Kicking Ash With Kayla: Victor Sinclair Don Rafael

Don Rafael Construction

The Don Rafael by Victor Sinclair is a rough, rugged looking cigar cloaked in a Connecticut shade wrapper. The wrapper leaf is a light caramel color with numerous raised, puckered veins. There are a couple of light green splotches along the wrapper leaf. The entire length of the 7.5 inch stick is overly soft and spongy despite being kept at 65% humidity prior to smoking. The cap is thick and squarely mounted. It cuts cleanly with my punch cutter, leaving no shards of filler tobacco.

Flavor & Cold Draw

Scents of alfalfa and sweet oats dominate the pre-light aroma. The cold draw is clear and easy and produces nice flavors of new vegetation, cream, oats, and a hint of pepper at the back of the pallet. Once lit, the flavor profile of sweet oats, white pepper, and a gentle creaminess is pretty consistent throughout the one hour and thirteen minute smoke. The flavor of white pepper dissipates in the second third but remains on the back of the pallet.

Burn & Smoking Characteristics

The Don Rafael draws beautifully and produces ample smoke with each puff. The strong, compact ash grows to over an inch and a half before the first drop and maintains this pattern throughout the cigar. The burn is perfectly even and remains cool enough for me to smoke it down to the nub.

Conclusion

I honestly was not too excited about smoking the Don Rafael. I assumed because of its super low price point that it would be a sub-par smoke with an overwhelmingly grassy flavor profile. I am happy to say that I was very wrong. The Don Rafael is a pleasant surprise with a consistently complex flavor and perfect draw. It is a perfect everyday stick for the mild cigar lover.