Weighing in with a 62-ring gauge and almost seven inches in length, the San Cristobal Coloso is the 10th vitola in the San Cristobal line.
This Nicaraguan puro is dressed in a dark brown, oily and leathery wrapper, displaying the iconic San Cristobal logo of the red parrot with widespread wings — representing free-spirited travelers satisfying their wanderlust.
Cigars have a habit of taking us to new heights and places of ecstasy. Join us on another smoking expedition as we bring you our official San Cristobal Coloso Cigar review.
Brand Overview
Blended with passion and precision by award-winning cigar-maker Jose Pepin Garcia at the legendary My Father Cigar factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, San Cristobal Cigars officially launched in 2007.
Falling under the Ashton Cigar family, they are one of two brands producing all-Nicaraguan smokes (the other being La Aroma de Cuba).
Their handcrafted luxury Nicaraguan puros stay true to Cuban tradition by producing rich, fragrant flavors and engaging complexity, with Nicaragua’s black, fertile soils giving their tobacco a subtle earthy twist.
Cigar specs
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Strength: Full
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Sizes Available: San Cristobal Coloso (6.75 x 62)
Cold draw
After cutting the traditional Cuban triple-seam cap, the cold draw brings forth a whole lot of earthiness. Nicaragua is known for its rich soil, which gives it its sweet, earthy character and peppery undertone. Although I didn’t detect any pepper on my palate in the pre-light puffs, a little chili heat brushed my lips.
Upon sniffing the wrapper, I was taken aback by a hefty waft of cedar, while the foot was earthy and slightly sweet.
First Third
The Coloso started with a mix of rich tobacco sweetness, earth, leather, and that inevitable explosion of Nicaraguan black pepper that evaded me prior to putting fire to foot. As I progressed through the first third, softer elements of cocoa and sweet cream crept into the profile, adding delicious balance and complexity.
The finish consisted of rich earth and chocolate cake. This contrast of the heavy, full-flavored Nicaraguan tobacco leaf alongside the delicate dose of sweetness would light up even the most sophisticated of palates.
Second Third
I was still marveling at the impressive smoke output as my Coloso burned slowly into the middle act. It was still full in both body and flavor, but the earthiness began to dominate the blend, packing a punch with the leather. The pepper had taken on a more subtle role, most notably on the dry finish where it lingered in the background.
Flourishes of coffee, molasses, and sweet cream combined to create a hay-like sweetness, ensuring the earth didn’t overtake the flavor profile completely while leaving a satisfying creamy taste on my palate.
Final Third
The Coloso delivered mouthwatering flavors of rich cedar, earth, strong spice, and coffee in the closing stages. The strong spice was parallel in intensity to the fiery black pepper that came to play as I’d toasted my San Cristobal, before turning earthy as I approached the nub.
There was still time for yet another impressive flavor transition, as sharp notes of citrus cut through lingering notes of black pepper and cocoa on the palate and nose, respectively.
Conclusion
The star roller “Don Pepin” has done it again. Offering a rich, earthy smoke with plenty of sweet complexity, he still manages to showcase his trademark palate-blasting black pepper and Nicaragua’s rich, vibrant blend of aged tobaccos without losing equilibrium.
San Cristobal remains a benchmark for full-bodied cigars, so if you like your smokes big and powerful, go grab yourself a box of 21 San Cristobal Coloso Cigars from cigars.com today for $216.40.