Cigar Review - San Cristobal Revelation Prophet

[CoachDread]

San Cristobal - Revelation Prophet

Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5.0″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Pairing: Cafe Bustello Espresso Style coffee


I mentioned last night that I am a sucker for a nice label. Well, they don't get any better looking than the San Cristobals and the Revelation may be the most attractive of them all. I had a few of the originals a while back after winning them in an auction and really enjoyed them. While in the Corona Cigar Store this past weekend I saw these and had to try another since my palate has changed over time.




Fit and Finish: A nice smooth milk chocolate colored wrapper with thin veins and no visible seams. It's a box press, which I happen to like. It's all sweet hay on the nose. I do create a tiny nick in the wrapper when removing the label but it's not full thickness so I'm not worried about it.

Draw: A v-cut gives a slightly loose draw but not too loose. The cold draw is intense cocoa.

Toast/Light: Very easy toast and light. Nice and even with excellent smoke production. It starts with a blast of pepper on the initial draw.

First third: I'm expecting cocoa but I don't get it. Instead it's all pepper and hay. That changes though and the pepper fades and it turns to oak and nuts. The cocoa makes an appearance as the first third ends. It's becoming increasingly creamy as it progresses.

Second Third: The creaminess continues and the cocoa intensifies. I'm also starting to get a floral flavor on the retrohale. The cocoa really lingers on the palate. Toasted almonds begin to layer in and soon it's a creamy chocolate almond bar. It finally self-ashes at the halfway point. The burn is perfect and razor sharp. Pepper makes a brief return but fades quickly.

Final Third: The cocoa and nuts fade as the final third gets underway and a harshness creeps in. Purging solves the problem and something savory makes an appearance. As I move through the final third a slight metallic taste briefly shows up but is quickly gone. It's replaced by a return of the nuts and then the cocoa once again. Toward the end cinnamon makes its debut before the savory returns. It gets better and better as it goes along. The burn was perfect and the ash held until the very end.

Final Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed this cigar and found it kept my interest with the changes it underwent. The brief floral notes were a pleasant surprise. I'd put this in a solid medium category. I'll definitely smoke another but I'll want to try a 5 pack before I'd make a box purchase. It's far better than the Macanudo I recently praised, and more complex than the Casa Torano. My current favorites remain the Monte Cristo Espada and the Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva.

Total smoking time: 100 minutes

[Bowtech4ever]

@CoachDread , I thoroughly enjoyed your review. I too am a sucker for an awesome band, and you are right....few peers. I also enjoy Cuban coffee. I saw your post, and dove on it. I've been eyeing them at Corona for a while now. I immediately said "BOX", but logic prevailed. I'm picking up a fiver immediately though....thanks!

[Zeede]

I have never had any luck purging. It might help for one more draw, but that's it.

I think maybe my palate is fatigued.

[CoachDread]

@CoachDread , I thoroughly enjoyed your review. I too am a sucker for an awesome band, and you are right....few peers. I also enjoy Cuban coffee. I saw your post, and dove on it. I've been eyeing them at Corona for a while now. I immediately said "BOX", but logic prevailed. I'm picking up a fiver immediately though....thanks!

My pleasure, literally!

I have the same urges. I constantly find something I like and think "I've got to get a box of these" but then realize that I don't have the storage or the time for the number of cigars that would bring. In the past month I have tried a greater variety of cigars than I have in the entire time I've been in the hobby and it has been great. I'm discovering just how much my tastes are changing and, even more, just how many great cigars there are out there (and that's without ever having had a Habano)! I could fill a coolidor with just 5 packs of cigars I think I want a box of...

[CoachDread]

I have never had any luck purging. It might help for one more draw, but that's it.

I think maybe my palate is fatigued.

I'm normally in the same boat. Once I start purging it's usually a death knell for the cigar as I'll probably quit it shortly thereafter. This one, though, it worked like a charm and the harshness disappeared and the full flavors returned. I know what you mean about palate fatigue though. I'm finding that for me it helps to mix up the strengths from day to day, not that I really venture into the full strength wheelhouse too often. Who knows, I might even break out a nice palate-cleansing Java Mint this weekend.

[herman]

A funny thing happened. I recently moved, and in my last town, RP had a cult following of middle aged patrons. Since I moved, I have seen many
more cigar smokers, but it seems they are always smoking a Padron 1926. Every time. Well... a couple weeks ago, it was nice to see something different.
The bright label caught my eye at the lounge, and looked a little harder, and sure enough, it was this same cigar.

Sounds delicious.

[CoachDread]

A funny thing happened. I recently moved, and in my last town, RP had a cult following of middle aged patrons. Since I moved, I have seen many
more cigar smokers, but it seems they are always smoking a Padron 1926. Every time. Well... a couple weeks ago, it was nice to see something different.
The bright label caught my eye at the lounge, and looked a little harder, and sure enough, it was this same cigar.

Sounds delicious.

I've enjoyed every San Cristobal I've had, but the Revelation was probably my favorite.