The Saga Solaz Gordo stands out as a 6x58 box-pressed parejo cigar priced at $225.72 per box of 24. This mild-medium Dominican blend features an Ecuadorian Shade Claro wrapper concealing Criollo/Olor/Piloto Cubano filler trio. While marketed as "leisure companion" cigars, their actual performance reveals deeper nuances below the surface charm.
Cold Draw: Hay sweetness with subtle cedar spice First Third: Creamy cashew nut transitions to baking spices with faint floral undertones. Minimal nicotine presence keeps this session-friendly. Middle Third: Olor tobacco's nutmeg character emerges, accompanied by damp earth notes and a retrohale sweetness reminiscent of cane sugar. Final Third: Unexpected pepper surge (common in Dominican Piloto) balanced by lingering honeyed aftertaste. Tight draw develops in last inch.
The box-pressed format aids even combustion despite 58 ring gauge. Sample cigars showed slight wrapper veining but maintained structural integrity. Average smoke time: 85 minutes with single touch-up required. Box code analysis reveals 10-month aging from bale date to shipment.
At $9.40/stick, Solaz Gordo undercuts comparable Dominican gordos by 15-20%. While lacking the complexity of aged premiums, its consistent flavor progression makes it viable for golf course sessions or poolside smoking. Best paired with light rum cocktails rather than heavy spirits.
