaEspecialTresLuises_Petit Belicoso 

Conclusion:

This was a good cigar that started with a mild body, and crept into the medium range. I’m not a big Cameroon wrapper guy, but I could see this being enjoyable as a morning or after lunch cigar. If this sounds like something you would enjoy, by all means give it a try. It had good flavors. Thanks again to Luis for sending me these cigars to review!

Falto Robusto

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Luis J. Falto, President & CEO of La Garita Cigar Co & Cigarros Falto, Tabacalera Falto Inc, sent me these cigars to review. They come in Robusto and Losdale sizes. There will be a slight blend change on these two cigars from the current wrapper to a new Sumarta Ecuador. The cigars I smoked for this review featured the current Sumarta Indonesian variety.

Thanks to Luis for sending me these cigars to try. As always, I paired this review with water.

 

Wrapper: Sumatra (Indonesia)

Binder: Dominican Republic

Filler: Dominican Republic

Size: 5 x 50

Price: Around $7.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper had small veins and a nice looking sheen. The odor coming off of the wrapper was sweet and cedary. The foot had a similar odor, with a slight pepper. The cigar was evenly and well packed, with barely a hard or soft spot. The pre-light draw was good with just a little resistance, and had an earthy, woody taste.

The burn required a couple small corrections, and the ash held for just over an inch.

1FaltoRobusto

Flavor:

The first third began with a very smooth and mellow peppery spice was that picked up when passing smoke through the nose. There were nice woody flavors with mild sweet notes hiding in the background. The smoke feel was crisp and dry.

2FaltoRobusto 

The second third had a touch of earthiness. The sweetness increased in strength a little, and the woody flavors were dominant. The smooth pepper remained when retrohaling, but had an interesting complexity to it. It was sweet with an occasional tinge of fruitiness. The smoke feel became smoother and bordered on creaminess.

3FaltoRobusto 

The last third went further up in the medium bodied range and bordered on being full. The spicy pepper increased slightly in strength, and was more straight forward tasting. The wood and sweet flavors matched each other in terms of strength, and melded together nicely. Speaking of sweetness, it boarded on chocolate, but wasn’t full blown chocolate. The smoke feel remained the same as before.

4FaltoRobusto 

Conclusion:

This was a very good medium to upper medium bodied cigar. The flavors were good, and switched things up to keep it interesting. Availability is limited on this boutique brand, but I think they are worth trying. Go to their website for a list of shops that carry them and judge for yourself.

Falto Cigars – Falto Legado (Corona Gorda)

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

I never heard of this boutique cigar company until attending an event at The Bonita Smoke Shop. Louis Juan Falto, President & CEO of La Garita Cigar Co., was showcasing his cigars that day. I smoked a couple at the shop and liked what I had. I brought a couple home with me, and this brings us to the review today. Although I was given a few free smokes at the event, the cigar I am reviewing today was purchased by me. As always, I paired this cigar with water.

 

Wrapper: Nicaragua

Binder: Dominican Republic

Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua

Size:  5 1/2 x 47

Price: Around $8.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper had a nice look to it, with a couple larger sized veins accompanied by the usual small ones. Overall the cigar was packed consistently, with one flaw. A small indentation where the second third starts. This didn’t really concern me at all. The pre-light draw was great, and had a sweet woody flavor. The foot had almost no odor at all. The wrapper had a nice natural tobacco and woody smell.

The burn required a few significant corrections in the first third, but leveled off after that. The ash held for about 1/2 to 3/4 inch.

1FaltoLegadoCoronaGorda

 

Flavor:

The first third started off with a nice pepper though the nose. Nutty flavors mingled with woody notes, which was a nice combo. Every now and then a tinge of sweetness would appear. Although simple, everything was balanced.

2FaltoLegadoCoronaGorda

The pepper calmed down quite a bit during the second third. It took on more of a sweet spice, but wasn’t quite like cinnamon. Woody and nutty flavors were the main flavors like before. The aftertaste was a little creamy and left a little tingle on the tongue. All in all the flavor profile seemed to come together.

3FaltoLegadoCoronaGorda

The last third: When passing the smoke though the nose, that familiar sweet spice remained. The core flavors remained as well (wood and nuts). A nice sweet mocha came in to the picture at just the right level of intensity. The smoke feel was creamy and like before, the aftertaste was sweet with a tingle on the lips and tongue. Everything just fit together nicely.

4FaltoLegadoCoronaGorda

Conclusion:

This was a very nice medium to full bodied cigar. The flavors were really refined and well balanced. It is the type of cigar that is best smoked in your easy chair. If I were to complain, it would be the price. It is a little out of my comfort zone for a cigar of this size. But price aside, I think you owe it to yourself to check out this boutique brand.

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