ANTONIO Y CLEOPATRA PRIVATE STOCK Ejecutivo, Double corona (7x50). Dominican Republic.

Old companies that young fellers think of as makers of only cheap, machine-made cigars are getting into hand-made products to get aboard the boom.  Consolidated Cigar Corporation, which produces both El Producto and Antonio y Cleopatra by machine in Puerto Rico, is pushing both brands onto the premium bandwagon.

Actually, both brands used to be really good cigars, machine made with Cuban tobacco.  So what's new isn't quality but country and manufacturing method.

The A&C looks a bit roughly made, but it's a good smoke.  If you're looking for an extremely mild cigar, this is it.  For the first inch or two, it's hardly detectable to some.  A great starter if someone who has never smoked anything wants to try a cigar.

The taste has slight natural sweetness, with a powdery dark chocolate.  As it burns down, the strength gradually, smoothly, rises from extremely mild to almost medium.  It gets a little spicy.

If you want a velvety-mild cigar at a fair price ($3.65), this is a good bet.

3 Stars

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