If you’ve heard a lot about Tabacalera Pichardo, I wanted to create a roadmap on getting started with this factory and sampling their incredible blends. Pichardo currently makes cigars for themselves under the newly launched ACE Prime label as well as Crowned Heads who also handles their distribution.
My First Experiences with A.C.E. Prime and Tabacalera Pichardo
I don’t think it’s a secret that my first known interaction with a cigar from Tabacalera Pichardo was the Juarez (closely followed up with Mil Dias) by Crowned Heads. Juarez was likely most people’s first time hearing or reading about the Pichardo factory unless you’re an industry insider and were privy to knowing
But then, I sat down with the A.C.E. Prime portfolio and really began to fall in love. The Reserva Familiar portfolio continues to hit hard for me, and I reach for the Connecticut and Clasico Sumatra often. And as you can see in our interview with Luciano, the M.X.S. Signature series took me by surprise as well.
The M.X.S. Adrian Gonzalez and Mil Dias would go on to receive high accolades from our Blind Review Panel, each earning a spot in the Top 10 Blind Reviews for their year.
Meeting Luciano Meirelles
Last July, I was able to meet Luciano Meirelles and learn about A.C.E. Prime’s history for the first time. Luciano was an absolute gentleman, and I had a blast hearing his story. If you haven’t yet, please witness his passion, candor, and charm firsthand.
Where To Start with Tabacalera Pichardo
Suggested Tabacalera Pichardo smoking order:
- Crowned Heads Juarez
- Pichardo Reserva Familiar Connecticut
- Crowned Heads Mil Dias
- Fiat Lux by Luciano
- Crowned Heads Court Serie E
If you’re looking at that and thinking it’s a strange assortment out of order, you’re probably right! Let’s dig in and see why I recommend smoking them in that order. Also, I’ll be listing the different tobaccos used in the blends so you can see how well this factory works with such a wide assortment of materials. Usually, we’ll see factories favoring certain components, but Pichardo is casting their net wide in a wonderful way.
Crowned Heads Juarez
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
In my personal opinion, I think you should begin exactly where I did: with the Juarez by Crowned Heads. There’s so much bang for your buck here, and it really opened my eyes to just how much this factory could bring to the table even with a smaller MSRP. I think it’s fair to say that most brands could produce a good $12-18 cigar, but we all know it’s a lot harder to work your magic with a $6 cigar.
I think it’s fair to say that the $6 realm requires much more talent and focus to execute. Kudos again to Crowned Heads and Tabacalera Pichardo on this home run! I look forward to each one in my humidor and place a much higher price tag on Juarez mentally.
Tasting Notes: Earth, Cocoa, Pepper, Nuts, Wood, Fruit
Intensity: Medium-Full
Pichardo Reserva Familiar Connecticut
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
In the same vein, producing a quality Connecticut is a hard thing to do. We’ve all smoked those Connies where the blend just didn’t quite come together. It dries your mouth out, it might taste bitter, or the whole blend just falls flat and fails to engage your palate.
Reserva Familiar is anything but that, tasting much more like a dessert cigar with a peppery aspect to it. Juarez and this Connecticut are vastly different in terms of flavor profile and price, but I went on a journey with both. I think these two blends set the stage for just how much experience you have behind the team at Tab. Pichardo and should be amongst the first sampled if you haven’t enjoyed the brand until now.
Tasting Notes: Pepper, Teddy Graham's, Mild Cocoa, Brown Sugar, Cedar, Butter Toffee
Intensity: Medium (barely)
Crowned Heads Mil Dias
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Costa Rican, Nicaraguan, Peruvian
Speaking with Luciano at last year’s PCA tradeshow, he told me that Mil Dias and Fiat Lux were changing the game in respects to taking the cigar experience back to flavor town. Mil Dias is a very complex cigar with tons of flavor, but it doesn’t push the envelope too far. Now that you’ve seen how far Tabacalera Pichardo can go with a $6 MSRP as well as what they can do with a milder blend, it’s time to experience their medium-bodied masterpiece.
My favorite thing about this blend is that it’s an instant classic in every way. Presentation and artwork? Timeless. Execution and delivery? There’s something for everyone to love here without flaw. Price point? Right in that sweet spot of $9-$12. Mil Dias also won numerous accolades last year, coming in at #3 Cigar of the Year for Cigar Dojo, #5 Cigar of the Year for Halfwheel’s Consensus, and #6 for our Blind Review Panel in 2020.
Tasting Notes: Wood, Baking Spices, Leather, Creamy Cocoa, Star Anise
Intensity: Medium+
Fiat Lux by Luciano
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Despite different compositions, Fiat Lux seems to share a common thread with Mil Dias in a way that I think is important to experience them sequentially. Both are medium-bodied, both offer a complex profile to ponder, and both invite you to wonder if this is a better morning or evening cigar.
I would say that the main difference between these two cigars (aside from them being produced for different brands with different tobaccos) is that Mil Dias continuously evolves. Fiat Lux offers a more linear approach that is perhaps more conducive to introspection. That’s where this blend draws its name Fiat Lux or “Let There Be Light” from, particularly in the framework of shining light on a problem to gain wisdom.
Tasting Notes: Cream, Bread, Wood, Peanuts, Cocoa, Baking Spices
Intensity: Medium
Crowned Heads CHC Serie E
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan Jalapa
Filler: Nicaraguan Jalapa / Ometepe / Pueblo Nuevo
We began this introduction to Tabacalera Pichardo with the medium to full-bodied Juarez and then transitioned to milder blends. Now, we’re taking it back to a heavier hitter in the Crowned Heads Court Serie E.
I think Jon Huber said it best in his original press release, “The CHC Serie E smoking experience is a medium-plus-bodied dance on the edge between technical mastery and random entropy, resolving in a balanced, melodious harmony.” It also has a rich depth to the body that I’ve come to love and has yet to let me down. I always come back to Jon’s entropy comment as well, because this cigar definitely has a little jazz to it – sometimes you’ll experience a random tasting note and ponder it… but it isn’t until that riff is done when you realize it all worked together and it wasn’t a seemingly errant chord.
Tasting Notes: Earth, Leather, Oak, Espresso, Creamy Cocoa, Pepper
Intensity: Medium+
More from Tabacalera Pichardo
If you’ve enjoyed these blends, I encourage you to seek out more cigars from Tabacalera Pichardo! I continue to be impressed with their Pichardo Reserva Familiar series, M.X.S. Signature series, and damn near everything ACE Prime puts out. These guys love to contrast peppery sensations with sweeter tasting notes, making both pop in such a satisfying way. I couldn't be more excited about their parternship with Crowned Heads, and I know great things are on the roadmap for both of these companies in the coming years.
Also, if you check out the sampler below, we’ve included the PCA exclusive Crowned Heads Le Pâtissier produced by Tabacalera Pichardo as well!
Leave your comment