The Capitol Gala is one of the three vitolas of the brand created by master blender Rafael Nodal, in collaboration with Nestor Plasencia, at whose factory the creation of these cigars started.
According to Nodal himself, a great music lover, this line was inspired by the jazz virtuosity of Duke Ellington and evoked in the mind of the master blender the roaring 20s of the last century.
This Nicaraguan puro is sold in 20-ct boxes.
The cigar is dressed in a shiny Colorado Maduro leaf with red highlights. It feels silky to the touch, with barely any veins. The filling appears generous and uniform, while the draw is regular. The overall construction is great.
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Size: 56 x 152 mm (6″)
- Wrapper: Nicaragua
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Price: $ – | € 13
Capitol Gala: hints of earth and wood are perceptible in the cold draw, enriched by nuances of cocoa and coffee.
Once lit, the smoke is delicately sapid and sweet on the palate. It expresses very intense notes of earth, followed by less marked spicy and vegetal components. The strength is medium (3/5).
In the central section, the initial light sweetness vanishes while the sapidity becomes more evident. The earth remains the most marked aroma, followed by less vigorous wood and black pepper notes. The strength increases, becoming medium-full (4/5).
In the last third, the sapidity becomes very intense, while a bitter note appears that becomes increasingly marked towards the end of the smoke. The cigar settles on the earthy note (always very intense) and on the less marked woody note. The strength becomes full (5/5).
Overall, the Capitol Gala is a cigar that promises the best but gets lost during the smoke. The aromas are well-defined and initially well-supported by a sustained but manageable strength. In the last third, however, the appearance of an increasingly invasive bitter note, combined with a decreasing flavor profile and a strength that seems out of control, makes the enjoyment “chaotic,” awkward on the palate, and too pungent on the nose.