The Particulars

The Review

This review for the Definition Anillo (Black & Gold Band) - Toro (Box Press) (6.25 x 54) is based on the journal entry dated 2025-07-21

Appearance & Construction (0-3):  Good (3)

A sharper box press that’s flattened to a rectangular shape, the Anillo is a striking-looking cigar between its dark and oily wrapper and the black and gold woven band. The wrapper has a light sheen and decent mottling but no noticeable tooth. It does have a soft texture and a little give when squeezed. There are a couple of thicker veins, but they’re pressed in. The seams are tight, blending in, and the triple cap is clean and even.

Draw (0-3) & Burn (0-4):  Good (3) / Great (4)

The draw is just slightly loose of perfect, but still has good resistance and the burn starts nicely. The ash is a very light gray with tight, dark striations giving it an almost zebra look. There’s just a touch of flakiness but it’s holding well, lasting to the midpoint. The burn line is almost dead even with just a little waviness; it’s a great burn line overall. Another Definition cigar that generates a good smoke volume as well.

Flavor Profile (0-5):  Great (4)

Earthy and a bit of leather with a heavy charred oak to start. I’m definitely picking up that Pennsylvania Broadleaf. There’s a dry, musty barnyard flavor and gritty earthiness I find fairly identifiable because I’m very hit or miss on it. Sometimes it brings in the right level of dark colors; other times it goes too heavy. Next is strong baking spice, nutmeg-like with a bit of cinnamon and mild pepper. About an inch in, the sweet really starts to hit: dark fruit, mostly plum with a bit of raisin that helps to cut the gritty earth flavors. Now it’s hitting the sweet spot, literally. 😅

Getting into the second third, earthy and hearty is a really good way to describe this blend. Baking cocoa is entering the mix with light coffee; the complexity is increasing nicely and the sweet finish is full-on, bringing more citrusy notes. Aside from a slight peppery burn and a little bit of dry grittiness, it’s a very smooth smoke with medium creaminess to the finish. For being a darker profile, it’s bringing a lot of balance and flavor.

With the final third, the sweetness pulls back, exposing a bit more dry and gritty earth, leather, and charred oak. Spice levels have remained fairly static throughout the smoke, giving just the right amount of flavor and mouth burn. It’s a bit hickory-like, which I’m really digging. Baking cocoa is still present and there’s an occasional black licorice astringency. There’s still more than adequate sweetness; it’s just not at max levels. Harshness bumped a bit at the very end but nothing major, and it certainly didn’t ruin the overall great profile.

Overall Experience (0-5):  Great (4)

A really solid blend. I didn’t love all the dry grittiness that I’m attributing to the PA Broadleaf, but it still hit a lot of the right notes and ultimately won me over, even though it’s not my favorite of the Definition lineup. That’s just personal palate, but if you’re a PA Broadleaf fan, this should really satisfy! 🔥

Review Base Rating (0-5):

4.50

Would I Buy It Again?

Signs point to yes (recommended)

Review Final Score (0-10):

8.83

Overall Score and Individual Journal Entries

While the review is based off one instance of journaling this cigar; there’s a number of reasons you can have different experiences smoking the same cigar multiple times. A blend can evolve with age (for better or worse), palates evolves, preferences change, and sometimes you just get a bad example!  This section captures the ratings from each journal entry and the related journal photo.  Below you’ll find an aggregate score based on every time the cigar has been journaled. Unless it was a gift or on-off smoke, this section will be updated every time I journal this cigar!

The Flavor Wheel

With every cigar I journal, I capture simple ratings of the basic flavor categories that I experience.  These are more generalized than what you would see in a review, but a distinct profile can still be built out.  When multiple instances of the same cigar have been journaled, the scores are averaged out in an attempt to build a reliable flavor profile based on my palate.

The values entered for the strength of each flavor range from 0 to 3.

• 0:   No flavor detected
• 1:   Mild flavor
• 2:   Medium flavor
• 3:   Strong flavor

Note: desktop / large screens will see a flavor wheel while mobile / small screens will see a bar chart.

With every cigar I journal, I capture simple ratings of the basic flavor categories that I experience.  These are more generalized than what you would see in a review, but a distinct profile can still be built out.  When multiple instances of the same cigar have been journaled, the scores are averaged out in an attempt to build a reliable flavor profile based on my palate.

The values entered for the strength of each flavor range from 0 to 3.

• 0:   No flavor detected
• 1:   Mild flavor
• 2:   Medium flavor
• 3:   Strong flavor

Note: desktop / large screens will see a flavor wheel while mobile / small screens will see a bar chart.