Pueblo Dominicano

[NeverBend]

Pueblo Dominicano, made in Nicaragua by A. J. Fernandez


Several years ago I smoked a Pueblo Dominicano that was made by Jose Blanco in the La Aurora factory and apparently the name had been used once before for a previous incarnation.

I have no idea why this name was dragged out of the mothballs to brand a Nicaraguan cigar, with the moniker of another country, nor who is responsible for the silly band art showing a long-eared hound. Certainly it made for an inauspicious marketing launch.



I purchased the reviewed cigars from Cigar Bid, with Lucifer watching, between 2012 and 2013 in 5-packs, Flight Samplers and bundles at an average price of just below $2.00 per stick. I’ve smoked about 150 cigars of this line.

Smoked fresh, (off the truck), the Pueblo Dominicano is a good smoke but they evolve quickly with 6 months of age but not as much beyond that. My review is based on cigars with 6 months, or more, of age. I use a guillotine cutter with stick matches and I always smoke outdoors.

I’m utilitarian, when it comes to cigar construction, willing to pay for the craft to the extent that it can make a cigar smoke optimally but not for the abstract point of rolling artistry. Some years ago I purchased cigars made by Altadis across several brands that were called “Sevens”, supposedly rolled only by level seven master rollers (reputed to be the best torcedores). To be sure, they all appeared to be very well crafted but they were also routinely over stuffed and therefore they under performed. Pueblo Dominicano are well made, if not perfectly, and even sticks that were a tad spongy have all performed with the same solid characteristics so that I have nothing negative to report. I’ve smoked better rolled cigars but I can’t say, that as a brand, that I’ve smoked any brand that was significantly superior in construction.

Taken out of the cello, the cigars are a consistent, rich medium brown color with lustre to its matte appearance. The wrapper has coarse veins but they lay flat and cause no ill effect. To the nose there’s a firm resonance of tobacco with a hint of nicotine. The wrapper is slightly coarse with some mottling but quite consistent and I’ve had no problems with splits/tears or holes and I don’t fear keeping them spanish style in my humidors.

Lighting the foot (that’s uniformly consistent and well cut) is somewhat easier than cigars of other brands with a similar ring. A few began by burning a little off (and this may have been me being lazy) but none that didn’t correct pretty quickly and were never in danger of getting out of hand. I’ve never had to touch up a Pueblo Dominicano. The burn line is flat without bubbling. Smoke production is ample even with some time between puffs and this allows for a relaxed pace.

I feel that cigars that change flavor profile radically (judging by reviews this phenomenon seems to occur precisely at 1/3rd and 2/3rds of the smoke) aren’t complex, they’re inconsistent. In all cases that this has happened to me it’s either been a bad cigar or severe weather or me being an idiot. Taste should evolve, not revolve.

The Pueblo Dominicano quickly slips into a profile of leather with a metallic sheen (perhaps to some, salt) and earthy tobacco notes with a mild spice and these remain the core flavors throughout. However, to truly enjoy this cigar you must snork (retrohale) where the spice is enhanced with a dimension of lightly sweet caramel milk. The snork is full but don’t let that put you off because it’s impact settles in very well. Let the cigar guide you through the process of a relaxed pace with frequent snorks and you’ll have the full measure of the Pueblo Dominicano. The sweet caramel milk and spice linger on the lips with earthy leather in the mouth. I smoke them to the nub and have no desire to smoke anything for several hours afterwards. That is, to me, the definition of satisfaction.

These are medium-full cigars with a decent but not strong portion of nicotine. They do intensify towards the end but with most flavor intact. With their solid construction, the Pueblo Dominicano has never presented me with any technical problems. I’ve had them go out on me but they pick up where they left off when re-lit without a change in flavor.

I’ve only tasted one cigar in my life that is close to the flavor profile of the Pueblo Dominicano and that’s the pre-Castro Hoyo De Monterrey #1 that had similar earth and leather but the Pueblo Dominicano has more body and a better snork. Perhaps that’s a testament to how far Nicaragua has come, that they can match or exceed classic Cuban brands in a moderately priced cigar.

Too often I find that cigar smokers prejudice their experience by judging a cigar on the basis of cost or reputation. When I’ve given Pueblos to friends in blind tastings they uniformly believe that they’re smoking a fine Cuban cigar. Despite the recycled name and the sad hound on the label, Pueblo Dominicano are superior cigars that, with a little age and when smoked slowly with a complement of retrohale, have consistently given me luxurious smoking pleasure far past their cost. They are to me among my most valued cigars.

[allusred]

"Taste should evolve, not revolve."

Very,very nicely put.

While I don't read a lot of reviews, have noticed that strange 1st third... 2nd third bit.
Way some write the changes must be a lot like a Movie projectionist mixing reels, one each from different films.
Thanks for your take on those cigars.

[DogRockets]

Nice review. Have seen this stick in catalogs before but never smoked one. I haven't seen it in the catalogs lately. Is this cigar still made?

[Cardinal]

150 smoked, that's awesome and about as thorough as a reviewer could ever possibly be. Your description made me go out and look to make a purchase, but I don't see where they're for sale anymore.

Either way, great review Pete. Thank you!