<br><b>La Gloria Cubana is the name of two premium cigar brands, one produced on the island of Cuba for Habanos SA, the Cuban state-owned tobacco company, and other produced in the Dominican Republic and Miami, Florida by El Credito Cigar Company for General Cigar Company, now a subsidiary of Swedish Match. La Gloria Cubana was sold to General Cigar Company by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo in 1999 for an undisclosed sales price.<b><br>
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<br>HISTORY: The La Gloria Cubana brand was created in 1885 by the Sociedad Cabañas y Castro, then bought twenty years later in 1905 by José F. Rocha, who manufactured the brand from his factory at 364 Miguel Street in Havana. After Rocha's death in 1954, the Cifuentes family bought both La Gloria Cubana and Bolivar from Rocha's former company. Production was moved to the Partagás Factory, where it's still produced today, and became very popular as an export brand. After the Revolution, it seems that production of La Gloria Cubana ceased for several years, until around 1965 when the brand was apparently resurrected at the Partagás Factory. It is produced in smaller quantities than other brands and maintains its popularity with connoisseurs, the Médaille d'Or No. 2 being a particularly prized vitola. La Gloria Cubana also produces two machine-made cigarillos: the Mini and the Purito.<br>
<br>Vitolas in the La Gloria Cubana Line:<br>
<br>Hand-Made Vitolas<br>
<br>Médaille d'Or No. 1 - 7¼" × 36 (184 × 14.29 mm), Delicado Extra, a long panatela<br>
<br>Médaille d'Or No. 2 - 6¾" × 43 (171 × 17.07 mm), Dalia, a Lonsdale<br>
<br>Médaille d'Or No. 3 - 6⅞" × 28 (175 × 11.11 mm), Panetela Larga, a slim panatela<br>
<br>Médaille d'Or No. 4 - 6" × 32 (152 × 12.70 mm), Palmita, a slim panatela<br>
<br>Taíno - 7" × 47 (178 × 18.65 mm), Julieta No. 2, a Churchill<br>
<br>Edición Regional Releases:<br>
<br>Marshall (Adriatic 2008) - 4⅞" × 50 (124 × 19.84 mm) Robusto, a robusto<br>
<br>Glorioso (United Kingdom 2008) - 6⅛" × 50 (156 × 19.84 mm) Doble, a robusto extra<br>
<br>Deliciosos (Cuba 2009) - 5.0" × 48 (127 × 48 mm) Hermosos No. 4, a Corona Extra(commonly assumed to be a robusto)<br>
<br>Triunfos (Switzerland 2010) - 6.3" × 50 (160 × 50 mm) Magnum 50, Double Robusto<br>
<br>Belux No.1(Belux(Belgium and Luxembourg) 2011) - 5.5" × 52 (140 × 52 mm) Genios, Robusto Extra<br>
<br>LCDH Exclusives:<br>
<br>Inmensos (2010) - 6.5" × 54 (164 × 54 mm) Sublimes, Double Robusto<br>
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<br>La Gloria Cubana is a little known jewel amongst Habano brands. Nevertheless it enjoys a long history. Founded in 1885, its name alone clearly defines its origin. For over a century it has attracted a small but loyal following amongst the most knowledgeable smokers. The brand is characterized by its elegant presentation, especially in the Medaille d’Or Series. All the cigars are ‘totalmente a mano, tripa larga’ – totally handmade, long filler cigars. The blend, made from tobaccos grown in the Vuelta Abajo region, is classified as medium and offers well-balanced nuances of taste and aroma. Now, the introduction of the exclusive and highly appreciated vitola Sublimes offers the possibility to taste the characteristic flavor of the brand. Only 5,000 boxes have been made exclusively aimed at Las Casas del Habano franchise stores. Each box contains 10 cigars. [Source: Wikipedia and LCDH site]<br>
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<br>The wrapper has dry look, smooth, caramel color with no visible veins. The cigar feels solid in hand with perfect cosmic look. The wrapper has barnyard, freshly cut wood, hay and wonderful tobacco sweet aroma. The cold draw has mild touch of tobacco, cedar and hay aroma on the foot. The flavor and aroma profile is the combination of cedar, white pepper, earth, cocoa, tea, cream, chocolate and coffee flavors with cardamom, cashew nut and medium signature Cuban rich floral/fruity aromas at the back. It has wonderful white sugar sweetness. The smoke is rich, creamy, round and mouthful. The entire smoke is smooth as silk. It is a very complex cigar with creamy layers of flavors and aroma, balanced with long finish. The retrohale is so easy because of the smoothness. The strength is medium. It has a perfect draw with perfect burn.<br>
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<br>Wrapper: Cuba<br>
<br>Binder: Cuba<br>
<br>Fillers: Cuba<br>
