Among the many questions I have about this cigar:
- El Legend-Ario. Why the hyphen?
- On the Camacho website the following helpful information is available about the components of this cigar: Wrapper – Shhhh! Binder – Shhhh! Filler – Shhhh! Why the secrecy?
- Why no band?
I have my theories, but no real answers to these questions. My guess is that it’s for the same reason all new cars look like electric shavers– it’s marketing and hype, fashion even. Like Rocky Patel’s very successful Edge line, the El Legend-Ario has no band and is packed in crates of 100. The hyphen is probably an attention getting gimmick for crazy people like me who think about these details, and the secrecy behind the makeup is traditional marketing sorcery. The bigger the secret, the larger the draw.
But in reality, what really fascinates me about this cigar is simply that it is made by Camacho. The Eiroas have been producing some of the most distinctive cigars on the market in the past few years, and I’d try anything they make, at least once.
The guys at the Stogie Review reviewed the El Legend-Ario on their site and also on the Dogwatch Social Club podcast. After listening to the show and reading their reviews I had to grab a couple.
Cigarcyclopedia has apparently infiltrated the Camacho operation in Danli, and they have come away with the highly classified information that the El Legend-Ario is a Honduran puro, composed entirely of leaf from the Jamastran Valley. The one I’m smoking today is the figurado, which is about 6 inches long and flares to a 54 ring gauge at the foot.
The construction on this stick is good, but not great. Both of the samples I’ve tried were a little soft, and though they burned evenly the loose roll contributed to a fast burn. I’m a fairly slow smoker and I burned through these in about 40 minutes per stick. A little fast for a torpedo.
The El Legend-Ario is mild by Camacho standards. I’m accustomed to the Corojo and Havana lines, which are comparatively strong and peppery. This one is almost bland by comparison. The predominate flavor is mildly bitter coffee, with a nice woody overtone. There isn’t too much of a transition as its burns to the end, just a smidgeon of pepper making an appearance on the finale.
I’d say this is a middle-of-the-road cigar for Camacho, a brand that has a reputation for big Honduran flavor. It’s a good cigar, but I have to say I was mildly disappointed. A nice July 3rd cigar. But not for the 4th.
N.B. The “electric shaver” comment was stolen from the movie Sin City.
Cigarfan.net 
Nice review! We all had the same questions as you. No band…the hyphen. It must be some “new age” thing we’re not use to. I’m going to have to check out some additional cigars by Camacho. I’ve only had the Camacho Negro and I wasn’t that impressed with it.
The Legend-ario and the Camacho Negro are two of the mildest smokes Camacho makes, next to the Candela anyway. So be prepared for a much heavier bodied experience with the other models. I like the Havana line for a strong peppery flavor, and the corojo for a more refined, but still heavy-bodied Cuban-style cigar. The Diploma thoroughly kicked my ass, in the best way possible! I look forward to your reviews!
The legend came out to compete with the edge. No cello, no band, bulk packaging = good price / sells well. Not to mention, packaging in boxes of 100 pisses off the retailer and pretty much denies all box sales, but the extra shelf space it takes up makes it stick out very well to the consumer. We sell a ton of the larger Bertha size. I never push the cigar, but it sells itself well.
Manufacturers try to give little information about their cigars for good reason. You don’t want everyone to know what’s in your mullogutani soup, do you?
Camacho is finally getting more progressive. They just came out with the Select and also just opened up Camacho Cigar Bar in Comerica Park, Detroit.
Good points, bla. I agree for the most part, but let me play devil’s advocate for a second: Camacho becoming more “progressive” worries me a little. The brand’s reputation has been for strong spicy blends. Of course they’re in business to sell cigars, but are they compromising their reputation to market to the common denominator? Camacho ain’t Macanudo, right?
Rocky Patel now has the “Edge Lite” which is a total contradiction in terms, but seems to be the same sort of compromise. I don’t like it, and while I understand the whole market-driven thing I hope that flavor and character doesn’t lose out in the end.
Camacho is taking the CAO approach to cigars that appeal to the new cigar smoker and not really us old time aficionados who buy what we like. I’m just waiting for Camacho to produce a flavored line like CAO does. Mango, Mint Chocolate, Espresso cigar anyone?
Only if they are presented in flashing neon boxes and delivered to my door by ladies in pastel bikinies! A man must have principles.