La Herencia Cubana CORE

LHC CORE is a new release from AJ Fernandez. It is marketed as a complex blend resulting in a premium full body cigar. One aspect of this cigar that sets it apart from other cigars I've purchased in this price range is the quality of presentation in the box. The box is beautifully constructed with a rustic appeal, and a leather divider. I chose not to include this into the rating at all, since it is not actually related to the cigar directly, but it does however add an appeal.

The cigar being rated is a Robusto form (5x52)

Appearance/Construction : 5/5
This cigar out of the box is truly a box pressed beauty. The exterior is flawless and smooth. Its dark wrapper is complemented by the classy band. Inside it is tightly packed. In my mind, it's what every cigar should be. I'm not too picky about overall look, but when it looks this great its hard to resist. Also I'm a fan of box pressed sticks, along with dense construction, so this cigar scores highly in this area in my opinion. But being a premium cigar, I would be very disappointed if it did not excel in this category.


The Smoke :  4.75/5
The tightly packed cigar was surprisingly easy to cut, but presented more issues with lighting. The foot did not ignite as easily with an indirect flame as most cigars, but with patience a good toast was achieved without direct flame. Once lit it started immediately producing a thick cloud of toasty smoke. The first draws were of spicy coffee, with a hint of sweet. After a few draws this transformed into a spicy leather. Even with a non-perfect light, the burn is consistent and even. About halfway through the flavor transforms into a creamy spice, with hints of chocolate. One benefit to tight construction is that even into the 2/3, a good draw does not end up with too hot of smoke causing foul tastes or uncomfortably heating up the tongue. This cigar offered a complex full body smoke that was truly a great experience.

 

Value : 3/5
Unsurprisingly the price of this cigar turns many buyers away. Most online stores sell this for around $10 a stick or $160 per box of 20 ($8 per stick). I paid considerably less for a box, just over $3.50 per stick, so for that price I couldn't pass it up. This is one of the hardest categories for me to judge CORE in. It is a fabulous cigar discounting any sort of monetary value, but once factoring that in the game changes. I've enjoyed many premium and super premium cigars, some that have blown me away, and others that have disappointed. This cigar falls somewhere in the middle. At this point I can't really decide if it justifies the $160/box price. At the price I paid, it is a great value, but I am not going to rate it as such. If you have the chance to get this at a discounted price, go for it. If you were considering full price, maybe order a single stick online or stop by your local cigar shop and establish an opinion from there.


Overall : 4.5/5
After reading reviews elsewhere criticizing heavily the cigars price, I was skeptical of whether it would be worth the purchase. In the end I am very happy with what I received for the price and if budget wasn't a huge issue it would be a good cigar for special occasions at the full price. Overall this is a great full body cigar that offers attractive looks and a pleasantly complex smoke.