The La Gloria Cubana Serie R No. 6 Toro is a smoke that is bold, flavorful, and known for pushing the boundaries of full-bodied strength ever since it first started hitting humidors in the late ’90s.
I’ll admit, I went into this review a little hesitant. I’d heard plenty of chatter about the Serie R being too tightly packed, with draws that can feel like you’re pulling through wet concrete. But curiosity always wins out, and once I rolled the cigar gently between my fingers, the draw eased open, and the experience that followed more than justified its classic status.
This cigar review explores what makes the La Gloria Cubana Serie R such a lasting name in humidors around the world.
Profile: Medium to Full
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra (Maduro and Natural versions available)
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican
Factory: General Cigar Dominicana (Santiago, DR)
Sizes Available: No. 6 Toro (6" x 60)
Notable Feature: Cocoa, leather, black pepper, coffee, earth, dark chocolate
Price Point: Around $12-13 per cigar, available in boxes of 24 cigars
The La Gloria Cubana Serie R is part of a legacy that stretches back to Cuba in 1885 and later found new life in Miami under master blender Ernesto Perez Carrillo. His vision for the Gloria Cubana Serie R line reshaped expectations for large-ring cigars, bold, flavorful, and unapologetically full-bodied.
Today, La Gloria Cubana cigars are produced by General Cigar Company in the Dominican Republic, combining Nicaragua filler strength with Connecticut Broadleaf binder sweetness and an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. The result is a blend that balances muscle with refinement, a cigar for those who enjoy rich complexity without harshness.
Fans of the Cubana Serie R note subtle differences between the Natural and Maduro wrappers: the Natural version, which is what I smoked for this review, brings a lighter cedar-and-spice character, while the Maduro Serie R leans darker with molasses and chocolate undertones. Both stay true to the brand’s signature balance of power and finesse, a hallmark that keeps La Gloria Cubana Serie R relevant decades after its debut.
Fun fact: Ernesto Perez Carrillo eventually went on to found his own celebrated brand under his name, E.P. Carrillo Cigars, but the Gloria Cubana Serie R remains one of his enduring creations, a benchmark that still defines the La Gloria name today.
Right out of the cellophane, the La Gloria Cubana Serie R No. 6 Toro makes a strong first impression. The cigar feels substantial in hand; that thick 60-ring gauge gives it some heft and a real presence without feeling unwieldy. The Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper has a deep reddish-brown hue with an oily sheen that glows under light. It’s a little rugged, slightly toothy, and undeniably classic.
The seams are nearly invisible, and the triple cap is cleanly applied; consistent craftsmanship from General Cigar Dominicana. A pre-light inspection shows solid construction with no soft spots; it's almost alarmingly firm from head to foot. Knowing this line’s reputation for tight draws, I gave it a gentle roll between my fingers and noticed a bit of give around the midsection, enough to offer some optimism for a better airflow.
The pre-light aroma carries that signature La Gloria blend of sweet tobacco, cedar, and cocoa, with the foot adding deeper tones of earth, black pepper, and coffee grounds. There’s even a faint hint of citrus when the wrapper warms up in your hand. On the cold draw, I picked up touches of leather, dark chocolate, and a trace of molasses sweetness, all pointing toward a well-aged, full-bodied profile.
Visually, this cigar has character. I don't believe it's meant to look delicate or polished; it’s bold, textured, and built to perform. The La Gloria Cubana Serie R looks like what it is: a strong, full-flavored cigar designed for people who appreciate classic craftsmanship and honest flavor.
Right off the cold draw, the aroma was classic Serie R, earthy tobacco with hints of leather, cocoa, and a light touch of orange peel. The first few puffs brought in a wave of black pepper on the retrohale, followed by rich coffee, cedar, and dry dark chocolate notes.
Smoke output was generous for a tighter-packed stick, and the flavor immediately grabbed my taste buds. There’s a faint toffee-like sweetness beneath the cocoa-and-coffee base, rounding out the initial profile and adding a nice contrast to the spice.
