Found the previous Exactus in my Cigar humidor recently, quite enjoyed. When I went to find more, I realised the cigar has been re-released and improved, they say…
Before The Smoke
El Artista debuted a rebranded Exactus collection of Cigars featuring a slight adjustment to the blend. Blended with a specific fermented leaf developed by Radhames “Ram” Rodriguez.
The Exactus in India will cost you 950 INR approximately, The color of the wrapper varies from a Rich cocoa and Dark Mud like brown at most consistent colour from cap to foot. No Evident veins beyond the standard.
A Double Cap cigar, with a well sealed cap and lines of the cap are evident, for anyone still experimenting with the cuts they like, its’ a good guide to use the cap lines, occasionally. The Gold, Blue and White band is simple and clean, smaller design notes like the clock spindle on the sides and the spindle background are a nice touch.
A gentle inhale, gives you soft notes of hay, mild spice and a creamy cocoa bitterness. The foot brings the same flavours, with an additional smell of light white pepper and fresh cut broccoli. The pre-light draw is a mix of chocolate, earth, and a mild spice.
THE SMOKE
1st Third
The cigar begins with a Sun Dry hay, mild spice and a light earthy mix. Slowly developing into more robust spice, cocoa, coffee cream and earth
A clean effortless draw, smooth.
As the 1st Third comes to a end, the spice continues to develop, with a more fluid tobacco flavour taking prominence, the undertones of hay in between have developed into a roasting hay & cocoa and with faint traces of coffee cream coming forward. Strength mild-medium and body is a nice medium.
2nd Third
Continued developing spice into a white pepper with hints of sweet paprika the earthy element has developed into a underplayed yet beautiful low palate. The flavour is balanced particularly well and the spice slowly moves from the post draw top mid palate to a more back palate along with cocoa. The Creamy Coffee remains with back palate cocoa. The 2nd Third is a seamless development from the 1st Third, with pepper spice, cocoa and earth on the palate.
Final Third
The final third saw a continued lace of flavours, with the emergence of a tarty berry sweetness, complimented by the pepper spice, cocoa and earthy richness.
Easing toward the last inch the profile continues becomes slightly richer somewhat to my surprise considerably stronger, while remaining creamy, the coffee just wraps the flavours well.
It’s what I would call a lovely finish. The build up was subtle, there was sudden kick in, the crescendo was full of taste.
The Burn
I cannot fault the burn or construction even a bit, great burn, didn’t need to touch it up, could have been more even perhaps if I wasn’t playing with my new St. Dupont Lighter.
You can see from the final pic how well the Ash held together. No flaking Ash and yes I even did the Ash Stand!
Overall
A great blended Maduro, particularly for the price range, prefer this to many of the more expensive Cuban and Non-Cubans available.
Flavours were better than expected & promised, burn was smooth, the cigar remained relatively cool till the last inch.
Overall, highly recommended if you enjoy mild – medium cigar with a healthy robust medium flavour.
- Vitola: Toro
- Length: 6″
- Ring Gauge: 50
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian
- Binder: Dominican Republic Criollo 98
- Filler: Dominican Republic
- Factory: Tabacalera El Artista
- Blender: Undisclosed
- Price: 950 INR (approx)
- Release Date: 2018 (Re-released)
Great review, really nice to see people in India actually making an effort to review cigars. You’ve kept it so simple too