When Master Cigar Sommelier René R. Álvarez approached master blender Martín Cornelio to create the blends for his Renegados, he requested a custom medium-strength mix: a cigar that would be valued by both Dominican smokers and the international market.
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The result was this double-wrapper Toro or Barber Pole, striking and impressive, made with twice-fermented tobaccos that, in addition to the aging time they accumulate before manufacturing, receive extra aging in the Master Sommelier’s aging room, resulting in a clean mouthfeel during smoking. Smooth and light, it’s suitable for any time of day, paired with coffee, aged rum, whiskey, malt beer, or your spirit of choice.
While the double wrapper and color contrast are initially aesthetic, the combination offers very different aromas and flavors compared to a normal smoke, providing a completely new experience. This is evident in the non-invasive retrohale sensation that combines smell and taste -a practice of veteran smokers that, in this case, is easily achieved due to the cigar’s gentle strength.
CHARACTERISTICS
Format: Toro, 6 inches, ring gauge 52.
Wrappers: San Andrés Mexico and Connecticut.
Binder: HVA.
Filler: Piloto Mejorado, Carbonell and San Vicente.
Weight: 16-17 grams, average.
Smoking time: 60-75 min.
Cold Draw:
Pleasing to the eye, with a silky wrapper, visible but not pronounced veins, and perfect construction. The aromas of the filler tobaccos are noticeable, including spices, cinnamon, sweet clove and allspice (sweet pimento), as the Negro San Andrés tobacco used is not the traditional smoked variety.
Lighting:
The filler’s volado allows for even and quick lighting. The Connecticut wrapper at the foot provides an intense flavor with a slightly bitter but pleasant touch. The first puffs reveal an adequate draw that allows for the desired amount of smoke.
First Third:
The initial strength decreases and the combined flavors blend some sweetness with wild, floral and green field aromas, along with a subtle bitter note. It resembles straw from rice, dry, once stripped of seeds. The Master Sommelier recommends a high-quality unsweetened coffee as an initial pairing for this third.
Second Third:
The flavors and aromas intensify as you approach the cigar’s midpoint, when the distinctiveness of Dominican tobacco becomes more pronounced. Aromas of sweet clove and allspice remain, along with a peculiar toastiness. Then, the bitter touch disappears and a sweetness reminiscent of almost-ripe green mango emerges. The Master Sommelier recommends an aged or reposado spirit of your choice, or in other cases, an IPA-style beer.
Final Third:
The strength increases slightly, the described flavors persist on the palate, and the aromas remain due to their tobacco origins. We see how the combination of Negro San Andrés and Piloto Mejorado demonstrates that the further you progress, the better the smoke becomes. In this case, it’s a cigar that makes you want to keep smoking when you finish it. The Master Sommelier recommends finishing with a small portion of organic 70% dark chocolate after choosing your preferred spirit.
Martín Cornelio
His experience as a master blender dates back to 2015, when Cornelio Cigar Factory -located in La Romana province- produced Flor de Bayahíbe, a cigar that remains relevant today. His work follows the approach of any chef: “To create a good dish you need many hours in the kitchen, adding and removing ingredients.” With distinctive DNA, he has 321 registered blends in a notebook and believes that “every day you learn something new in this business, which I don’t see as competition because everyone has their own audience, their own market,” he states.
René R. Álvarez
CEO of the brand Puros Renegados RD, founded in 2021, he is a graduate and member of the International Association of Cigar Sommeliers (IACS). An enthusiast and scholar of the cigar world, he has written several essays, such as Myths of Cohoba, Anatomy of the Culebra, Relevance of Cold Tasting, and Dominican Criollo Tobacco: Origins. Currently, the brand provides advisory and consulting services to new entrepreneurs and emerging brands, such as 3K Cigar, RHC Cigar (USA), Comander Cigars, A.V. Smoker and Amazónico Cigars and Lounge.
