Cigar Review: Cha Cha Sugar 2023 Exclusive

In my few years of enjoying cigars, I have come across a few niche brands and even some small batch limited edition sticks. One that caught my eye last year was the Cha Cha Sugar 2023 Exclusive. I have been part of the Cha Cha Sugar cigar club since 2022, so it was an easy decision to order some sticks.

I can say with full confidence that I was not disappointed. I smoked one before deciding to review them, then smoked three for the review. Without any further ado, here is my full review of the Cha Cha Sugar 2023 Exclusive cigar:

The Basics: 

Name: Cha Cha Sugar 2023 Exclusive

Manufacturer: Cha Cha Sugar

Length: 7"

Gauge: 44

Cap: Triple

Shape: Lancero

Wrapper: Connecticut

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Price: $6/stick (special 2023 exclusive sale price)

Seller: Cha Cha Sugar

Purchase Date: July 2023

Smoke Date(s): 3 - September 10^th 2023, November 17^th 2023, February 8^th 2024

Location / Occasion: Review

Cut: 2x Straight, 1x V-Cut

Smoke Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes – 1 hour 30 minutes

Flavor Body: Mild-Medium

Strength: Mild-Medium

Notes:

• Cigars were rested in a climate-controlled wineador at 70F/70% RHC
• Torch lighter was used for initial light-up and touch-ups on every cigar
• All 3 cigars were smoked in environments with no wind

Review:

For this review, I compared the notes I took while smoking all three cigars to see if there were any similarities and differences between sticks. Being a premium, hand-rolled cigar, I knew they wouldn't be exactly the same, but consistency is key.

Appearance And Construction (14/15) 

After removing the cigar from its protective cellophane wrapper, I inspected it with my hands and eyes. I gently squeezed the stick from top to bottom looking for any soft spots where the tobacco may not have been evenly rolled. I also visually inspected the wrapper, checking for blemishes, cracks, and discoloration.

Error Free Construction (8/8)

Each cigar was tightly packed and had light give when squeezed. The triple cap is applied in such a way that even a deep V-Cut wouldn't cause it to unravel.

Wrapper Leaf (4/5)

The colour of the wrapper leaf was consistent from cigar to cigar. There were spots where the veins of the wrapper leaf were more pronounced. This doesn't affect flavour.

The Band (2/2)

This cigar comes with two bands: a small golden foot band and a colourful sugar skull logo band higher up on the stick. The logo band is vibrant and would catch your eye on a tobacconist's shelf.

I may be a bit biased. I really like sugar skulls.

Flavour (20/25) 

For this part of the review, I made notes of every flavour I came across while smoking the cigars and pointed out which notes were dominant and which ones fell back. Each cigar transitioned from one flavour to the next at slightly different times, but the overall flavour profiles remained the same.

First Third (6/7)

Upon initial light-up I was met with a mix of cedar, light roast coffee, and a small amount of black pepper that lingered on the tongue. This lasted for about the first inch. Nothing was overwhelming and no flavour dominated over another.

As I progressed through the first third I began to notice notes of sweet citrus, almost like candied orange peel. It was a nice little surprise and added more depth to the flavour profile.

One of the cigars began to develop a slight mineral note that hung around with the pepper. It came and went throughout the first third, at times almost hiding and then reappearing a few puffs later.

Second Third (6/7) 

During the second third, cedar fell back and almond became the main flavour. There was also a graham cracker and honey accord that sat just behind the cedar, giving the cedar a bit of a sweet kick. The pepper died down as well, but the citrus and mineral notes remained.

At this point I detected the mineral note in all three cigars I smoked for this review.

Final Third (5/7)

In the final third, the almond note fell away and the cedar returned, this time stronger than it was in the first third. The pepper also decided to turn up to 11 and almost overpowered all the other notes as the cigars progressed.

The citrus and mineral notes also ebbed and flowed, sometimes being prominent and then almost completely disappearing before returning once more.

Flavour Harmony (3/4)

This cigar provided a nice assortment of flavours. At no point was I thrown for a loop with a drastic change in composition. With most cigars, the final third is stronger and hotter, so the amplified spice from the pepper was to be expected.

There were times when this cigar reminded me of a Cuban cigar. Many Cuban cigars with similar wrapper colours will give you notes of woods, nuts, pepper, and mineral. I wonder if any of the tobacco used in the blend was Cuban seed.

Smoking Characteristics (21/25) 

During my reviews I paid close attention to the tightness of the draw, how the cigar burned, the number of touch-ups needed (if the burn was unable to fix itself), and the smoke output.

Draw (6/7)

All three cigars provided good draws. The first cigar I smoked was slightly tighter than the others in the first third but became looser as it was smoked. At no point did I need to use a draw tool or bore a hole with my nubber.

Filler Burn (7/7)

The filler burned well. This resulted in nice, long ash that never once ended up on my lap. Once I tapped the ash, I was met with little to no coning, which tells me the filler was burning consistently.

The filler was light greyish white in colour and kept its shape when I knocked the ash off.

Wrapper Burn (5/7) 

The wrapper did end up having a wavy burn at least once on every cigar I smoked for this review. I had to touch up one of the cigars twice. I always give my wavy burns time to correct themselves but if they continue to get worse, I give them a light tickle with my torch.

Smoke Output (3/4)

The smoke on this cigar was on the denser side but not thick enough to make me feel like I was waiting for the headlining band to take the stage at a rock show. It lingered for a moment then dissipated. I tried making smoke rings but failed miserably every time. Perhaps practice will make perfect for future reviews.

Overall Experience (32/35) 

After smoking three of these cigars for the purpose of this review, I'm glad that I purchased a 10 pack and not just singles. This is a cigar I see myself returning to during the summer, pairing it with a crisp white wine or even a Belgian beer while kicking back on the patio or tending to the BBQ.

Enjoyment (22/24)

I may be forgiven for bringing up an old memory of Ron Popeil in an apron showcasing Ronco's Showtime Rotisserie by saying "set it and forget it", but the saying rings true for this cigar. Aside from the couple of touch-ups on one stick, this cigar is a relatively low maintenance, enjoyable smoke.

This is an approachable stick if you are just getting into cigars and want to try something from a niche brand.

Desire To Smoke Again (4/4)

This is a cigar that will have a permanent spot in my wineador.

Value (4/4)

While I did get these cigars at a discounted price, I believe the regular price is only $10 per stick and is cheaper if you purchase a 10-pack or a box. They aren't sold in stores, so you'll have to reach out to Cha Cha Sugar directly (and mention this review) to get your hands on some of these sticks.

Uniqueness (2/3)

As far as uniqueness goes, this cigar isn't reinventing the wheel by any means, but it will give you an enjoyable experience. Like I said earlier in my review, it does have similar flavours to lighter coloured Cuban cigars, so if you live in an area where you can't get Cubans, this may just scratch that itch.

Final Score: 87/100

Overall Thoughts:

Whether you're a beginner or a pro, The Cha Cha Sugar Exclusive 2023 is an enjoyable smoke from start to finish. It provides a smooth flavour profile with mild to medium strength so you won't end up getting knocked off your feet from a nicotine kick.

This is a cigar you can enjoy with a morning cup of coffee, while doing yard work, at the golf course, or even just kicking back and catching some rays. You won't be disappointed.

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