Micallef Cigars

Al Micallef of Micallef Cigars has placed a lot of emphasis on the quality and construction of his cigars. I have been fortunate enough to smoke several lines and they always deliver in that area. The Reata line is a unique blend for the company using a San Andres Sumatra wrapper with an Ecuadorian binder and Nicaraguan filler. One of my favorite size cigars is the corona as I find it a great example of filler to wrapper ratio in which I can best taste the blend–so it’s great to see the company releasing Reata in this size in 2022.

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Micallef Reata Corona
• Wrapper: San Andrés Sumatra
• Binder: Ecuadorian
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Size: 6”x 46 (Corona extra)

Blind Review: Micallef Reata Corona

Appearance & Construction

This a dark oily wrapper that is smooth to the touch. There are a few long veins running along the sides and as I press the smoke, I cannot find any underfilled spots and am pleased to see that it is packed well. Visually the sheen is appealing and as I smell the foot earth and cinnamon dominate with an aroma that tingles my nostrils.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

My Xikar scissors take a precise clip off the head leaving a clean cut. The cold draw gives impressions of cashews, raisins, and dried dark fruits. With a soft flame I toast the corona and upfront there is cinnamon graham cracker with some vanilla bean. Once lit, the cigar starts off with lighter, milder flavors and the retrohale brings more vanilla to the olfactory with a bready finish. The ash is whiter than gray at present with a razor straight burn line. The draw has just the right amount of resistance that helps to bring out the filler tobaccos quite succinctly.

The smoke builds in the middle of the cigar and I am picking up salted pretzel combined with savory notes on the sides of my mouth. There is a distinct vanilla bean followed by cream that finishes short as I take a slow draw. The retrohale delivers cinnamon, coffee, and earth while I exhale. The body continues to be in the medium range while the ash holds firm attesting to the impeccable construction. As the finish lingers longer than before there’s gingersnap that tingles on the tip of my tongue. The body builds a bit and gains strength with rich tobacco that falls short as quickly as it comes through.

Not veering too far from the initial flavors, another puff on the last third delivers more vanilla and graham cracker with a drying sensation on the palate. There are biscuit and bready qualities that while come on strong upfront do not last long on the end. I’m enjoying the flavors yet wish there was a bit more complexity from this smoke. The retrohale has some all spice with wood notes that generate a surprising amount of smoke as I exhale. I am impressed how well the burn line has stayed straight throughout and the body has been mostly medium only slightly becoming full. Taking a final draw, the wood and cinnamon come on strong leaving me with a longer finish than previously.

Conclusion

I am a big fan of this size. I feel it can bring out a nice balance from a blend. While I enjoyed the graham cracker, cinnamon, and vanilla notes, I found the Micallef Reata Corona a bit linear as it never deviated far from those flavors. The construction was excellent and delivered a pleasant smoking experience throughout with a wonderful draw and burn. The finish was short which left me wanting more from those sweet and savory flavors.

I was not surprised to find out this was a Micallef cigar given the quality and construction I’ve experienced with so many Micallef cigars. I would recommend picking up one or two as it is an enjoyable straight forward cigar that you do not have to think about too much.

Final Rating 88

When Micallef cigars first came on the scene I was impressed immediately with their cigars both in terms of construction and taste. Of the several lines I’ve been fortunate enough to try, all have delivered unique profiles and shows that the Sanchez Gomez family knows how to work tobacco, and Al Micallef recognizes talent and seeks to elevate the businesses he’s involved in. Since this was a blind review, I didn’t know I was smoking a Micallef cigar, but the appearance of the flawless outer wrapper certainly invited my attention!

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Micallef Leyenda Special Edition
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
• Size 6”x54 Toro

Blind Review: Micallef Leyenda Special Edition

Appearance and Construction

This cigar has a gorgeous dark wrapper with a tight seemed triple cap. There are minimal veins and as I feel the cigar the tobacco inside it couldn’t be anymore packed to the touch. The roll is on point and the construction reveals this a premium cigar. The foot smells of barnyard with secondary bready notes. As I inhale a bit deeper there’s a toasty quality that rushes through my nose.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Using a V-Cut I snip a piece of the wrapper which yields a perfect slice. I take a draw dry which tastes creamy with an almost buttery quality. The draw is perfect and demonstrative of the talent of the roller. With a long match I toast the cigar and the first puff smacks with black pepper on the tongue. I’m getting lush tobacco mid palate that lingers for a few seconds before changing to earth and forest floor. The retrohale is bringing almond big time and exhaling gives me marzipan and nuts. Then I do a quick relight as the cigar suddenly goes out. A new puff brings earth and toast alongside black pepper and cumin. The ash is solid white and sturdy at this point which is a sight to behold.

