Cigar Review: United Cigars Gold Star

CHI-TOWN DEPARTMENT OF CIGAR REVIEWS INCIDENT REPORT

CASE NUMBER: CCR2025-0726-001

DATE/TIME OF INCIDENT: 2025-07-26, 14:04 CDT

LOCATION OF INCIDENT: Cedar Room

REPORTED BY: Marty C.

-I. INCIDENT TYPE: Product Assessment - Cigar

–II. PRODUCT INFORMATION:

• PRODUCT NAME: Gold Star

• BRAND: United Cigars

• MODEL/VITOLA: Robusto 5x52

• MANUFACTURING ORIGIN: Dominican Republic @ Tabecalera Willian Ventura

• COMPONENTS:

  • WRAPPER: Ecuador Habano 2000

  • BINDER: Indonesian Sumatran

  • FILLER: Dominican

• ESTIMATED VALUE: $12.00 USD

---III. NARRATIVE OF ASSESSMENT:

On the aforementioned date, this reviewer conducted an assessment of a cigar identified as the "Gold Star" cigar by United Cigars. The assessment spanned approximately 75 minutes.

A. SENSORY EVALUATION (TASTE):

• FIRST THIRD: Product exhibited notes of sweet tobacco creaminess and cedar, akin to buttered popcorn.

• SECOND THIRD: Continued with similar notes. Retrohale deemed exceptionally smooth. Coffee notes subsequently emerged.

• FINAL THIRD: Predominant flavors observed were creamy coffee and cashews.

• COMPLEXITY: Assessment determined the product to be straightforward in flavor profile, consistently creamy with transitions as noted above.

• STRENGTH: Medium.

• RESIDUAL FLAVOR: Creamy coffee with a hint of spice.

• SCORE (Taste Category): 31/40

B. PHYSICAL EVALUATION (CONSTRUCTION):

• QUALITY: Wrapper observed as smooth, absent of significant veining. Cap noted as flat.

• TACTILE SENSORY: Product exhibited a firm feel.

• PREPARATION: Straight cut performed cleanly.

• SCORE (Construction Category): 19/20

C. FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION (DRAW):

• RESISTANCE: Minor tightness noted, not to a degree warranting detriment to overall experience.

• SMOKE PRODUCTION: Volume observed as moderate.

• CONSISTENCY: Draw remained consistent throughout the assessment.

• SCORE (Draw Category): 19/20

D. VISUAL EVALUATION (APPEARANCE):

• AESTHETICS: Wrapper described as milk chocolate brown, complemented by a black and gold band.

• MARKINGS/BAND: Band features a black matte background with a raised gold star, appearing embroidered.

• OVERALL PRESENTATION: Deemed to be of high quality.

• SCORE (Appearance Category): 10/10

E. COMBUSTION EVALUATION (BURN):

• CONSISTENCY: Burn observed as straight.

• RESIDUE (ASH): Ash noted as white, with an almost painted appearance.

• INTERRUPTIONS: No relights or touch-ups were required.

• DURATION: Approximately 75 minutes.

• SCORE (Burn Category): 10/10

----IV. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS:

The "Gold Star" cigar, a limited release in 2024 to honor Navy SEALs and subsequently made regular production in 2025, presents as a 5x52 Robusto manufactured in the Dominican Republic. It features an Ecuador Habano 2000 wrapper, Indonesian Sumatran binder, and Dominican filler, with a price point of $12.00 USD. The flavor profile progresses from sweet tobacco and cedar to buttered popcorn, then creamy coffee and cashews, characterized by a smooth retrohale and a creamy coffee aftertaste.

-----V. RECOMMENDATIONS/CONCLUSIONS:

• PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: Optimal for consumption with coffee in a morning setting.

• RE-ASSESSMENT PROBABILITY: Positive. Recommendation for purchase of a 5-pack.

• TOTAL SCORE: 89/100

FINAL OBSERVATIONS: The Gold Star cigar is deemed a pleasant morning product, harmonizing well with coffee for a creamy, nutty profile. Its smooth transitions and notable presentation are observed as a fitting tribute to the Navy Seals.

-----END OF REPORT