For those of you that don’t know…

Just recently, a new cigar has been making the rounds on the forums and on some forums. Called Buena Vista, it is a interesting company and cigar, with a fairly unique process, blend and backstory.

Says the Buena Vista website:

We start with 100% Cuban seeds and raise our tobacco in what we consider the only place on earth that literally replicates the famous Pinar del Rio tobacco-growing region of Cuba. Our research resulted in a small valley located in Ecuador, where the soil content, the daily temperatures, and the atmospheric conditions all combine to deliver a tobacco leaf that we feel mirrors identically (to Cuban tobacco).

Ah, but that is not all there is, of course. Not only are they trying to reproduce a Cuban profile with non-Cuban tobacco, but rolling of each and every cigar is overseen by actual Cuban torcedores who work at Havana factories, and are brought over on special visas.

Additionally, our entire production process is being overseen and managed by highly skilled Cuban tobacco professionals. Even our rollers are Cubans, who are on special visas from Cuba, working in our own factory located only an hour-long plane ride from Cuba. Each has been trained in the great tobacco factories of Havana, to be the finest torcedores in the industry, and now they roll cigars exclusively for us.

Buena Vista actually made a brief (and accidental) appearance in A Visit to La Casa del Habano Cancún. You can seethe sign for a Buena Vista factory here.

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The Buena Vista Edición Limitada comes in 9 different vitolas. They are (left to right):

• Doble Robusto — 5 5/8 Inches x 52— $12.50
• Corona Larga — 5 7/8 Inches x 50— $11.25
• Piramide — 6 7/8 Inches x 52— $14.00
• Sublimes — 6 ½ Inches x 54— $15.00
• Prominentes — 7 Inches x 49— $15.00
• Robustos — 5 3/8 Inches x 54— $11.50
• Coronas — 5 1/8 Inches x 46— $11.00
• Petite Piramide — 4 7/8 Inches x 52— $11.50
• Short Churchill — 4 ¼ Inches x 54— $11.50

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The boxes are amazing, and they should be, since they are actually built by the same company that makes the Cohiba boxes in Cuba. They have a very high end feel to them, even have felt on the bottom of the box.

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But enough of that, let’s get down to business, shall we?

• Cigar Reviewed: Buena Vista Edición Limitada Prominentes
• Factory: Buena Vista Tobacco Factory
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Wrapper: Ecuador
• Binder: Ecuador
• Filler: Ecuador
• Size: 7 Inches
  
• Ring Gauge: 49
• Vitola: Prominentes
• MSRP: $15.00 (Boxes of 10, $150.00)
• Date Released: July 2011
• Number of Cigars Released: Around 400,000 Cigars (Split between all Vitolas)
• Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 6

Looking at the cigar, you are immediately struck by how well it is constructed. It has a gorgeous medium reddish brown wrapper with no veins present and is has the perfect give when squeezed. The wrapper has very little smell, a combination of sweet wood, leather and chocolate and is flawlessly smooth to the touch.

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The First Third starts out of the gate with a great creamy and nutty profile that is quite nice. There is a bit of sweetness in the background as well, and it seems to ebb and flow in strength as the third progresses. There is also an interesting saltiness on the lips while smoking. Very little spice or pepper (even on the retrohale) at this stage of the smoke.

The Second Third stays constant with the first, with the creamy nuttiness dominant, but as the Second Third progresses, the sweetness gets quite a bit stronger. It is a strong maple sweetness that goes well with the nutty note. I can feel the cigar getting a little stronger, but still on the mild side of medium. The saltiness from the first third is still present, but not as strong on the lips.

The Final Third is much the same as before: creamy and nutty, with a great rich sweetness. I can taste a tiny amount of wood and leather (and even a bit of grass?) as well. Still not very strong, (it ends up as a medium minus) and very little pepper or spice. Construction remains wonderful to the end of the smoke.

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Final Notes:

• I have to say, I am impressed with the number of vitolas available at the launch of the brand. Nine different sizes, from a Corona to a Sublime, means everyone should be able to find a vitola they want to smoke. Other brands could learn a thing or two.
• As mentioned above, there are two different lines that Buena Vista produces: the Edición Limitada and the Reserva. I did smoke one of the Reservas to compare, and found it even milder (and to my tastes, not as flavorful) as the Edición Limitadas.
• The profile is a very rich, creamy and nutty, a great morning cigar, but I would not smoke one as your second or third smoke of the day, as most of the nuances and flavors would most likely be lost.
• There was quite a bit of smoke that comes from these cigars (in all sizes), and it smells very sweet, almost like candy.
• I smoked four different vitolas of the line for this review (the Prominetes, Piramide, Short Churchill and the Petite Piramide) and I have to say, I was impressed by how much alike the various sizes are in terms of profile and flavors. The smaller vitolas had a bit more strength to them, but not enough to make that much of a difference.
• I can’t say enough about the construction of these cigars — each and every one were almost perfect, both in draw and burn. They are obviously rolled by people who know what they are doing.
• The blend is supposed to be as close to a Cohiba as possible using non-Cuban tobacco, of course.. I have to say, there were a few similarities to Cuban cigars in the profile, but I don’t think anyone would mistake this specifically for a Cohiba. However, I DO think this would be a great cigar to put into a blind review, because I think some people would assume it is Cuban, based on the profile.
• The Final Smoking Time for the Prominetes was just over 2 Hours.
• If you would like to purchase some of the Buena Vista Edición Limitada, you can find a list of retailers HERE.

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The Bottom Line: While there is not much spice or pepper in this profile, the balance, impeccable construction, draw and burn make it a pleasure to smoke. Make no mistake, this cigar (and blend) is not a powerhouse, but then, it is not meant to be. Instead, the main selling points are the flavors and balance. The main problem that people will have is the price per stick, which, while not over the top (especially considering the construction), is a bit higher than the $10ish that most new LEs are being priced at these days. I honestly prefer a fuller bodied profile most of the time, but I know how difficult it is to make a great mildish cigar, and this is one of them.

Final Score: 89