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CW News

CWNews

Siglo Comes to the United States

By Frank Seltzer

            If you hear the name Siglo when it comes to cigars it usually refers to the Cohiba Siglo series.  They were introduced in Cuba originally as 1492 line to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of the new world.   When Cohiba realized what they had, they continued the series with the Siglo name...siglo meaning century in Spanish.  Habanos S. A. came out with the Siglo 1-6 and they were immediate hits. Now, Altadis has a new cigar that is likely to continue the popularity of the Siglo marca.

            This cigar officially named Siglo Limited Reserve will start showing up on store shelves by the end of March.  The band and box might remind you of the Cuban Cohiba, but it is different. Instead of black squares on white, the Siglo uses black diamonds on yellow.  But the packaging, while noteworthy, is not what makes this cigar so special.  First, it is blended by the legendary Frank Llaneza and made in his NATSA factory in Esteli.  Second, the wrapper is an Ecuadorian- grown Cubano leaf, over a broadleaf binder.  The filler is Dominican and Nicaraguan.

            How does it taste?  In looking at the Lonsdale (Siglo III) you first notice a deep chocolate brown wrapper.  There were no soft spots and construction was flawless.  On first light, you notice a flavor unlike many Altadis products.  There is an earthiness yet with a slight sweetness. There are overtones of chocolate as well.  The cigar is very balanced with  medium to full body and certainly full flavor.  You will notice the strength and spice builds as you go through it. At the half way point it becomes a full bodied cigar.   The finish is excellent.   Overall, it is a very nice smoke.

            The cigar comes in 8 sizes.  The Siglo I which is a petit corona with a size of  4 1/4 x 44. The Siglo II is 5 5/8th x 45, the Siglo III is 6 x 44, the Siglo IV is 5x54, the Siglo VI is 6 x 54, the Siglo VII is 7 x 48 and the Siglo X is a belicoso at  6 x 54. There also is a Siglo XXI which is 4 x 38 and comes in tins of 5.  

But I have saved the best thing about the Siglo, for last.  The thing that will really get attention is its price.  Including the new SCHIP tax, the Siglos will retail for between $4.50 for the petit corona and $7.50 for the belicoso, plus any state and local taxes. The Siglo XXI 5 pack will retail for $20 or $4 per cigar.
 
 
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Frank Seltzer (Mowee) is a former network correspondent who now owns a media consulting company in Dallas, TX. A regular cigar smoker since 1973, Frank runs the DFW Cigar Society, a group that has almost 300 members who get together twice a month to trade smokes and lies. He also runs away as often as he can to his condo in Maui... hence the name Mowee (which, by the way, was the way Captain Cook originally spelled the island when he heard Hawaiians speak it.)