Description
Vegueros – Entretiempos (Single Loose Cigar)
VITOLA: Petit Edmundo
RING GAUGE: 52
LENGTH: 4⅜ Inches – 110 mm
ORIGIN: Cuba
This cigar is in the shape of a Petit Edmundo offering great smooth smoke with notes of cream, soil and coffee. Vegueros – Entretiempos (Single Loose Cigar).
Vegueros
The most recent Cuban brand to appear on the market is that of Vegueros. The term itself is a Cuban name for farm hands who tend crops. Although they have only recently been available for international consumers, the brand itself was actually founded in 1961. The Francisco Donatien Factory in the Pinar Del Rio region was already known for its manufacturing of cigarettes when it decided to add to its portfolio by producing cigars.
The majority of these cigars were destined for public affairs, conferences and banquets etc. At this point they were still unbranded and it was the locals who with affinity coined the name Vegueros. Western consumers only caught wind of these on holidays to Cuba, visiting the various regions of the island on tours.
In 1997 Habanos S.A decided it was time to release these to the global market. Within no time customers became enamored with the smooth, easy going nature of Vegueros cigars. Many say they can attain notes of citrus, coconut, cream and pepper when indulging in one of the various vitolas on offer. A great choice for newcomers to Cuban cigars as well as veterans.
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Graeme Frances –
Loving these cigars; if Romeo and Julieta are French Malbec, and Montecristo Beaujolais, then Vegueros are a quality Bordeaux. Although they lack the deep dark booming bass notes I usually seek in a cigar, their consitency of construction and complexity of flavour mean I find myself enjoying them regularly.
A lessser-known brand, Vegueros offer something a little different to other more-celebrated Cuban cigar brands. This cigar is the mid-size in their vitolas: a chunky stick, in hand reminiscent of a Petit Edmundo from Montecristo, but there the similarity largely ends.
The Entretiempos is paler in appearance (more ‘claro’ than ‘colorado’), with a milder (almost green) spiced scent, that entices without giving the game away.
I punch mine (~4mm) and always find the pre-draw exceptional compared to some other Cubans, this finally unleashes the richer aromas of the filler tobacco.
Owing to the great construction of the cigar, the ignition is easy. The first draws are light on flavour but produce creamy peals of smoke. About a quarter-inch in the burn is smooth and even and the flavour becomes more developed.
Top notes of demerara and golden hay predominate to begin, with hints of cloves and white pepper emerging later on – just over half an inch in.
Heart notes of olive, marzipan and macademia form a sweet centre to the flavour profile, but are not oppressive, coming on subtly before one finishes the first inch.
Bass notes of beech wood, leather and roasted coffee seem to carry the taste and, for me, form an enjoyable counterpoint to the lighter fresher notes. Later the bass notes become sweeter with elements of black cherry creeping in towards the latter stages of the cigar, almost two inches in.
The nicotine content is not too heavy or overpowering, but makes for a nice relaxed smoke for between 40 and 90 minutes. Personally, I enjoy it slow and right up until it is too small to hold!
“Entretiempos” can be translated as ‘middle of the road’ (owing to its place between the smaller Mañanitas and larger Centrofinos in the the Vegueros range), or as ‘meanwhile’ (literally ‘in between times’) – this cigar being a fine and tasty smoke one can enjoy during a spare moment at any time of day.