Decided this amazing March day deserved something special, and with an order of Fuente’s on the way, I decided to try one of the cigars from the Casa sampler available only in Las Vegas as its now been in the long-term humidor for 6 months.

Having smokes a couple of these while I was there, I was prepared for a peppery powerhouse, but instead the cigar tamed amazingly well in the humidor and delivers a more subdued pepper & spice, In fact, at first light, the cigar offers a warm, rich cocoa-powder taste that melts away in the mouth with only a hint of pepper in the initial 1/3rd of the cigar. A sweet, milky aftertaste remains on the tongue with some bitter or tangyness on the tongue. Retrohaling delivers a bit more of the citrus and unique tobacco blend along with some wood; but nicely balanced and not overpowered as usual with the woody taste.

The thick cloud carries a rich, milky sweet aroma with dark, sweet chocolate and a nice nippy pepper to the nose. It’s a bit hot when breathed in too much, but additional subtle layers of citrus, nuts and a great tobacco aroma can be discovered.

Wow, I wish I could get these cigars in this condition, can’t wait to try out the others eventually. I’m looking forward to the Fuente’s I ordered. I may have to pick up some Opus XXX cigars if I can find them, as the Casa is a hybrid blend based on that excellent cigar. And I want more. Just excellent.