Reaching the mid-point of this toro, the draw delivers vanilla bean and leather notes that have a sweet and salty character. The cigar is spicy and bold with the next puff overwhelming my palate. Full bodied and rich are the words that come to mind at the moment. Unfortunately, the cigar extinguishes suddenly once again, forcing another relight. I use my Lamborghini torch to fire up this lagging toro that’s both tasty and frustrating at the same time. The next puff continues with earth, nuts and a long finish that is peppery, almost tabasco like. Despite any relights the burn line has maintained a rather straight appearance. The retrohale brings a vibrant mix of citrus, grain and toast that enlivens the nose. Exhaling gives me a zippy sensation throughout which is a nice surprise.

As if the cigar knows it’s heading towards its end, its burn dissipates once again. I torch the smoke and there’s a salty character along with wood notes and a finish of celery salt as I take a draw. With another puff the leather intensifies bringing with it roasted coffee and a layer of earth as the smoke lingers on my palate. I take a long retrohale where flavors become smoky with oak influence and cedar coating my mouth as I exhale. The burn appears to be flaying so I take a slow cool draw were there’s leather, pepper and some spice. With a final puff, clove and cinnamon round out the flavors of this cigar as it goes out on its own signaling the end of the smoke for me.

Conclusion

This cigar came on strong and delivered a full-bodied experience with lots of flavors. Some cigars that have strength can be a bit overwhelming to the palate without the additional nuances that make smoking it pleasant and interesting. This delivered in capturing the balance of full tobacco with black pepper, leather, almond with an underlying sweetness. The most vexing part was the constant relights as the cigar went out several times while I was smoking it. This hurt the experience as the relights were frustrating. In addition, consistently taking fire to the cigar can change its flavor as it heats and reheats. Important note: the cigar was not over humidified as I let it rest in my humidor and inspect them prior to smoking. Also, the construction was excellent in hand which didn’t indicate there were any flaws to be concerned about. 

When I found out this was a Micallef Leyenda Special Edition I was not surprised because of the flavors and quality of the tobacco.  I have found every Micallef I’ve tried has adhered to excellent quality and taste. I would recommend picking up a few of these as the burn issues may be a one-off in quality of this particular cigar. If it burns well you’ll have a real treat based on all the flavors that came out despite the construction issues.

Final Rating: 90

The Micallef brand of cigars have released a new toro size to their Herencia Habano line. The wrapper and filler tobaccos are marketed to provide a flavorful medium bodied experience. I hadn’t smoked the Habano blend until this blind review, and I quite enjoyed the several Micallef cigars I have previously reviewed (like the 91-rated Experencia La Crema, reviewed here). I personally enjoy a Habano wrapper for the sweet balance it can provide to a blend. With this cigar I was certainly not disappointed.

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed:  Micallef Herencia Habano Toro
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
• Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
• Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan
• Size: 6” x 52 (Toro)

Appearance and Construction

The Micallef Herencia Habano Toro has a toothy mocha wrapper that is firm to the touch. The roll is solid on this large cigar and the foot has distinct floral and cedar notes. There are no soft spots noted and the amount of tobacco in the filler seems sufficient.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

A straight cut removes the cap and testing the draw reveals it has just the right amount of pull, with the floral notes from the foot along with mushroom and wood on the cold draw. I toast the cigar gently with my Lamborghini lighter and as the cigar lights up the first puffs give off flavors of graham cracker and cedar.  Spanish cedar and floral notes also come through on the retrohale. At this point, the Micallef Herencia Habano is mild to medium body with a flaky grayish/white ash.

As the smoke evolves, the flavors start to assert themselves. Cashews, maple and savory notes envelope my palate in a pleasant medium profile. In addition, there is a caramel sweetness that works in harmony with a long creamy finish. An array of flavors such as coffee, cream and cedar hit all sides of my mouth, with the cigar producing ample smoke. The burn line on the Micallef remains straight and the draw continues to be excellent. Another retrohale is all cedar and cream as I release the smoke.

The last third of the Micallef Herencia Habano Toro does not deviate from its medium profile or its refined flavors. Peanuts and cedar with a hint of spice are a nice surprise that kicks up the style a bit. Then, the woody notes return with chocolate that leads to sweet and savory and another long finish.  As the cigar reaches the nub, spice and nuts interplay which lasts even as the cigar goes out. A fine example of a flavorful medium bodied smoke.