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<br>1/3: The cigar starts with mild strength. Usually Cuban La Gloria Cubana cigars are known for their medium-full bodied strength but this is very mild. It started with sweet cedar, musky earth, strong cocoa powder and earthy black tea flavors. I am detecting medium signature Cuban fruity-floral aroma at the back. There is also a clean but sharp white sugary sweetness to it. The smoke is completely creamy and smooth. There is no harshness. The special Casa del habano release cigars are rolled with at least two years of aged tobacco. This cigar was released in 2010, until now it has four years aging in it. When I first smoked it in 2011, there was some bitterness to it. At the end of 1/3 I am also detecting thick cashew nut aroma at the end with strong sugarcane sweetness at the finish. Nice twist in complexity. The top of my tongue is clean, the middle of my tongue is filled with creamy smoke with above flavors and aroma, the back of my tongue is completely clean. During retrohale I am really enjoying the white peppery delicate spiciness through the nose. The strength is mild to medium at this stage. The draw and burn is perfect. I would say it has a first class start from the beginning.<br>
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<br>2/3: The cigar’s complexity improved with newly added flavors and open up with medium coffee and chocolate flavors. The Cigar is straight medium bodied now. The full 1/3 flavor profile is there with added medium coffee and chocolate flavors. What a wonderful twist in complexity of flavors! The smoke is even creamier, round and mouthful with smooth texture. The finish is nice and long with a touch of thick creaminess (almost like melted buttery). The cashew nut aroma also has a thick layer of aromatic cardamoms twist. The fruity-floral aroma is stronger but still not robust. The clean white sugary sweetness is more intense at the finish. The retrohale still has the delicate white peppery spiciness through the nose- Wow! This cigar deserves three additional points in complexity of flavors and aroma. At the end of 2/3 the sugar sweetness is crispier. The strength is still straight medium with creamy texture. The top of my tongue is still clean, the middle of my tongue literally filled with thick cream with above flavors and aroma and the back of my tongue has no harshness. I can even inhale the smoke now. The performance of this cigar is amazing with extreme complexity and long finish. I just took a sip of cold water just to clean my palate a little to identify more background notes. I am detecting a mild nutmeg kind of aroma. I can write a book about the smoothness of this cigar.<br>
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<br><b>Final/3: The cedar, earthiness ramp up with distinctive coffee flavor at this stage. It has a more tastiness with strong roasted nut aroma. The wonderful cashew nut aroma is more like a flavor at this stage with sharp and crispy white sugar sweetness at the finish. While I am describing the twist in flavors and aroma, the 2/3's flavors and aroma profile is still there but at the back. This is still super complex. The peppery spiciness is more like black: white (50:50) on the tongue but the retrohale through the nose has the delicate white peppery bite. I am also detecting a layer of thick cream flavor with mouthful, silky and smooth texture. The finish is very long. The top of my tongue has a super mild peppery bite; the middle of my tongue is covered with creamy texture with above flavors and aroma. The back of my tongue is still clean. The entire time of the smoke, I couldn't feel any bitterness or harshness. I am partially inhaling the smoke because of the nutmeg aroma. The coffee flavor is more like a creamy Cappuccino. I haven't smoked such a smooth Cuban cigar with four year of age for a long time. This is absolutely a wonderful smoking journey with super complexity and long finish. My entire mouth is filled with cream, layers and layers of above flavors and aroma. The white sugary sweetness is very sharp and crisp. The strength is medium-full now. Until now the cigar's draw and burn have been perfect. I have to mention one weakness about this cigar- the signature Cuban fruity-floral aroma was medium the entire time of smoke. With this minor lack of traditional aroma this is a top quality smoke.<b><br>
<br><b>Final thought: I got a box of 10 of this cigar from my last trip to Cuba. Now I am thinking it was a mistake for not buying another box. Most of the quality cigars improve with aging, specially the Cubans but this cigar aged far better than my expectation. When I smoked it in 2011, it was definitely a different cigar. The improvement is more than the 2010 Behike I just smoked yesterday. I am not saying that this cigar is better than Behike but this cigar performed better in terms of four years of ageing. I highly recommend this cigar. The good news is, La Glroa Cubana brand is a slow sell item and I am sure still some boxes are out there. I am not a huge La Gloria Cubana cigar fan but this is the best La Gloria Cubana cigar I have ever smoked. The non- Cuban LGC cigars never attracted me. I have never been a fan of E.P Carillos blends. Also NC LGC cigars are not even close to Cuban LGC. I need to do some serious research about the source of this tobacco because it has a different feel compares to other Cubans. This is a must try for the Cuban cigar lovers.<b><br>
