Mi Querida Fino Largo (6 x 48)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Cigar-Coop.com website)

At the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, Steve Saka and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust showcased several new lines, but the one that was front and center was Mi Querida. This is a cigar that according to Saka is the type of cigar most people have expected from him.

Saka says Mi Querida as a very different cigar than Sobremesa, his debut release with Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. He described the cigar as more gritty and a bit dirtier – but at the same time full of flavor. This profile also plays into the cigar’s name. When translated literally “Mi Querida” means “my dearest”, but it is also a term commonly referred to a husband’s mistress. In particular, in Nicaragua it refers to one’s “secret mistress” (since it is often common for a wife to know about the mistress”). This secret mistress is the “dirty little secret” and thus plays into the connection of the cigar’s profile.

As for the cigar itself, Mi Querida utilizes a wrapper that many will often associate with Saka – Connecticut Broadleaf. The remainder of the blend is all-Nicaraguan. For Mi Querida, Saka chose to use NACSA (Nicaraguan American Cigar S.A.) to handle production of his blend. Back when Saka launched Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust, he had selected Joya de Nicaragua to make Sobremesa, but also stated he would not be single factory focused. This is what he said at the time he launched his company:

“Unlike most cigar companies, we will not be single factory focused. I have learned over the years there is no one single factory that is the best, but rather there are many great factories and each has its own unique attributes from its personnel, methodologies of fermentation, inventories of leaf and/or construction techniques that make each of them capable of creating something exceptional. My approach will be to select an individual factory based on its inherent strengths, incorporate my own skills and selected leaf and to create something that elevates together the art of handmade cigars.”

This decision was made to keep the Mi Querida under ten dollars.

Blend Profile:

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (NACSA)

Vitolas Available:

The following are the four regular offering by Mi Querida. Each of these are offered in 20 count boxes:

Fino Largo: 6 x 48 REVIEWED TODAY
Ancho Corta: 5 x 52
Ancho Largo: 6 x 52
Muy Gordo Grande: 6 x 56

The following are the four limited offerings that are planned. All are planned to be in 20 count boxes except for SakaKhan and Mas Sucia which are planned to be in 10 count boxes.

Pequeño Pequeño: 4 x 44
Gordita: 4 x 48
SakaKhan: 7 x 50
Mas Sucia: 7 x 64


The cigar is very dark and has an oily wrapper. It has a nice feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors were molasses and dark coffee. There was a ton of black pepper rated at an 8 1/2.

1 1/2 inches in the molasses notes have separated into the flavors of brown sugar, chocolate, and dry cocoa. The pepper remains very good. The finish is a cream with a little aspect of chocolate with nice lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium to full bodied and moving rapidly toward full bodied. The cigar is rather full bodied yet smooth.

About 2 1/2 inches in there are flashes of blackberry notes. They are not in abundance but I get flashes here and there. The cigar is now full bodied. The other flavors are still there; dark coffee, brown sugar, light cocoa notes and chocolate., plus the pepper remains very good. The finish is unchanged. The cigar is very dark noted.

With about 1 1/2 inches remaining I noticed the sweetness has decreased as the cigar goes along. There is also an earthy note that goes along with the dark coffee. The brown sugar and chocolate is still there but they are now out manned by the heavy earthy coffee. Perhaps this is playing off the "dirty" aspect of the description of this cigar. The cigar is still full bodied. The cigar has changed from one that was fairly sweet to a heavy, earthy coffee noted cigar.

At the end I got a few notes of dry wood to go along with the other notes. The cigar remained heavy on an earthy coffee with light brown sugar and chocolate notes. The pepper actually decreased slightly to a 7 1/2. The finish was unchanged. This was a good dark noted, full bodied cigar. Those of you who like Steve's style will no doubt enjoy this cigar.

Score: 92