The
Smoking Gun Cigar Review October 4, 2016
HVC
– Pan Caliente
Robusto
– (5 x 50)
In
my search for new and exciting cigars, I recently came across HVC.
The company was founded in 2011 by Reinier Lorenzo and started as a
way of paying homage to Havana City, where he lived for most of his
life. According to their website (www.hvccigars.com), their products
are “inspired by the cigar tradition of Cuba, specifically Havana
City, while incorporating the customs of our adopted U.S. home.”
I
decided to write this review and post it prior to the arrival of
Reinier Lorenzo, owner of HVC Cigars, to the Phoenix area on October
11. For those interested, there will be an amazing cigar dinner put
on by Mitchel Hirsh owner of Cigar King at Sanctuary Resort on
October 11th at 6pm. You will be able to meet and talk to Reinier
Lorenzo, but also enjoy the opportunity to smoke three special cigars
from the HVC line during a dinner pairing event.
So,
in anticipation of the event, I picked up a few of the HVC sticks and
gave them the once over. Here’s what I found:
A
little history:
HVC
is a relatively new company. They were founded in 2011. As mentioned
above, Reinier Lorenzo is the owner and they have several lines
within the brand. The Pan Caliente was the first one I’ve tried.
The
name comes from Cuban slang and literally means “hotcakes,”
but is intended to mean, “it’s selling like hotcakes.” I think
it’s a good name, because this cigar could become a favorite. It’s a
good stick at a great price!
Just
like before, I’ll list the questions and give an answer for
each—based on my personal smoking experience:
What
are you smoking?
HVC
Pan Caliente – Robusto (5 X 50)
Who
makes it?
It
is made by HVC Premium Cigar Company, owned by Reinier Lorenzo.
Where’s
it from?
It’s
produced at the Raices Cubanas factory, in Danlí, Honduras.
What
other sizes are available?
It’s
only available in a Robusto (5 X 50).
How
much does it cost?
The
Pan Caliente Robusto costs around $6.25 per stick, which is a great
price for a cigar of this quality. It comes in a 25 count box, so
that puts the price around $155, minus any discounts you might get on
a box purchase.
How
well is it constructed?
The
cigar is beautifully constructed with a mahogany brown wrapper, small
veins throughout, a light oily sheen and what I would call a marble
head cap. I did some research and found out it’s actually called a
“109-style cap”. So, what is that, you ask? That’s a good
question. I tried to find some information on it, because honestly, I
didn’t know.
A
cuban 109 style cap is designed to allow the smoker, through the
depth of the cut, to control the draw on the cigar. If you cut it
shallow (close to the tip) you will get a tighter draw, and if you
cut down further, a looser one. The shape is kind of like the end of
a classic fountain pen cap. Its domed and perfectly rounded. It sort
of looks semi-spherical, like half of a marble. I don’t know anything
else about how it’s done, but I know I like it!
What’s
the blend (or, at least, the wrapper)?
Although
the cigar is produced in Honduras, it appears to be a Nicaraguan puro
(that means all of the tobacco used, comes from Nicaragua). The blend
is listed as “Made with the finest leaves from Aganorsa farms in
Nicaragua.” So, not only is it all from Nicaragua, it’s from the
same farm! No other information is given about the blend, other than
the wrapper, which is Nicaraguan Criollo ’98.
How
did it light?
The
light was perfect.
How’s
the draw?
I
cut it a shallow, so my draw was a little tighter than normal. But,
that’s what I like. It was a firm but smooth draw.
How
does it burn?
No
problems from either example. Good burn- a nice tight ash!
Is
there a predominate flavor/taste?
When
I first smelled this cigar, I experienced notes of leather and a
light sweetness. The foot was very similar, but with less of the
sweetness that I picked up on the wrapper. On the dry draw, I did
notice more of a grassy quality. When I lit it, the grassy/hay flavor
was predominate, but the sweetness was still there. A couple of draws
into it, I was hit with some black pepper on the back of my tongue,
which I love. The combination of sweet and spicy is one of my
favorites.
Did
it change as you smoked it?
The
flavor became more bold as I smoked it. I tasted more pepper and it
finished with a punch of spice that made me want to keep smoking
(even through I was about to burn my fingers).
How
would you describe its strength: mild, medium, or strong?
Although,
it started fairly mild, there were very pleasant changes throughout
the length of the cigar. I would have to call it a medium (when you
average it out from start to finish).
Would
you smoke it again?
I
would love to smoke it again. I’m also trying some of the other
cigars in the line. (While I’m writing this, I’m smoking an Edición
Especial 2015, which I will review shortly).
Should
I try it?
Yes!
Right before the FDA Deeming Rule came into effect, earlier this
year, new cigars were flooding the market. You’ve probably seen some
brands pop up in your local shops and on-line that you’ve never heard
of or seen before. While HVC isn’t that new, you still might not have
heard of it. It’s definitely worth a try. If you’re looking for
something with a little sweetness and good amount of pepper, this
one’s for you.
Do
you have an extra that you’ll give me?
I
know, this question is getting old. And, the answer is still, no. You
can find them in more and more brick and mortar cigar stores, as the
company expands their market. They have great reps out there (like
Anthony and Melanie Cantelmo, of Fear the Beard Cigar Brokerage) and
the word is getting out about these great cigars.
If
you’re in the Phoenix area, you should try to attend the dinner I
mentioned earlier. It’s always great to get together with other cigar
enthusiasts, have a great meal, and smoke some good cigars. (And, for
some reason, they always taste better when you smoke them with the
person that made them)!
Conclusion:
HVC
Pan Caliente is a fantastic cigar at a very reasonable price. You
might have to look around a bit to find it, but your search will be
rewarded with a complex, flavorful and tasty cigar. Just because you
might not have heard of something, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it,
right? There are so many great cigars out there! Smoke them. Try
them. Enjoy them. You might just find a new favorite.
So,
that’s it for this one. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it and,
perhaps, you learned a thing or two. If you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me through this page. I’m always happy to
answer questions or tell you about what I’ve been smoking. Also, if
you liked, appreciated or hated my review, let me know. I want to be
a resource for the everyday cigar smoker. You don’t have to be an
expert, you just need an hour or so to enjoy a good cigar.
And,
remember: don’t let other people tell you what to smoke. If
you like it, smoke it!