The burn line started a touch wavy but self-corrected within the first inch, a good sign of well-fermented tobacco and proper aging.
The second third is where the La Gloria Cubana Serie R really settles in. That early pepper fades slightly, giving way to a balanced mix of coffee, molasses, and toasted wood. The sweetness from the Connecticut Broadleaf binder becomes more pronounced, adding creaminess against the earthy base.
By this point, the start of the second half, the cigar drifts toward the sweeter side, showing more cream and molasses as the spice softens. Flavors become rounder and more refined, with leather, cocoa, and a touch of citrus lingering on the palate. A faint note of toffee and cedar ties everything together nicely, highlighting the steady flavor density that defines the La Gloria Cubana Serie R experience.
In the last third, the La Gloria Cubana Serie R shifts into its richest territory. The profile leans toward earth, dark chocolate, and roasted coffee, while a gentle sweetness reminiscent of molasses keeps things balanced. A touch of charred oak and toffee shows up near the finish, bringing depth without overpowering the smoke.
Retrohaling through the last third brought a final pop of black pepper and espresso, a fitting close to this classic full-bodied profile.
This phase is bold yet polished. Construction holds strong to the nub with only a minor touch-up, and even with its firm pack, the cigar burns cool and steady. Every puff reinforces why the Gloria Cubana Serie reputation endures: flavor, craftsmanship, and that unmistakable old-school character.
The La Gloria Cubana Serie R has a reputation for being firmly packed, and mine was no exception. The draw leaned toward the tighter side at first, but after a little work, which included some gentle massaging and some rolling between the fingers, it opened up nicely.
Once it did, the burn was consistent, the ash dense and light gray, and the smoke output robust. Construction felt solid through and through, no soft spots, no flaking, and no uneven combustion.
At times, the burn line wandered slightly, a common occurrence with thicker-ring cigars, but it corrected itself quickly. No relights were needed, and performance stayed steady from start to finish.
At around $12 to $13 per stick, the La Gloria Cubana Serie R offers a lot of premium performance for the price. You’re getting aged Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco wrapped in a gorgeous Sumatra leaf, backed by the heritage of one of the most recognized names in cigars.
It’s a cigar that performs well box after box, showing consistent flavor delivery and reliable construction no matter how deep you go into the pack. Few cigars have maintained this kind of performance for over two decades, proof that the La Gloria Cubana Serie R formula still works.
Although some long-time smokers say today’s Serie R isn’t quite the powerhouse it was in the ’90s, it still brings that same no-nonsense flavor and satisfying kick that made it iconic. For the price, it’s a dependable cigar that delivers plenty of flavor without boutique pricing.
The La Gloria Cubana Serie R Natural lives up to its reputation as a powerhouse with depth. From its cocoa-and-leather opening to its dark-chocolate and earthy finish, it embodies what makes La Gloria blends so respected: strength paired with tradition.
Would I have preferred a slightly looser draw? Sure. But even so, this stick delivered complexity, strength, and satisfaction from start to finish, the hallmarks of Gloria Cubana Serie craftsmanship.
While it may not reach the mythic heights of its 1990s heyday, the Serie R remains a dependable and rewarding full-bodied cigar that continues to hold its ground among modern releases. There are interesting things about how this cigar evolves; it may not reinvent itself every third, but it keeps you engaged all the way through the last third.
| Category | Rating (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Flavor | 9.1 |
| Construction | 8.4 |
| Burn / Draw | 7.8 |
| Value | 8.8 |
| Overall Rating | ⭐ 8.5 / 10 |
A bold classic with modern refinement, the Serie R reminds you why La Gloria Cubana still commands respect among fans of powerful, flavor-forward smokes.
You can find the La Gloria Cubana Serie R and other La Gloria Cubana cigars right here at After Action Cigars. Whether you’re a fan of veteran-made brands or just love a blend that rewards your effort after a long day, this is a smoke that delivers on every earned moment.
For more cigar reviews like this one, explore our full lineup of firsthand impressions and brand deep dives at After Action Cigars.
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