Reigning Flavors: A Decree on Raíces Cubanas Liga De Reyes

Blend & Construction / Tobacco Composition

Knowing what goes into the Liga de Reyes helps understand why it behaves the way it does.

Component	Origin & Details
Wrapper	Honduran, from Trojes region.
Binders	Dual binder: one from the Jamastran Valley in Honduras; another from Estelí, Nicaragua.
Filler	Four specially selected filler leaves drawn from the regions of Trojes and Jamastrán in Honduras.
Factory & Origin	Manufactured by Fábrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas S. de R.L., in Honduras.
Strength / Body	Classified as Medium to Medium-Plus. Strength and body build gradually.

Visually and physically, the Liga de Reyes tends to have a darkish brown wrapper with mottling and visible veins. There is a touch of oil, some tooth, and the construction (in the Toro examples) has been solid: good draw, clean burn, decent smoke output.

Flavor Journey

Here is how the cigar evolves as it is smoked:

First Third

• Initial Aromas / Cold Draw: Notes of aged cedar, dark chocolate or cocoa nibs, raisin sweetness, earth, coffee bean, and perhaps a touch of leather. Some sample cigars also presented hints of sourdough bread and peanuts early on. 
• First Light / Early Burning: Starts smooth. The first puffs are dominated by earth, a clean coffee note, perhaps some creamy cedar, with minimal spice. The sweetness (raisin, dark fruit) plays in the background. The strength and body begin closer to mild-medium or just under medium. 

Second Third

• Shifts in Flavor: In this portion the cedar and cocoa nibs (or dark chocolate) rise to more prominent positions. Peanuts and sourdough bread that were more supporting notes earlier start to recede, or become secondary flavors merging into the palate. Leather and dry earth become more pronounced; tea leaves, dry mulch, possibly oatmeal or grainy texture appear. 
• Spice & Strength: Slight increases in pepper (white pepper especially) begin to show, particularly on retrohales. The strength steps up from mild-medium toward a solid medium; the body follows suit — fuller smoke, more expressive flavor. 

Final Third

• Climax & Balance: The cigar moves into its full flavor stride. Cocoa and cedar remain prominent; earth and coffee beans deepen. Leather and dry wood are more evident. The sweetness (raisiny or fruit) remains, but is now more of a counterpoint than a leading character. Some finishers note elements like sourdough, peanuts, or subtle citrus/herbal flashes (e.g. lemongrass in some samples) toward the finish. 
• Spice & Finish: The pepper does not usually become overwhelming, but retrohale spice is more noticeable. The finish is fairly warming, lingering, but the cigar retains balance—no harsh bite in most samples. The nub tends to be cool and comfortable, though the flavor remains “full”. 

Beverage Pairing Suggestions

Because Liga de Reyes features a rich blend of wood, cocoa, earth, coffee, fruit sweetness and moderate pepper, here are some beverage pairings to complement or highlight its traits:

• Alcoholic Beverages
  1. A well-aged Honduran or Central American rum, ideally lightly aged with notes of oak, vanilla, maybe caramel. This will echo the sweetness and brown sugar / raisin elements while standing up to cedar and earth.
  2. A Medium to full bodied whiskey / bourbon with oak, char, toffee or vanilla, perhaps some spice. Should match well with the cocoa and wood, helping to bring out the darker tones in the final third.
  3. A Rioja Reserva or a medium-bodied red wine (e.g. a Malbec or a smooth Grenache) with dark fruit, some tannin, maybe even a bit of leather or tobacco in the wine’s profile. These can complement the fruit/raisin and the earth in the cigar.

• Non-Alcoholic Options
  1. Cold-brew coffee or a well-made espresso (not too bitter) to pull out the coffee bean, dark chocolate, and earthy side of the cigar.
  2. Black tea (e.g. Assam or Darjeeling second flush) maybe with a hint of milk or cream, to match creaminess and help moderate the pepper in the retrohale.
  3. Citrus herbal water (lemon or orange peel infused) or lightly sweetened iced tea to help refresh the palate, especially early in the smoke.
  4. Sparkling mineral water – always useful to cleanse between draws, especially when the smoke becomes heavier in the final third.

Conclusion

The Raíces Cubanas Liga de Reyes is a strong showing from the factory—an expertly crafted cigar that balances complexity with accessibility. It builds in strength and flavor in a measured way: not overwhelming out of the gate, but rewarding patience as the smoke progresses. The dual binder construction, the use of quality fillers from Trojes and Jamastrán, and the Trojes wrapper all come together to provide depth, texture, and consistency. The burn was mostly even with a few corrections along the way.

For smokers who appreciate a cigar that evolves—where initial sweetness, earth, and coffee provide the foundation, and then wood, leather, and moderate spice take over—the Liga de Reyes is a worthy addition to the humidor. It offers good value for its price point especially considering its construction, complexity, and the gradual increase in body that makes for a dynamic smoking session.

My opinion: expect a cigar that is medium in the first half, then moves toward the medium-plus range without sacrificing refinement. Give it time, pair wisely, and this cigar will reward you with a satisfying, multifaceted experience from start to finish.

“Savor the moment, Mute life and Embrace the richness of the smoke.” ~ Sarge 09/30/2025