4 7/8″ x 50
Juan López Selección No.2 Prelight
Juan López is a pre-revolution Cuban brand that was established in the 1870s by the eponymous founder of the marca, Juan López. There isn’t all too much history available about the brand, and Habanos has not been very kind to it in recent years. There used to be quite a few vitolas, but outside of regionals and limited editions there are only 2 vitolas available. The Juan López Selección No.2, and the Selección No.1.
The Selección No.2 is a Robusto 4 7/8″ x 50 that debuted back in the 1990s. The wrapper is chocolate brown and very smooth. The band is very old school cool – I love the red and the gold embossing. This example was dry boxed for 6 hours before smoking. A punch cut revealed a slightly snug, but serviceable draw. The cold draw is showing sweet cedar, and yeasty bread. I carefully lit this one with my torch lighter.
Juan López Selección No.2 First Third
The notes on the first puff are medium roast coffee, cedar, and citrus sweetness. The palate is showing white bread, cedar, and some sugar cane juice. The retrohale is drop coffee, clementine and a bit of floral spice. About an inch in the white bread is shifting towards a brioche, and the floral spice is already beginning to settle down. The orange, coffee, and sweet bread notes are playing very well together here. The smoke output is good, and texture is smooth and creamy.
Juan López Selección No.2 Second Third
The flavors are more or less consistent, but there’s a steady ramp up in the intensity of flavor. The palate is all toasted brioche, cedar, and cream. The retro is showing drip coffee, clementine, vanilla bean and a tingle of white pepper. The finish has grown much longer in the second third with lingering notes of drip coffee and a citrus. Construction and smoke output continue to be great. Smoke texture has gotten more chewy towards the end of the second third. The flavors are melding towards something like a vanilla cream with some orange zest – it’s very tasty right here.
Juan López Selección No.2 Final Third
In the final third the profile is leaning more dry. Palate notes are toasted brioche, toasted oak, and vanilla bean cream, but the vanilla is quickly dwindling. The retrohale is stale coffee, and just a touch of that orange sweetness. Past the band the orange is still just barely present. The remaining notes are the toasted oak, and vanilla bean. Still a very tasty smoke, and enjoyable all the way to the nub.
Juan López Selección No.2 Conclusions
I picked up a 25er of these about a year ago. The box code and date are OME ABR ’23. I smoked one relatively fresh about 6 months ago, and was pretty disappointed by the flavors. This is my second time dipping into this box, and I have to say I feel like I got very lucky with this one. This cigar is just old school cool, from the band to the blend. The coffee, brioche and citrus notes were fantastic throughout the blend. Construction, and smoke performance were also very impressive. It’s not as complex as some other blends I’ve had, but it’s just a very tasty profile. I stick to water for my reviews, but this cigar really had me craving an iced coffee. Pick one up with an iced americano, or a spritz in hand, or be like me and just buy a box.
