LA LIBERTAD relaunch and tasting of the Gran Toro
LA LIBERTAD is back! The relaunch of this popular brand is in full swing. I tested the Gran Toro. How did the relaunch go for me?
A cigar test is subjective
Note: How the cigar tastes is influenced by personal taste preferences, taste memories, the shape of the day, what you have eaten or drunk before. Even the lighting mood in the room has an influence on the experienced taste. The notes described here therefore do not have to match your own impressions.
Here is a 15-second "revival" clip for fun 🙂
Fact Sheet of LA LIBERTAD
- Format: Gran Toro (length: 152 / ring gauge: 54)
- Tobacco:
- Wrapper: Nicaragua
- Binder: Dom. Republic
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Price: Status 15.09.21
- CHF 9.50 / Box of 20 CHF 190.00 / Partial set of 5 CHF 47.50
- EUR 8.50 / box of 20 EUR 170
- Buy cigar: Google Search >
Personal impressions of pleasure
Recommended acclimatization: 10 days with cellophane in the humidor
First half
- Tongue, palate: Dark cocoa / acidity >> very good balance / wood / a little nutty
- RetronasalPepper / something fresh, but I don't know what...
- R+ ZiZo vacuum technology: Acidity and burning wood >> very good balanca
- Umami: slightly astringent / fleshy
- Strength 3/5
Second half
- The flavors become more intense. Retronasally, the pepper dominates and is too much for me personally. R+ ZiZo vacuum technique: Incredibly strong burning wood, terrific! Umami: very meaty and less astringent
- Strength 3/5 maybe max. a 4/5.
Conclusion
I have tasted three of them. The quality is very good: the tobacco is great and the rolling is also very well done. La Libertad comes from Villiger and is a high-quality long-filler cigar. Definitely try it out.
The LA LIBERTAD Gran Toro is a cool cigar. I have tasted a lot of cigar for a very decent price - great! The burn is occasionally wavy and the ash is a bit crumbly. I had to use the flame from time to time. The draw resistance is a little too light for me personally; of course, everyone has their own preferences here.
The acidity is present, but not disturbing. The balance between acidity - dark cocoa - wood and nut is very good.
For me personally, the Gran Toro is a successful relaunch. There are three formats:
- Corona: 146 mm length, diameter 17.07mm
- Robusto: 127 mm length, diameter 20.64 mm
- Gran Toro: 152 mm length, ring diameter 21.43 mm
I have not yet tested the Robusto and the Corona.
If you like rather strong cigars, then you've come to the right place. Buy, buy ?
Resources on the topic
- Buy cigar: Google Search >
- Helpful Cigar Tips: From "retronasal", to "umami" to the difference in cigar storage between Non Cuba and Cuba.
I'm still waiting for my sample from the sales representative - I tasted the "old" Honduras blend last week "typical humidor find" at Lindenkroog 😉 - I was a fan back then - let's see how it will be with the "new" blend.
My tip: Let the Toro acclimatize for 14 days in cellophane and humidor.
Have now smoked the 2 samples. Good workmanship and good taste - because I like Nicaragua tobaccos but the Honduras blend was somehow stronger and spicier - just had more bang which is exactly what I liked so much about it. Perfectly OK in terms of price/performance - but no longer the "old" blend.
Hello Ralf, thank you very much for your impressions! ?
...then we want to test it soon!
Absolutely. Start with the Toro 🙂