With Hurricane Irene battering the Bahamas what better cigar to review then a Graycliff. According to the website, “The red label is the original Graycliff Cigar created by Master Torcedore Avelino Lara. This blend offers a medium strength full-bodied cigar, with a spicy finish. This is a true cigar for everyone from novice to aficionado. Blended from Nicaraguan, Honduran, Brazilian, Ecuadorian and Sumatra Wrapper) tobacco, these cigars are available in thirteen different sizes.
Cigar: Graycliff Original (Red Label)
Size: 7 x 48 (Presidente/Shaggy Foot)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Indonesia
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras, Brazil
Strength: Medium
Cigars Smoked For Review: 5+
Graycliff Original - Red Label
Appearance and Construction: The Graycliff Original to me always looks dry, no matter what the settings are in my humidor. The shaggy foot Presidente won’t win any beauty contests. The wrapper has some pretty ugly veins and lots of bumbs and valleys from the tobacco beneath the wrapper. The shaggy foot gives the impression of an exploding cigar and in the hand the Graycliff is as light as they come. The label is red is gold highlights.
Graycliff Original - Red Label - Foot
Flavor & Notes: The cold draw tastes the way fresh-cut grass smells. While earthy it is more identifiable as grass in the early morning. The foot of the cigar offers an abundance of wood, especially freshly cut pine. While common, both these notes are as definable as they come. Once the cigar is lit a subtle spice with some earthy components. As you work past the foot into the first third the cigar develops a nice complexity. There is earth, pine and cedar. As the second third is breached the coffee notes really begin to take hold. As we approached the last third some sweetness tries to emerge but is overpowered by the spice and earthy components with some coffee before giving way to a long spice filled finish.
Graycliff Original - Red Label - 1st Third
Smoking Characteristics: Fast. The one word to describe the burn of a Grayfcliff cigar. If you are looking for a slow smoking cigar this isn’t it. The cigar has a dark ash that holds on well, with a nice burn. The aroma is impeccable as well but the memory is that the cigar burns too fast.
Graycliff Original - Red Label - 2nd Third
Conclusion: Over the years it seems as if the cigar has changed. If you look online at some old reviews and cigar sites they list the wrapper as Indonesian. Now though, Graycliff states the wrapper is from Ecuador. Regardless, this is no longer the Graycliff that was among the best 5 years ago. For $20.00 a stick one would expect more.
Graycliff Original - Red Label - Last Third
Rating: 86
Price: $20.00 @ Bonitia Smoke Shop
