Curivari Cigars Seleccion Privada

Keeping up with our obscure blend reviews, I am bringing you a very little known cigar that started appearing this year at the IPCPR convention in New Orleans. Curivari’s Seleccion Privada.

These cigars were graciously given to my by my local shop, Tobacco Rd. As I stated, Curivari is a newer company, gaining most of it’s steam in the past year. I can’t find too much about the company at all, other than blend introductions on their website. From what I gather, I can only assume that they are a Nicaraguan company. The blend that I am reviewing is their “Seleccion Privada”. The Seleccion Privada is composed from pure Nicaraguan grown Cuban seed Criollo and Corojo tobacco. The format is a simple robusto at 5 x 50 and runs about $6 – $7 a stick. If anyone has any other info on these cigars, PLEASE SHARE. I’d really love to know more about this manufacturer.

Prelight: First and foremost, this is a very good looking cigar. The wrapper starts off with a very rugged, almost Cuban leaf looking wrapper. The oils in the wrapper reflect an almost mirror like finish in direct light from the light brown, calico, orange and dark brown wrapper. There are tons of smaller veins running the length of the body with no real signs of mis-construction. The thick, firm body leads up to a nicely done, round, triple wrap cap. I really like the band of this cigar. It’s very elegant, and traditional looking red and gold embossed ink. Curivari is the main label leading into smaller sections that contains items such as “Seleccion Privada” and “Calidad Superior”. The band reminds me of a Romeo y Julietta and Tatuaje El Tobacos Triunfador hybrid.

The wrapper gives off a very floral and cedar scented aroma. You can pick up most of the floral scents in the areas that have more oils. The foot of the cigar gives off a just awesome cedar and spice scent. The cap cut very easily with my double bladed cutter. The first initial cold draws throw out a very sweet, natural taste. Lots of little floral hints mixed in to a more traditional tobacco taste.

First Smoke: The Seleccion Privada starts off with just a ton of sweet tobacco. The sweetness isn’t coming from the oils to my lips either. Straight from the smoke’s flavor profile. Outside of the sweetness there is a lot of floral, mixed with some smooth cedar, a very milky taste, and some honey. This cigar reminds me a lot of something that Illusione would make. The burn line started off way crazy with a but of canoeing, but nothing that demanded a touch up this early in. The draw is very smooth and easy, producing the perfect amount of thick smoke. The Seleccion Privada gives off a good amount of very sweet cedar scented stationary smoke. The ash from the Curivari is slightly flakey with light grey and dark grey zebra stripes.

Halfway There: Towards the end of the first third and into the second third, the Seleccion Privada surprised with with some very slight pepper being thrown into the mix. It’s just enough to tease, and leave you wanting more. Outside of the pepper addition the cigar is still riding out the sweet tobacco, honey, and cedar taste. The floral has made its out of the experience. The retrohale is very, very easy giving a very nice, sweet cedar prime. The burnline I still a bit sketchy but I haven’t had to relight, or touch-up so it hasn’t bothered me in the slightest. The Seleccion Privada is mild, I’m not expecting to feel much if any nicotine at all from this smoke.

Finish: The final third of this Curivari Seleccion Privada is packed with an extremely smooth miky, cedar flavor. Usually milder sticks lack in the flavor department in my opinion, but this cigar is jam packed with flavor. The floral flavors have snuck back in along with the honey, and sweetness. Even into the final inch, there was no harshness at all. This was such a smooth cigar with excellent flavors all the way through. As I stated earlier, I felt no nicotine from this cigar what so ever. Mild-Medium at most. The cigar took a little over an hour to smoke and despite the wild burnline at times I never had to relight or touch it up.

Overview: I touched base with a few people concerning this not-very-well known cigar as I was smoking them, and every single one of them had the same response, they are awesome. New cigar companies are a dime a dozen these days, and I am finding it more and more difficult to find ones that really stand out. Curivari is one of the rare breed. Great flavors, beautiful cigars, flawless construction, and perfect burns. I’d be surprised if we didn’t see this brand start popping up in shops very soon. The fair price, and just awesome experience makes this cigar an ideal candidate for any rotation. Complex flavors and the mild/medium body make it perfect for any cigar smoker from novice, to everyday.