Wrapper: Candela

Binder: (Possibly the same as the Camacho Corojo) Honduran

Filler: Honduran

Shape: Monarca (most likely Robusto)

Size: 5″ by 50 ring gauge

Country: Honduras

Strength: Medium

Spring is increasingly in the air (for those in the northern hemisphere) which means that plants are going to become more and more green. So, why not celebrate this with a candela cigar? The Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela fits the bill for such a celebration. Read on see what this green stick has to offer.

The Look: The Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela is 5 inches by 50 ring gauge robusto. The wrapper is the color of dried green grass with some leafy veins but are not incredibly prominent. The more noticeable veins appear lighter than the wrapper. The Pack is fairly firm with no soft spots and has a nice amount of give. This cigar may be decorated with either two nearly identical bands but with different coloring. One band green and white and the other band brown and a gold-cooper color (see below).

Bands of the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela - Not actual size

The Start: The foot of the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela had an aroma of light earthiness like fall leaves. The wrapper had an aroma of light peppery spearmint. The pre-light draw was very grassy, had a slight spice that could be described as cracked pepper. The initial draw had flavors of toasted gram cracker, spiciness, and grassiness.

The Beginning: As the first third was burning the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela the flavor profile was a pleasant creamy grassiness, with some spiciness. After this came the finish of grassiness, and green olive that tamps down with the grassiness with cracked pepper. The draw was good and the burn was somewhat wavy. The ash was mostly light gray to tannish gray and darker gray. It was holding well and was somewhat flakey. The flavors the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela seemed to suggest that this cigar could be paired with a bloody marry and maybe it is not a coincidence that this cigar loosely looks like a pickle.

The Middle: In the second third of the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela all the flavors are very smooth. No one flavor is over powering the others which are toasted walnut, smooth black pepper, and grassiness. On the retrohale warm smooth black and pink pepper are present. The finish is composed of earthy grassiness, green olive that again tamps down the grassiness with green pepper, and walnut. The draw is good and burn is fairly even but a bit wavy and ever so slightly jagged. A nice aroma of fermented tangy leaf was coming off the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela. During the second third I was pairing the cigar with water like I was in the beginning but, I in the second third I also paired the cigar with a bloody marry. The bloody marry made for a great paring as it shared some of the same flavors and complemented grassiness of the cigar.

The End: The final third of the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela was a bit bolder than the previous portions of the cigar. The flavor consisted of dark cracked pepper, earthiness, and toasted dry grass. The finish had grassiness, a light green olive zing, and faint cracked pepper. The draw was again good and the burn was going fairly even but, here was less jagged and less wavy.

Final Thoughts: Candela cigars are a nice departure of the norm of smoking other cigars that are nothing near candela. I found this cigar to be quite good but with most candelas different than what I am normally used to. Some may not like the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela as the grassy taste could be offsetting but, if this does not dissuade you give this give a try and perhaps pair this very green cigar with a very red bloody marry.