Vitola: Rothschild
Length: 4.5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Indonesian Java
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Colombia
Factory: Tabacalera de Garcia
Blender: Undisclosed
Price: $8.60
Release Date: September 2020
PRE-LIGHT EXPERIENCE
The VegaFina 1998 VF 50 has an oily wrapper texture. The color is of a Colorado Maduro shade. Veins are roughly pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll loose and head well wrapped. Aromas from the wrapper give spiced tea, cedar and baking spices. Aromas from the foot tell rich nuttiness and a hint of white pepper. Cold draw gives inviting red pepper spice and cedar.
FIRST THIRD
The first third has a lot of sweet and creaminess in the form of vanilla wafers. With this also are subtle baking spices and a hint of effervescence. Retrohaling replaces the main sweetness with baking spices and cedar. The finish is medium in length with baking spices and minerals. Strength and body is medium.
SECOND THIRD
The second third still has that great pastry/cookie like sweetness and creaminess. The baking spices and minerals are elevated as well, adding greater depth and a lengthier finish. Strength and body remains medium.
FINAL THIRD
The baking spices and minerals continue to pull forward, but the profile is still every bit sweet and creamy with vanilla wafers. Strength is reaching towards medium plus and body finishes the same medium.
BURN
Burn performance was overall good but not without faults. Uneven burn, causing a few touch-ups and unburnt wrapper portions were the two main issues.
DRAW
The draw on the other hand was perfect, striking the ideal air flow.
OVERALL
A solid short smoke. I loved the sweet and creamy pastry-like vanilla wafers note. The backing of baking spices, cedar and minerals was just enough to tie the profile together. The VegaFina 1998 VF 50 is not a complex cigar, but one of those cigar experiences where it makes you nod your head a couple times and say, “man, that was good.”
