Esteban Carreras Chupacabra Hellcat Toro Grand Review

Esteban Carreras Chupacabra Hellcat Toro Grand Review

9/24/2022

I usually don't take pics of the cigar pre-lit. But this one really does deserve to showcase it's beauty. With it pigtailed foot and box pressed shape, it is meant to impress. Just looking at its dark San Andreas wrapper and smelling the strong flavors, this should be a good one.  Box says packed March 2020. This thing has got some age on it. 

Ill be honest, this is my 3rd Toro I've smoke of the the Hellcat line and it has become my favorite cigar. I stumbled on this cigar from an unknown sampler pack and I've been blown away how good it is.  Bought a box of Toros and a Robusto and am searching for more.  Very hard to find cigar. Bummer, right? But the price is right if you can find it. 

Upon lighting, it is mild at first.

(Note, this box was shipped in a large cardboard box with no fill, so it bounced around and 4 of the cigars had cracks at the foot.  I'm smoking one of the 4 now. Draw is still good, so may not effect it).

About 10 min into it, still pretty mild to medium, burning perfect. Can start to taste a lot of chocolate and marshmallow flavors.  Very smooth taste and draw. I flick the ash and it has a decent cone shape. I give it the slightest touch up with my lighter. Now, pretty good cedar flavors on top of sweet smores flavors.  To me, this is the best flavors out of a cigar and it is doing a fine job of flavoring my whole mouth. If you like a medium flavored cigar that pulls easily and has smooth, sweet smores like flavors, you got to try this one.  And it doesn't lack strength. Already feeling it, pretty relaxed now. Only a quarter through and I am satisfied, no aftertaste, just smooth smoking. 

40 min in, about half through and it is building flavors and more smoke. Draw is perfect, like sipping it with smooth smoke clouds coming out. Still pretty medium all around, but building strength. Stronger cedar aftertastes of cedar now. I haven't talked about its Nicaraguan binder and fillers. If you like Nicaraguan tobaccos like me, I'm pretty sure you'll like this one. I love the Padron 1964 and this one does some things better and some worse.  I'd say the 1964 has stronger and better flavors, but this one is very similar but smokes longer and relishes the flavors longer so that you enjoy it better. If you want one hour packed with full flavor, the 1964 is your go to cigar. If you want an hour and a half of similar flavors, this one does that great and is half the price. I'm gonna buy both, but my smoking style prefers this one.  I'm not rich, so this is my choice for a long weekend smoke late into the night. 

So much smoke from each puff. Not overpowering, just rich, smooth flavors. This is why this is my now go to favorite cigar. 

Definitely kicking in strength. Now has some good aftertaste and I'm feeling it's power. Not a daily smoke. Need to sit back with your drink, turn up the music and enjoy this one. Even my wife says this one doesn't stink like most of my cigars, even if I disagree. It's definitely full bodied now. Don't smoke this fishing in a Jon boat middle of the day, you might fall out the boat. Nah, it ain't that strong, but it is a helluva a cigar. They named it Hellcat for a reason. 

Still so smooth and great flavors. Once you smoke one, you'll be looking for more. 

I think it could cost twice the price and still sell out. Grab them while you can. 

Pretty much a perfect roll and perfect smoke and smokes to the nub perfectly. Still cool burning and full flavored. Still sipping clouds of deep flavors. Got an hour and a half of smoking and it won't reprieve, just great aftertaste of cedar and sweetness. All around a great experience.

Overall: 96

Flavor 95, complexity 95. burn 96, experience 96, value 96.