Cuesta Rey Centro Fino Sungrown
Size: 7.0 x 49
Tobacco: Dominican with Sumatran wrapper from Ecuador
Price: $9

My friend Brian bought a round of cigars at Our Cigar Bar (Diamond Crown) yesterday during our Gulf Shores vacation. Brian had a Romeo y Juliet Reserve; Shaun picked the Diamond Crown Maximo; and I chose the mild-to-(maybe) medium premium Cuesta Rey. Cuesta Rey is one of the pricier lines from the Arturo Fuente family, and I've seen them advertised for years but never had the chance to try them.

My churchill featured a flawless, smooth wrapper colored a warm shade of camel-brown, with a subtle woody prelight aroma. The taste was silky and mild, but not bland. There was a sharp nutty taste and a lingering soft aftertaste reminiscent of a Hoyo Excalibur. The cigar burned slowly and straight and was a relaxing experience.

The experience was defined, however, not by the cigar but by the new single malt scotch we were drinking: Balvenie 12-year Doublewood. This was a remarkable smooth and smoky dram, much better than the Balvenie 15-year. It will now be on my Christmas list.