Earlier this year, Micallef Cigars released the next color in their color series, the White. Previous releases include the Black, Red, Blue Purple, and Green. Looking at the blend, it is safe to assume that it might be the mildest release in the series. A Connecticut-seed wrapper, over a Connecticut broadleaf binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Before the release of the White, the Purple held that title. My question is, “Will the Connecticut broadleaf binder add enough ‘oomph’ to keep the blend interesting?”

OVERVIEW

VITOLA: Toro
SIZE: 6″ x 52

ORIGIN: Nicaragua
FACTORY: Micallef Cigars S.A.

WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Connecticut
BINDER: Connecticut Broadleaf
FILLER: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua

STRENGTH: Medium to Medium-Full

SOURCE:
halfwheel

ENVIRONMENT

WHERE:
Studio/Lounge

WHEN:
May 2 @2pm

DRINKS:
Bottled Water

WEATHER:
Indoors

HOW MANY CIGARS SMOKED:
3

PRODUCTION

RELEASE TYPE Regular Prodcution

ORIGINALLY RELEASE DATE February ’26

TOTAL PRODUCTION
Typical Box Size: Boxes of 25
Production Totals: Unknown

VITOLA BREAKDOWN
o Toro (6″ x 52)
o Robusto (5″ x 52)

BAND DESIGN

The Micallef White sticks to the script when it comes to the band. It is white with gold accents and features the Micallef logo, a coat of arms, in the center. On one side, “Handmade by Gomez Sanchez Family” is displayed. Micallef has long honored their relationship with the Gomez Sanchez family and it is good to see that continue. The other side has the factory written on it, “Fabrica de Micallef Esteli, Nicaragua.” The inside has two hands shaking and says,” Two Families. One Legacy.” Another nod to the partnership between the Gomez Sanchez family and Micallef.

PRE-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS

CONSTRUCTION
The Connecticit-seed wrapper is a light shade of caramel brown, smooth to touch, and has very few veins or imperfections. The White Toro appears to be expertly triple capped. I have to remind myself that this is a sub $10 cigar. The cigar feels firm between my fingers, and there are no obvious hard or soft spots to be found.

AROMA

The wrapper has notes of wood, barnyard, and a hint of dry grass. The foot gives off notes of earth, barnyard, fruit, sweet tobacco, and yeasty bread.

COLD DRAW

The cold draw reveals bread, sweet fig, wood, and earth. The draw itself has just the right amount of resistance.

SMOKING EXPERIENCE

LIGHT & DRAW
Cut: S.T. Dupont x Fender Cutter/Stand
Fire: S.T. Dupont x Fender Ligne 2 Lacquered Lighter

The initial light has notes of charred wood, black pepper, red pepper, salted nuts, caramel, and an earthiness. The flavors seem to take turns on which one dominates the initial light. Finally settling on caramel and salted nuts. Red pepper lingers on my palate. It’s spicier than I imagined it would be, even for the initial light.

SMOKE

The smoke is thick and chewy. Even at rest the White gives off a satisfying amount of smoke. The smoke coats my palate in a very pleasant way.

FIRST THIRD
>> Caramel, Wood, Black Pepper

The initial third begins with notes of caramel, wood, salted peanuts, and earth. Cayenne pepper lingers on my palate. Black pepper rules the retrohale. There is a sweetness that comes through, as well. Butter, cream, and lightly toasted bread add their vouces to the chorus. This is obviously not your dad’s Connecticut. There is some giddy-up to the Micallef White Toro. The burn line is razor sharp and the ash is compact, grey in color with black streaks. Pepper and sweetness linger on my palate, but the finish isn’t as long as I would like. The White Toro I smoked for the pictures, begins to burn slightly uneven. The other two smoked for this review did not.

SECOND THIRD
>> Salted Nuts, Wood, Black Pepper

The middle third begins with the sweetness fading and a wood note taking over. Salted nuts, coffee, and earth round out the dominant tasting notes. Pepper and butter come and go, and it becomes a bit more pepper forward. Notes of grass, nuts, wood, and coffee now. There is a subtle hint of baking spices floating through. The burn has evened out and the ash is still compact and beautiful. Again, I must remind myself that the Micallef White is a sub $10 cigar. Black pepper still rules the retrohale. Baking spices, butter, earth, semi-sweet chocolate, and coffee now. Pepper, wood, a slight sweetness on the finish. The finish seems to linger a bit longer in the middle third. The smoke continues to be creamy and satisfying. Wood, salted cashews, butter, a honey sweetness, and coffee take over the heavy lifting. Baking spices, pepper, and a herbaceousness weave in and out of the middle third.

FINAL THIRD
>> Toasted Bread, Honey, Black Pepper

The final third sses a shift to bold notes of toffee, red pepper flake, toasted bread, roasted nuts, earth, and charred wood. Baking spices and black pepper rule the retrohale. The profile has jumped from medium to medium-full. This ain’t your daddy’s Connecticut. Cayenne pepper scratches at the back of my throat, but the honey-like sweetness rounds out any harshness. Black coffee, honey roasted nuts, butter, earth, charred wood all crescendo in this final third. The burn is razor sharp and the ash remains compact. A bitter grassy note jumps out, but only for a moment. Coffee, pepper, dark chocolate, wood, and earth as the White Toro comes to a close.

RATING & FINAL THOUGHTS

FLAVOR PROGRESSION

The Micallef White Toro has enough complexity and subtle notes to remain interesting throughout. Earth, coffee, wood, nuts all rounded out by notes of butter, pepper, cream, honey, and chocolate. What starts as a firmly medium profile ramps up to medium-full by the end.

BURN EXPERIENCE

Zero issues here. It became slightly uneven in the first third, but quickly self-corrected and remained razor sharp throughout each one smoked for this review.

RATING BREAKDOWN
0.80 / 0.80 … Craft & Aesthetic
0.50 / 0.50 … Pre-Light Characteristics
0.50 / 0.50 … Lighting Process
7.00 / 7.70 … Smoking Experience
0.40 / 0.50 … Personal Enjoyment

COMPLIMENTS & CRITIQUES

VALUE PROP OR JUST PLAIN GOOD?

If you’re a fan of mild Connecticuts, then the Micallef White may not be the cigar for you. However, if you enjoy a Connecticut with personality you may have hot the jackpot. Personally, I still belueve the Purple is the mildest in Micallef’s color series, but the White starts off with a similar medium profile. The White slowly builds and has great earthy notes that are surrounded by sweet and spicy notes. When the final third finally comes around you’re left asking yourself, “Is this a true Connecticut?” By the end you realize it doesn’t matter. Why? Because the White kept your attention and delivered a complex and nuanced experience from beginning to end…all for under $10.00.

SIMPLY STOGIES RATING: 9.2 / 10.0

Cigar Review: Micallef White Toro