Jose L Piedra Cazadores Review: Tried, tested and loved

One of the first premium cigar brands I ever smoked when I started getting serious with cigars was Jose L Piedra. Since that time the Jose L Piedra Cazadores has become a firm favourite and my humidor. This Cuban puro, whilst made with short filler, has always been a reliably good smoke for me.

I currently have Jose L Piedra Cazadores of three different ages sitting in my humidors. The oldest is four years old, the next set are what remain of a bundle of 25 that I purchased from iHavanas two years ago, and the youngest is about three months old. This should tell you most of what you need to know about my opinion of this cigar.

The one that I smoked most recently, and am writing this review about has been waiting patiently for me to smoke it for the last two years. Out of the humidor, the cigar gave off the heady scents of autumn leaves and black cardamom. It felt nicely firm in my fingers and ultimately gave me a beautifully balanced draw.

My first draw excited me and reminded my just why I keep coming back to this cigar. My mouth was filled with a smooth and weightless smoke that felt like fluffy clouds as it washed over my tongue. The flavours were equally smooth, full of dark chocolate with undercurrents of orange and bay leaf. As I smoked my way through the first third, the orange chocolate was joined by a rich, raw cookie dough. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched the trails of smoke dance above me.

As I often find with a Cuban cigar, the middle third brought forth a different palate of flavours. The first new flavour to greet me was subtle notes of coffee; the sort of gentle coffee that you might want on a lazy Sunday morning during the late summer. This was joined by a delicious golden hay that danced around the coffee like a playful child, at times being more forthright, at others taking a back seat. Just before the final third began, I noticed a gentle flavour of warm leather start to creep in, but this didn’t hang around for long.

When the Jose L Piedra Cazadores transitioned to its final third, it became a stronger, headier cigar whilst still retaining its smooth, creaminess. The coffee notes remained, but were more akin to a freshly brewed espresso with a rich crema on top. Behind the coffee was a delicious pairing of cedar and walnuts. I couldn’t help but admire the sumptuous smoke that allowed me to send rings gliding through the air as I watched them dissolve like clouds on a warm summer’s day. As I smoked this delicious cigar right down to the nub, a hint of saltiness began to form that reminded me a bit of anchovies.

Throughout the cigar, the construction was flawless. The Jose L Piedra Cazadores burned perfectly and I was left with 4 perfectly formed dark grey ash balls in my ashtray when I was finally finished. Whenever I need a good reliable smoke that reminds me why I enjoy smoking cigars, more often than not, I will reach for a Jose L Piedra Cazadores.

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Jose L Piedra Cazadores Cigar Details