Patina Habano Copper Corona Gorda Cigar: Sharing a beautiful smoke across the ocean

The UK has been in various states of lockdown since March 2020 as a result of the global pandemic. This has forced a lot of habits to change for many people. The biggest changes for me were losing my job and starting to socialise more. I don’t mean socialising out and about of course, but rather joining virtual herfs and meeting fellow cigar smokers across the globe via the power of social media. One of the groups I joined was the Women’s International Cigar Club. Through this group I met the beautiful, bubbly and sassy Madeleine, @cigaroyal on Instagram. When she invited me to join her live on Instagram, I jumped at the opportunity.

Looking through her feed, I noticed that one her favourite cigar brands seemed to be Patina as there were a lot of photos with her smoking them. Having not long since reorganised my humidors, I remembered seeing the same band on one of the cigars that I had been gifted by another friend I’d met through a different virtual herf. I told Madeleine this was the first time I would be smoking this particular cigar, and she chose the same one for a truly shared experience.

Being rather known for my cigar and cocktail pairing I wanted to make sure that I got this pairing spot on. The Colorado wrapper of the Patina Habano Copper Corona Gorda looked beautifully smooth and exuded sweet aromas of cedar and apple which brought to mind something with tequila. My first thought was a Margarita or Tequila Sunrise, but the citrus in them would have overpowered the quoted gentle flavours of the cigar. I decided that something along the lines of a Negroni with a tequila base, also known as a Rosita, would work, so that is what I mixed myself.

This was the perfect match for the cigar as the opening flavours that washed over my tongue were full of raisins with cream and cedar. The smoke was beautifully light but incredibly rich, like perfectly whipped double cream. I was left with a gentle layer of light oil on my lips that brought to mind fresh olives. Conversation flowed from the cigar and our rituals surrounding the cigar smoking experience, to drinks, fashion and how the culture surrounding cigar smoking differs depending on which side of the Atlantic you are.

Heading into the middle third of the Patina Habano Copper Corona Gorda, I was greeted by a tickle of white pepper. Whilst talking about the differences between the different types of pepper flavours that you get in both cooking and cigars, I was captivated by the amazing ash that I had building up. At nearly an inch and a half long, it was a perfect, snow white column with a lovely dark line separating it from the remainder of the cigar. I decided to tap off the ash before it dropped all over my suit live on camera.

One of the things that struck me most about this cigar, aside from the perfect construction, was the lightness and creamy quality of the flavour. There were also plenty of different tastes and I found each of them discernible. Having had a light dinner of pan fried fish with potato salad, this was the perfect cigar to savour as an after dinner treat. The middle of the cigar offered up mouthwatering jalapeno peppers and crisp, tart apples – an aroma that I had picked up when I first slipped the Patina cigar from its wrapper.

As I entered the final third of the cigar, the flavour profile once again subtly changed. The fruitiness that had been present from the outset became a more defined taste of prunes and this was supported by warm leather and fresh oak. Conversation turned to how we taste cigars and this inevitably turned to the retro hale. Duly demonstrating how I retro hale, I enjoyed extra notes of fresh peanuts and light, fluffy scrambled eggs.

Two and a quarter hours after initially lighting the Patina, I laid the final millimetres to rest in my ashtray alongside the perfectly shaped ash balls that were sat neatly in it. Despite there being a light breeze all the way through my time with Madeleine, the burn on the Patina was perfect. At no point had it canoed or burnt out, even though I had done my best to make it do so by waving the poor cigar around whilst gesticulating. Overall it was a lovely evening, and I am hoping that I will be able to get my hands on some more of the Patina cigar range soon.

Did you know my website is entirely self-funded? I currently do this as a labour of love and am not sponsored by or affiliated to any of the cigar brands or retailers featured in my content. If you enjoy what you read here, please consider contributing to my next cigar review or article by donating an amount through my Buy Me a Coffee page. Thank you so much for your support x

Patina Habano Copper Corona Gorda Cigar Details