VegaFina Sumum Edición Especial 2010

In February of 2012, Altadis released the VegaFina Sumum Edición Especial 2010 in limited quantities to select retailers in the U.S. For years, VegaFina has been one of the most popular non-Cuban brands in the European market and is alleged to be the best selling non-Cuban cigar in Spain. Altadis USA released limited editions for just the European market before under the VegaFina line and apparently loved the blend of the Sumum so much that they decided to bring it across the pond.

The VegaFina Sumum Edición Especial 2010 is sold only in 10 count boxes with an MSRP of $6.75 each. Unlike the European release, which was packed in tubes, the U.S. release is packed in the boxes without cellophane.

Here is what Altadis USA had to say about the VegaFina Sumum Edición Especial 2010:

For some, it is an unreachable, challenge. For us, it was a pleasurable accomplishment. VegaFina SUMUM is made of the very best tobaccos, hand selected at the peak of the season for their unique characteristics and aged with care. Qualities our expert blenders knew would create a stick with the most satisfying and rich flavors and aromas. The result is a cigar with distinct body, toasty aroma and unique rich flavors. A truly spectacular cigar that we could only name SUMUM.

• Cigar Reviewed: VegaFina Sumum Edición Especial 2010
• Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
• Factory: Tabacalera de García
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Cubano
• Binder: Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo)
• Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua & Peru
• Size: 5 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 54
• Vitola: Robusto Gordo
• MSRP: $6.75 (Boxes of 10, $67.50)
• Date Released: February 2012
• Number of Cigars Released: 2,500 Boxes of 10 Cigars (25,000 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 2

The VegaFina Sumum Edición Especial 2010 is a nice looking cigar with an even red cinnamon brown wrapper that has very few veins, and is fairly smooth to the touch. It is a bit spongy when squeezed, but not so much that I think it is going to be an issue. The triple cap looks perfectly applied and the wrapper has a faint scent of sweet tobacco, cedar and chocolate.

The VegaFina starts out the first third a bit bitter, but that dies down after about seven puffs. The cigar continues with a nice creamy cedar core, along with notes of leather, espresso and a very small amount of pepper on the retrohale. There is a little bit of sharp citrus that I can’t place yet, but it seems to be getting stronger, so I have no doubt it will come to me. There is no spice present at all at this point and the strength is a non-issue so far. Draw is a bit loose, but the burn seems great at the end of the first third.

The second third of the Sumum is where things start to get interesting. The main profile shifts a bit and that sharp citrus is now easily identifiable as a lemon note, while the creaminess actually increases a bit. Other notes of nuts, cedar and leather filter in and out The draw has tightened up nicely, but the burn is wandering a bit at certain points, although nothing major. Strength is still quite mild, call it a mild medium and really does not seem to want to go higher.

Coming into the final third of the Edición Especial 2010 and the flavors are much the same, albeit in differing amounts. The lemon citrus recedes a bit and is replaced by a nice sweetness, which goes well with the creaminess that is still present. There are also some coffee and cedar notes, but they ebb and flow in strength. The cigar was easy to finish, and never got harsh or bitter at the end.

Final Notes:

• This is not the first time a cigar that was made for the Spanish market has been released in limited quantities in the U.S. Quesada’s Selección España made the same jump, although the cigar is not limited to specific numbers in either region.
• The name Sumum is Latin for the highest, the greatest or the summit.
• At 5 x 54, the VegaFina Sumum Edición Especial 2010 is a size that does not exist in the regular VegaFina lineup. In fact, the closest vitola to the Sumum is the 5 x 50 Robusto.
• I am really loving the fact that manufacturers are putting out boxes of 10 instead of 25 for limited editions, even in when the price is as good as these are.
• Although the official literature on the VegaFina Sumum Edición Especial 2010 says it is a medium-full strength cigar, I honestly don’t think it rose above a solid medium for the entire smoke. I think if it was actually as strong as they said it was, it would have made the smoke a bit better overall.
• The box for the Sumum is impressive. High-gloss finish and heavy, which makes the outer protective box Altadis sends all the more important.
• The smoke coming off of the VegaFina was wonderful: dense, white, billowy and it smelled strongly of pepper and wood.
• Both samples I smoked were incredibly consistent. Both had the bitterness up front that died down, both had the exact same profile, both had the same small problems with the burn.
• The construction was fine for the most part on both samples, although the burn had a tendency to wander. The draw was a bit looser than I like, but it did get better about halfway into the smoke.
• The final smoking time for both samples was right at one hour and five minutes.
• If you would like to purchase the VegaFina Sumum Edición Especial 2010, site sponsors Atlantic Cigar and Casa de Montecristo (708.352.6668) have them in stock.