Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment, but I just lit up my 2nd dog rocket of the day.
Let’s get this over with already...
This time it’s the Liga IV from Cigars International (never to be confused with that other “Liga,” the highly sought-after Drew Estate Liga Privada). This cigar runs a whopping $40 for a bundle of 50 — in cigar math, that breaks down to 80 cents a stick (5.5 x 43 Corona). I don’t think it gets much cheaper than this for a hand-made cigar…
The construction, as you might expect for a stick in this price range, is sub-par. The wrapper is veiny and bumpy, in a depressing beige hue. The middle of the cigar feels quite squishy. The slogan on the ring is comical: “Our Rarest Tobaccos” (something tells me that’s a good thing for the smoking public). When I apply just the slightest pressure with my cutter, the cap pops off like a champagne cork, giving me a chuckle.
Sweet mercy…the foot smells like toddler vomit!
If you think I’m exaggerating, grab one of these when the pass comes your way and take a long, slow whiff. Go on, I’ll wait.
Lighting is uneventful. This stick burns pretty fast, with an uneven, scalloped burn; 40 minutes from start to finish. Ash is actually halfway decent, falling away in 1-inch increments.
And now, the big surprise: flavor! It was rather bland from start to finish, with notes of toasted nuts here and there. After smelling the foot, I was truly expecting the worst. But I was pleasantly surprised by the total lack of offensive taste in this stick.
What I’m saying is, it wasn’t horrible like Ron Mexico. This was, in fact,
smokable (if you can believe that).
Verdict: this stick isn’t going to wow anyone. But it probably won’t offend your tastebuds, either. If you’re out mowing the lawn or cleaning the garage this summer, it might actually fit the bill for you (and at 80 cents per, it’s a really small bill).
Quite stunned that I actually just wrote that!