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<br>HISTORY: The La Gloria Cubana brand was created in 1885 by the Sociedad Cabañas y Castro, then bought twenty years later in 1905 by José F. Rocha, who manufactured the brand from his factory at 364 Miguel Street in Havana. After Rocha's death in 1954, the Cifuentes family bought both La Gloria Cubana and Bolivar from Rocha's former company. Production was moved to the Partagás Factory, where it's still produced today, and became very popular as an export brand. After the Revolution, it seems that production of La Gloria Cubana ceased for several years, until around 1965 when the brand was apparently resurrected at the Partagás Factory. It is produced in smaller quantities than other brands and maintains its popularity with connoisseurs, the Médaille d'Or No. 2 being a particularly prized vitola. La Gloria Cubana also produces two machine-made cigarillos: the Mini and the Purito.<br>
<br>Vitolas in the La Gloria Cubana Line:<br>
<br>Hand-Made Vitolas<br>
<br>Médaille d'Or No. 1 - 7¼" × 36 (184 × 14.29 mm), Delicado Extra, a long panatela<br>
<br>Médaille d'Or No. 2 - 6¾" × 43 (171 × 17.07 mm), Dalia, a Lonsdale<br>
<br>Médaille d'Or No. 3 - 6⅞" × 28 (175 × 11.11 mm), Panetela Larga, a slim panatela<br>
<br>Médaille d'Or No. 4 - 6" × 32 (152 × 12.70 mm), Palmita, a slim panatela<br>
<br>Taíno - 7" × 47 (178 × 18.65 mm), Julieta No. 2, a Churchill<br>
<br>Edición Regional Releases:<br>
<br>Marshall (Adriatic 2008) - 4⅞" × 50 (124 × 19.84 mm) Robusto, a robusto<br>
<br>Glorioso (United Kingdom 2008) - 6⅛" × 50 (156 × 19.84 mm) Doble, a robusto extra<br>
<br>Deliciosos (Cuba 2009) - 5.0" × 48 (127 × 48 mm) Hermosos No. 4, a Corona Extra(commonly assumed to be a robusto)<br>
<br>Triunfos (Switzerland 2010) - 6.3" × 50 (160 × 50 mm) Magnum 50, Double Robusto<br>
<br>Belux No.1(Belux(Belgium and Luxembourg) 2011) - 5.5" × 52 (140 × 52 mm) Genios, Robusto Extra<br>
<br>LCDH Exclusives:<br>
<br>Inmensos (2010) - 6.5" × 54 (164 × 54 mm) Sublimes, Double Robusto<br>
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<br>La Gloria Cubana is a little known jewel amongst Habano brands. Nevertheless it enjoys a long history. Founded in 1885, its name alone clearly defines its origin. For over a century it has attracted a small but loyal following amongst the most knowledgeable smokers. The brand is characterized by its elegant presentation, especially in the Medaille d’Or Series. All the cigars are ‘totalmente a mano, tripa larga’ – totally handmade, long filler cigars. The blend, made from tobaccos grown in the Vuelta Abajo region, is classified as medium and offers well-balanced nuances of taste and aroma. Now, the introduction of the exclusive and highly appreciated vitola Sublimes offers the possibility to taste the characteristic flavor of the brand. Only 5,000 boxes have been made exclusively aimed at Las Casas del Habano franchise stores. Each box contains 10 cigars. [Source: Wikipedia and LCDH site]<br>
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<br>The wrapper has dry look, smooth, caramel color with no visible veins. The cigar feels solid in hand with perfect cosmic look. The wrapper has barnyard, freshly cut wood, hay and wonderful tobacco sweet aroma. The cold draw has mild touch of tobacco, cedar and hay aroma on the foot. The flavor and aroma profile is the combination of cedar, white pepper, earth, cocoa, tea, cream, chocolate and coffee flavors with cardamom, cashew nut and medium signature Cuban rich floral/fruity aromas at the back. It has wonderful white sugar sweetness. The smoke is rich, creamy, round and mouthful. The entire smoke is smooth as silk. It is a very complex cigar with creamy layers of flavors and aroma, balanced with long finish. The retrohale is so easy because of the smoothness. The strength is medium. It has a perfect draw with perfect burn.<br>
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<br>Wrapper: Cuba<br>
<br>Binder: Cuba<br>
<br>Fillers: Cuba<br>
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<br>1/3: The cigar starts with mild strength. Usually Cuban La Gloria Cubana cigars are known for their medium-full bodied strength but this is very mild. It started with sweet cedar, musky earth, strong cocoa powder and earthy black tea flavors. I am detecting medium signature Cuban fruity-floral aroma at the back. There is also a clean but sharp white sugary sweetness to it. The smoke is completely creamy and smooth. There is no harshness. The special Casa del habano release cigars are rolled with at least two years of aged tobacco. This cigar was released in 2010, until now it has four years aging in it. When I first smoked it in 2011, there was some bitterness to it. At the end of 1/3 I am also detecting thick cashew nut aroma at the end with strong sugarcane sweetness at the finish. Nice twist in complexity. The top of my tongue is clean, the middle of my tongue is filled with creamy smoke with above flavors and aroma, the back of my tongue is completely clean. During retrohale I am really enjoying the white peppery delicate spiciness through the nose. The strength is mild to medium at this stage. The draw and burn is perfect. I would say it has a first class start from the beginning.<br>
