Initial Smoke

Toasted wood touches down the minute the foot is fired up, and with it comes a delightful dab of tropical fruitiness. Creamy vanilla and a hefty heap of almonds mix together to form a flavor that makes me think of the annin tofu dessert you occasionally find in restaurants over here in Japan. There is a pinch of spice, but it's more of a white pepper-grade intensity, and it adds a playful sensation to the creamy smoke. 

Draw, smoke production, and aromatics are all excellent, and it seems like Mil Días is determined to deliver the goods once again.

1st Half

A good fifteen minutes later, the almond tastes have turned more effervescent, and it reminds me of an almond crème soda I used to drink when I was a child. Aromatics are equally nutty, but a good bit richer and darker than almond, and when mixed with a buttered toasted rusk note, turn retrohales into an A+ olfactory experience. 

Somewhere in the back, sweet vanilla shifts into full tilt mode, and the tropical fruit secondary notes join the fun. A hint of toasted coconut has rolled up on the beach, and with faint hints of cardamom, clove, and nutmeg knocking about, the entire first half turns into an ideal representation of what medium cigar smoking is all about.  

2nd Half

Just a hint darker in roast, and still as silken smooth and heavenly scented as before, the midsection of the 54 ring-gauge toro barrel provides more of a build-up in flavors, textures, and aromatics than a transitional center point. The finish is sweet and round, body is still 100% medium, as is the strength, with flavor being a good bit fuller, especially when routinely retrohaled. 

Darker, stronger, and definitely a dose funkier and soil-strong, the final third fires up the first major transition in the cigar, and it's a balanced one. Tangy and juicy tropical fruit notes circle back to create a bright contrast to the soil side of the smoke, which, when blended together, creates this unique astringency that is surprisingly pleasant. This is probably due to the spike in nuttiness that is being detected. As creamy vanilla comes and goes, retrohales remain smooth as crushed satin, with the refined aromatics of the smoke hanging heavy in the air, earning additional points.

Parting Puffs

Charred wood, roasted Brazil, cashew, almond, and pecan nuts, and a creamy yet dry finish all make parting puffs a pleasurable moment in the cigar. It's not the most engaging end to a cigar, but neither is it unpleasant or out of place, and I found myself smoking my review stick right down to the nub.

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Never running hot, and rewarding each puff with controlled concentrations of velvety smoke from a crisp draw, the way the original Mil Días burns is absolutely outstanding. May you prefer a straight cut, V-cut, or a punch, these cigars burn without the need for a touch-up and develop a really nice-sized ash that is whiter than Larry Byrd's lanky ass in 1980s basketball shorts. 

Final Thoughts

There's a reason why the toro vitola version of Mil Días is called "sublime," for that is precisely how I describe what this stick offers in almost every stage of the smoking process. It may not be the most transitional force in this quadrant of the universe, but by now I know that's not what this blend is trying to achieve. This is your medium smoker's light EDC option. A cigar concocted for any occasion, and for pairing with virtually any beverage, may it be non-alcoholic or barrel proof. 

Having smoked about a half-dozen of these cigars over the past two years, I can say that the final third can vary a bit stick-to-stick. Some are more nutty and roasty, while others are more soil-centric and funkier, with the one seen here being a bit more tropical and tangy. The first two-thirds may also feel a bit repetitive for complex, full-flavored cigar hunters. 

But for the majority of us, the original Mil Días from Crowned Heads is exactly what we are after. Sometimes, all you need is a cigar that is going to deliver the goods and not leave you on a wild goose chase. Consistency, cleanliness, creaminess, medium-grade complexity, and an ultra crisp burn make this one of the top box-worthy buys in the Klaro collection. So stock up if this stick seems like a good fit, and let's see how the maduro doppelganger to this blend performs here in a few weeks...