Conclusion

The Micallef Herencia Habano Toro demonstrated just what you want in a cigar that is mid-range in strength. The flavors were plentiful with transitions from floral to graham cracker, nuts and chocolate that never overwhelmed, and lingered on the palate. Each puff of the cigar left me wanting more. Its not always easy to find this style with flavors that complement a blend so well. I would suggest you pick up the Micallef Herencia Habano Toro even if you enjoy fuller bodied smokes as I would think anyone could appreciate what they were going for here.

Final Rating: 91

It all started with a fateful meeting between Al Micallef and the Gomez Sanchez brothers at a Texas lounge. By 2016, Micallef Cigars joined the fray of the cigar industry. Fast forward to IPCPR 2019, Micallef unveiled the newest toro size for their top of the line Reserva Limitada Privada. As Rob and Bryant from ‘Cigar Talk Podcast’ would boast;

“Micallef Cigar offers cigars priced from $4 to $42.”

I was lucky enough to do a blind review of the $42.

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Micallef Reserva Limitada Privada
• Wrapper: 8 Year Old Mexican San Andres Habano
• Binder: 8 Year Old Nicaraguan
• Filler: 8 Year Old Honduran, Dominican and Peruvian
• Size: Toro (6 x 52)

Appearance & Construction

While not knowing the cigar I am looking at, I can tell from the construction that quality is involved. The wrapper is very smooth and the cigar evenly packed with no soft spots and no major veins visible.

The wrapper smells like candy and chrysanthemum tea leaves just from a quick whiff. As I trace my nose down to the foot of the cigar, the white pepper scent becomes more prominent. I sneeze a few times, which get me weird and concerning looks from the people in my vicinity. Once the pepper smell scattered, it leaves behind a sweet scent of lavender and green tea leaves. The cold draw is mouthwatering with the taste of dry cherries, raisins and tea leaves and an aftermath of warm red pepper spice that teases the back of my throat.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Once ignited, the Reserva blasts off with a perfume of leather. There’s notes of light brown leather accompanied with roasted coffee beans, dry apricot and plentiful of red pepper spice. Retrohaling gives off a mixture of red and white pepper, and oven fresh warm bread. Overall, the Micallef Reserva is a pepper bomb at the start.

As the ash burns its way past one inch, a taste of buttery cream creeps up. While still flavorful, all the flavors turn down a notch and defined the saying “sometimes less is more”. Now there’s black coffee, dry apricot and dry rice straw which I can’t get enough of. On retrohale, the spices tone down into more of a baking spice with an aroma I can only describe as a pie crust dusted with cocoa powder.

On a side note, this cigar is packed with nicotine, even after a meal.

As we enter the second third, the flavors evolve to fresh baked bread, toasted nuts, cocoa powder and sweet hay with a lingering tingle in the mouth from the red pepper spice. These flavors are pretty consistent until the beginning of the final third. A milky texture slowly fuses itself with the present flavors, and the smoking experience slowly evolves from puffing on a cigar to sipping a cup of a mocha latte. The ending of the Reserva becomes raw sugar, sweet and creamy. I can’t think of a better way to end this smoke. 

Conclusion

I nubbed this cigar to the very end of the cap. The Micallef Reserva Limitada Privada was enjoyable from the beginning until the very last puff. The only critique I have about this cigar is that, as great as the flavors are, I could have used a touch more complexity at times.

Final Rating 90

Al Micallef is a Texas businessman who’s many ventures have yielded him great success. In 2016 he decided as a cigar enthusiast to create the Micallef Cigars brand. Since its debut Micallef has received praise in the production and quality of his cigars. I’ve only tried a few, and what I’ve smoked I have thoroughly enjoyed. With this being a blind review I had no idea it was the Micallef brand although upon finding out my joy with these cigars continues to grow.

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Micallef Experiencia La Crema Toro
• Wrapper:  4 year old an Andrés Sumatra
• Binder:  4 year old Ecuadorian Habano
• Filler:  4 year old Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Panamanian
• Size: 6×52 Toro

Appearance & Construction

The Micallef Experiencia has an elegant brown Sumatra wrapper that’s smooth to the touch. There are minimal veins and the cigar feels packed with tobacco from head to foot. Visually the Experiencia appears well crafted and you can see the time and care that was taken with its construction.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

As I clipped the Micallef with my Xikar cutter the dry draw is airy and delivers cedar, mint and some nuttiness. Lighting the Experiencia, I am greeted with cinnamon cedar and vanilla on the palate. Within these initial puffs the flavors come across bright and harmonious. The smoke is ample yet not overwhelming, and as the cigar gets going floral notes emerged along with dried fruits. The draw is easy and effortless which accented the quality and construction.

