Baccarat Staff Review
Baccarat is one of many casino vices I’ve sworn off over the years, but the cigar brand that goes by the same name is another story. I’m not much of a gambler, unless I’m wagering my hard-earned cash on boxes and bundles of unknown cigars for a fraction of their original asking price on the Holt’s homepage to find out if they pass my litmus test for quality, flavor, and value. Today, I’m offering my sincere impressions of Baccarat cigars by smoking a 6-by-50 Toro.
Baccarat cigars are mild, creamy, and inexpensive. The brand is owned and distributed by the mighty Davidoff of Geneva, which acquired Baccarat cigars when it purchased Camacho from the Eiroa family in 2008. Baccarat cigars have been around since the late 1970s, when the original proprietor, American Tobacco Company, changed the name of its Carl Upmann brand to Baccarat to settle a lawsuit with the Cuban H. Upmann brand. Cigar industry veteran and American Tobacco executive Sal Fontana sold Baccarat cigars for years before joining Camacho. Although Camacho cigars are known for their strong and spicy taste, Baccarat is the exact opposite.
Baccarat cigars are best known for their sugar-dunked caps. While a sweetened cigar cap doesn’t necessarily add to the flavor of the tobacco, it influences the overall smoking experience. I first encountered the legendary Baccarat brand right here at Holt’s nearly 25 years ago. I was drawn to the cigar’s rock-bottom price and its golden-blond appearance. Not much has changed with Baccarat during that time. This easygoing Honduran gem is popular with budget-conscious buyers who enjoy the sweet coating the cigar imparts on the palate.
Once I crack open a fresh box of Toros, I must point out the consistency Baccarat cigars offer. The original blend is handcrafted in several traditional sizes, and there are two wrapper options: the Connecticut Shade that I’m smoking now and a darker Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro. Starting around a paltry $4 per cigar (when you buy a box), the butterscotch-hued complexion of these tempting specimens is even more alluring. The wrapper conceals a Mexican binder and Cuban-seed long-filler tobaccos harvested in Honduras.
The sample I’ve procured is perfectly humidified, fresh from our palatial, climate-controlled humidor. After snipping the cap with my guillotine cutter and taking a few cold draws, the cigar’s sugar-coated cap accentuates mellow notes of cocoa, cedar, and hay with hints of caramel.
The cigar’s sweet and creamy taste blossoms as I toast the foot with my torch. During the first fifteen minutes, a granite-gray ash grows to increments of nearly an inch before flaking off. I’m pleasantly surprised by the cigar’s taste and aroma throughout the first half. Although some of the initial sweetness has subsided, the Toro steers clear of any bitterness. Approachable notes of nuts and buttered toast with a honey-like sweetness in the aftertaste characterize Baccarat best.
After about 50 minutes have elapsed, I’ve got the band off to power through the nub. Although I generally gravitate toward full-bodied cigars, I readily appreciate the subtle nuances and consistency in this old-time brand. Try it yourself and find out why legions of value-buyers have sworn their allegiance to Baccarat over the years.
Until next time, long ashes to you!
