Chinchalle

For the most part, cigars are cigars and cigar reviews are cigar reviews. Each week, I get assigned one or two to complete and it is what it is. At this point, few cigars really pique my interest and even if I don’t end up being the one to review the cigar, I can usually end up smoking the cigar elsewhere. In fact, my preference with a cigar I’d like to smoke is to not do the review, as it’s just easier.

Chinchalle, a new cigar from Warped, is one of those few cigars that did pique my curiosity. It’s not because of the blend or that it’s a new cigar from Warped, rather, it’s one of the first cigars released from TABACALERA LA iSLA, the new factory opened by Hostos Fernández Quesada. While the factory has been open for nearly a year at this point, I haven’t smoked a cigar that I know came from LA iSLA, so this is my first introduction to a new factory from a person who I’ve known for quite some time.

The name, Chinchalle, is a slang term used to describe smaller cigar factories in the Dominican Republic. As for the cigar, it’s offered in a single 5 x 50 robusto vitola that uses an Ecuadorian habano 2000 wrapper over a Dominican HVA binder and Dominican fillers.

So far, it’s offered in just one size, though additional vitolas are expected in the future.

• Cigar Reviewed: Chinchalle
• Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
• Factory: TABACALERA LA iSLA
• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano 2000 Rosado)
• Binder: Dominican Republic (HVA)
• Filler: Dominican Republic
• Length: 5 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 50
• Vitola: Robusto
• MSRP: $12.50 (Box of 25, $312.50)
• Release Date: Sept. 9, 2021
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Each of the Chinchalles I picked for this review feels quite firm and two have some noticeable hard spots. Out of curiosity, I went back to the box and picked up a few more cigars and it was a similar story. The wrappers have plenty of oil and some prominent veins, though it’s not like the cigars are covered in them. One of the cigars I smoke for this review has a noticeable water spot that somehow was allowed to be on the front of the cigar. The aroma from the wrapper is medium in intensity with a mixture of nuttiness, oak and some pasta flavors. The foot is medium-full and sweeter with nuttiness, granola, something that reminds me of wood polisher and another chemical flavor that I can’t quite place. Cold draws are super sharp with a sweet artificial coffee over some fruitiness, sugar and a mild jalapeño pepper.

The Chinchalle begins with earthiness, creaminess, leather and some plain crackers. One cigar has a mild harshness, but overall, it’s a promising start. Flavor-wise, a trio compete for the top spot—earthiness, creaminess and cedar—while I also find some hoisin sauce and terroir flavors. It finishes with black pepper, creaminess and cedar, though it’s a harsher profile compared to the main flavor. Retrohales have fruitiness, herbal flavors, oak and creaminess. The finish has floral flavors, oak, creaminess and a lingering black pepper that seems like it’s a carryover from the main flavors. While the retrohales are great, the main flavor is a bit harsh for my liking. That seems to be a direct result of the construction, which is struggling. Between the firm roll, tight draws and what I expect is overhumidifed tobacco, there are touch-ups needed on each cigar. More problematically, it just seems like the cigar’s rhythm isn’t as carefree as it should be. It’s not a touch-up every puff, but I am thinking about the construction and what I might need to do to help it on a more regular basis than a typical cigar. Intensity-wise, flavor is medium-full, body is medium-plus and strength is medium-plus.

On the positive side, the flavor of the Chinchalle gets better in the second third. Peanut shells lead the profile, edging out both creaminess and oak while some black pepper lingers. The finish has a combination of oak and creaminess over leather and some herbal flavors. Retrohales now have floral flavors as the primary, with peanut shells, cedar, earthiness and some harshness following. Unfortunately, the finish of the retrohale is even harsher with paprika, black pepper and earthiness. There’s some creaminess that shows up at the end, but the net result isn’t something I’m interested in regularly experiencing. Flavor is medium-full, body is medium-full and strength is medium-plus. While the flavor gets both better and worse in comparison to the first third, there’s no question the construction is worse. Not only are the touch-ups still a regular thing, but the draw is tightening which seems to be making the burn issues even more difficult to manage.

If you had asked me to guess what the final third was going to be, I wouldn’t have had high hopes, but it turns out to be a lot better. For reasons that seem pretty counterintuitive, the profile smooths out a lot, which helps things. Peanut shells continue to lead, now with secondary flavors of woodiness, sourness and a mild amount of black pepper. The finish is completely devoid of pepper which allows oatmeal to shine atop peanut shells and creaminess. Floral flavors continue to lead the retrohale but are now able to shine a lot more due to the reduction of pepper. Some of the oatmeal from the main flavor carries over and mixes with some creaminess. The finish has peanut butter, straw and floral flavors. Flavor is medium-full, body is medium-full and strength is medium-plus. Construction isn’t perfect, but it’s better. The draw is more or less the same, but the volume of smoke production picks up and the touch-ups aren’t as regular. I still wouldn’t say the Chinchalle is in a good place construction-wise, but it’s a lot more manageable compared to the first two thirds.

Final Notes

• If I had to guess, this box—or more specifically, the cigars in this box—were over humidified when they were packaged. They have all the signs of being wet, while simultaneously they might have been bunched a bit tight. The combination produces a cigar that still has some give to it, but also feels like it might be a bit bloated.
• For those wondering, these cigars arrived at our office on Sept. 15 and the samples for the review were smoked a week prior to the review being published. While I’ve been on a run of reviewing cigars with poor construction of late, the issues seem to be rather different cigar to cigar. I bring this up to say, if the over humidification occurred on our end, it would be a lot more prevalent.
• Furthermore, these cigars weren’t photographed until Oct. 5, meaning prior to that the box was closed and—if I recall correctly—sealed.
• Hostos Fernández Quesada previously worked for Quesada Cigars—he’s part of that Quesada family—and more recently worked for Cigar Rings.
• I believe this is the first Warped cigar to be in the Dominican Republic.
• It would seem like Chogüí will be making a return with its cigars being made at Tabacalera La Isla, something that I am looking forward to.
• Cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time was about one hour and 50 minutes on average.
• Site sponsors Atlantic Cigar Co., Corona Cigar Co., Famous Smoke Shop, JR Cigar and STOGIES World Class Cigars all carry the Chinchalle.