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<br>2/3: The cigar’s complexity improved with newly added flavors and open up with medium coffee and chocolate flavors. The Cigar is straight medium bodied now. The full 1/3 flavor profile is there with added medium coffee and chocolate flavors. What a wonderful twist in complexity of flavors! The smoke is even creamier, round and mouthful with smooth texture. The finish is nice and long with a touch of thick creaminess (almost like melted buttery). The cashew nut aroma also has a thick layer of aromatic cardamoms twist. The fruity-floral aroma is stronger but still not robust. The clean white sugary sweetness is more intense at the finish. The retrohale still has the delicate white peppery spiciness through the nose- Wow! This cigar deserves three additional points in complexity of flavors and aroma. At the end of 2/3 the sugar sweetness is crispier. The strength is still straight medium with creamy texture. The top of my tongue is still clean, the middle of my tongue literally filled with thick cream with above flavors and aroma and the back of my tongue has no harshness. I can even inhale the smoke now. The performance of this cigar is amazing with extreme complexity and long finish. I just took a sip of cold water just to clean my palate a little to identify more background notes. I am detecting a mild nutmeg kind of aroma. I can write a book about the smoothness of this cigar.<br>
<a href="http://s1150.photobucket.com/user/cigman12/media/EzraZion018_zpsbe2584ca.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o602/cigman12/EzraZion018_zpsbe2584ca.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo EzraZion018_zpsbe2584ca.jpg"/></a>
<br><b>Final/3: The cedar, earthiness ramp up with distinctive coffee flavor at this stage. It has a more tastiness with strong roasted nut aroma. The wonderful cashew nut aroma is more like a flavor at this stage with sharp and crispy white sugar sweetness at the finish. While I am describing the twist in flavors and aroma, the 2/3's flavors and aroma profile is still there but at the back. This is still super complex. The peppery spiciness is more like black: white (50:50) on the tongue but the retrohale through the nose has the delicate white peppery bite. I am also detecting a layer of thick cream flavor with mouthful, silky and smooth texture. The finish is very long. The top of my tongue has a super mild peppery bite; the middle of my tongue is covered with creamy texture with above flavors and aroma. The back of my tongue is still clean. The entire time of the smoke, I couldn't feel any bitterness or harshness. I am partially inhaling the smoke because of the nutmeg aroma. The coffee flavor is more like a creamy Cappuccino. I haven't smoked such a smooth Cuban cigar with four year of age for a long time. This is absolutely a wonderful smoking journey with super complexity and long finish. My entire mouth is filled with cream, layers and layers of above flavors and aroma. The white sugary sweetness is very sharp and crisp. The strength is medium-full now. Until now the cigar's draw and burn have been perfect. I have to mention one weakness about this cigar- the signature Cuban fruity-floral aroma was medium the entire time of smoke. With this minor lack of traditional aroma this is a top quality smoke.<b><br>
<br><b>Final thought: I got a box of 10 of this cigar from my last trip to Cuba. Now I am thinking it was a mistake for not buying another box. Most of the quality cigars improve with aging, specially the Cubans but this cigar aged far better than my expectation. When I smoked it in 2011, it was definitely a different cigar. The improvement is more than the 2010 Behike I just smoked yesterday. I am not saying that this cigar is better than Behike but this cigar performed better in terms of four years of ageing. I highly recommend this cigar. The good news is, La Glroa Cubana brand is a slow sell item and I am sure still some boxes are out there. I am not a huge La Gloria Cubana cigar fan but this is the best La Gloria Cubana cigar I have ever smoked. The non- Cuban LGC cigars never attracted me. I have never been a fan of E.P Carillos blends. Also NC LGC cigars are not even close to Cuban LGC. I need to do some serious research about the source of this tobacco because it has a different feel compares to other Cubans. This is a must try for the Cuban cigar lovers.<b><br>
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