Licenciados Segundos Don't Live Up to Reputation

Licenciados Segundos, 6 x 50 Toro, Dominican Republic $1.54

Construction: Solid construction, though not beautiful. Smooth Connecticut wrapper with a good crown. Very good tightness. Mild aroma. 4

Lighting: Cut and lit with no problems. Burned evenly, developing a medium gray ash of over one inch. Perfect draw. 5

Flavor: Mild flavors of cedar and other wood, with a moderate herbal quality. OK, but nothing to excite the palate here. 3

Comments: When the Licenciados line was first introduced through Mike’s cigars of Miami (early 80s ?), they rated a 93 (if memory serves) by Cigar Aficionado. At that time I bought a box of Toros, and they were superb. Later I bought some segundos, and they were pretty good, as well. But, then later the quality seemed to drop a bit, as (I presume) they raced to keep up with the demand created by the C.A. publicity. I bought a box of Wavells a couple years later and they were nice, but not a 93.

These segundos are not in the same class as those Licenciados from the 1980s. Pleasant, but not great. I will order a box of the Toros or Wavells in the not too distant future, and give you a report on those. I’d really like to see how they compare to these segundos, and the original Licenciados.

Overall: 87
Value Rating: 87-2= 85
Recommendation: Recommended

Joe Average