In 2023 the Aladino Candela Robusto was launched by JRE Tobacco Co. It was released to 32 stores in a soft launch of 400 boxes total. Fast forward to 2024, JRE Tobacco has released the Aladino Toro version at TPE ’24 in Las Vegas. The cigar industry has embraced candela cigar for a St. Patricks days release over the past 12-15 years. The wrapper once dominated the cigar industry but it has become a novelty since fading into obscurity.
This year the production is tripled to 1,200 boxes of 20 cigars.
Cigar Review: Aladino Candela
Size: 6 x 50 (Toro)
Wrapper: Honduras (Corojo Candela)
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras
Release Date: February 2024
Box Count: 20
The Cigar: In a sea of brown, the cigars look more green in the humidor then they do as I prepare to smoke one. There have been some companies that have released eye-popping green candela wrappers, but this once seems more muted then most. The wrapper is veiny looking and their are minimal oils as expected. In the hand the cigar feels light though there are no voids of tobacco that one can feel.
The Taste: The cold draw serves up floral notes alongside ginger and lavender. It’s reminiscent of the decorative soaps my grandmother use to keep in her bathroom when I was child. The foot of the cigar is musty with a subtle vanilla note along side some citrus and cedar. Once the cigar is toasted and lit there are earthy notes along with the aforementioned cedar.
As we smoke the first third, there is a subtle citrus that slowly fades away revealing notes of vanilla, earth and wood. The burn line is quite ugly which seems to always be the case for a Candela cigar. The retrohale serves up sourness and cedar components.
As we move into the second third there are continued notes of wood and earth and some of that Corojo spice you would expect from an Aladino cigar. If green had a taste it would be this cigar, perhaps it is because it is what I’ve come to expect from a Candela. It’s a distinct taste although it is not a bad taste. The retrohale has some sourdough bread, spice and cedar.
The last third of this fast smoking cigar continues to be predominantly earthy with notes of wheat and straw. In the background there is some vanilla with the finish being sour and earthy. It’s strange how sour notes wouldn’t be appreciated on a regular blend, but it is somewhat expected on a Candela. At least that is what this cigar smoker expects. The retrohale continues with bread notes, cedar and pepper.
Conclusion: There have been some great candela cigars over the years and some really bad ones. This one falls on the upper end of the middle of the road. In my opinion, the Toro is much better than their Robusto release in 2023. This one seems like it was aged a but longer in their aging rooms and the result is a more balanced cigar. While I am not in a rush to buy a box, I’ll keep a few on hand to share with friends on St. Patrick’s Day.
Score: 88
Price: $10.50 (Before any local & state taxes)