Midway through the Micallef Experencia there are developments of leather and a creaminess that coat the mouth. More of the cedar returns along with pencil lead which delivers a short finish. The retrohale yields more of the upfront flavors described without being overwhelming. The ash is solid white with an excellent burn line. As I puff away the Experencia continues to be a medium bodied smoke with more characteristics of woodiness and graphite.

As the final third approaches, the vanilla bean, nuts and cream return with a longer finish than previously. This cigar needs to be smoked slowly for some of the subtle flavors to emerge and last on the palate. The cinnamon hits the tongue at this point and I get lots of leather mid palate which then turns savory on the finish. The Micallef ends on the same medium bodied note it began with.

A pleasant smoking experience from a tasty cigar.

Conclusion

Not knowing the particulars of Al Micallef’s other successful business ventures, I can say his foray into the cigar industry is producing some well made smokes. The Micallef Experencia La Crema is no exception as it delivers a medium bodied style with transitions from cedar, cinnamon, nuts, vanilla and dried fruit all coating the palate and enlivening the senses. After finding out what cigar I was smoking I am even more excited to try more Micallef cigars in every line.

Final Rating: 91

Today we review our first ever from Micallef Cigars. The brand was launched in 2017 by Al Micallef and quickly gained a reputation as a producer of quality product. Unfortunately for me, I never came across the brand in NYC or on my travels, so I was unable to see for myself what the reviews were all about. Until now.

Today we review the “Migdalia”, specifically the 2019 release of the Migdalia in 6×46 Corona Extra format. The Micallef website gives some context on the name,

Migdalia Sanchez, daughter-in-law of Pedro F. Gomez, was born in 1947 in Guantanamo, Cuba. At 17 she graduated from the School of Tobacconists in Havana. Migdalia was chosen to represent Cuba in various international exhibitions. She is widely known for her contributions to the tobacco industry and has been awarded several times as one of the best cigar rollers in the world. This is our Migdalia.

Blend Specifics

• Cigar Reviewed: Micallef Migdalia
• Wrapper:  4 year old San Andres Habano
• Binder:  4 year old Sumatra
• Filler:  4 year old Nicaraguan and Dominican
• Size: 6 x 46 Corona Extra

Appearance & Construction

I really dig the band in the Midalia. I’m a bit of a traditionalist, so I’ll never turn down a cigar with a coat of arms at the center. The outer San Andres habano leaf has just one or two major veins, and a reddish-brown complexion.

Off of the foot I pick up hearty aromas of savory spices, black pepper, workshop, and some nuttiness. The draw is perfect, 7/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness. The cold draw is fairly unassuming, with just some granola and earth.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

As the Micallef Migdalia ignites, it comes right out of the gate with a very balanced medium bodied smoke that is hearty, savory, creamy and slightly sweet. Major points for complexity there. The first impression on the palate is cedar followed by bittersweet chocolate, peanuts, earth, some spice and finally cream on the finish. The retrohale by comparison is assertive and full of white pepper. Overall, a remarkably well balanced profile. I’m excited to see what’s next.

As the Migdalia burns into the second third, the strength and body are still in the medium range, though the spice is a bit lower making for a less intense experience overall. Some new flavors are evident, notably a powdered sugar/cotton candy note that’s present every few puffs. There’s also a tart, cherry like flavor that hits right around the halfway mark. Meanwhile, the retrohale tones down considerably, showcasing toasted bread, light black pepper and oak (yum). Construction never misses a beat, with the burn straight and the cigar producing excellent amounts of smoke.

The Micallef Migdalia continues developing as it nears the final third, with some spiciness that hits the tip of the tongue and leather on the palate. The profile overall remains mostly split between spicy, savory, bitter, and sweet. This continues on up until the last inch and a half, where the smoke takes on a mostly oaky, leathery feel that’s augmented by a bit of cinnamon.

Conclusion

To say I’m impressed by the Migdalia from Micallef cigars would be an understatement. The Migdalia puts forward an admirably complex, fully balanced mix of savory spices, oak, nuts, cream, and much more. It reminds me quite a bit of the Oliva Serie V, with similar strength and expressiveness though perhaps a touch less raw power.

Absolutely a cigar to pursue. Highly recommended.

Final Rating: 92