We all know anniversary cigars. But a 500 year anniversary? That's some next level commitment to a theme. While most brands are out here celebrating their 5th or 10th year like they just discovered fire, Reinier Lorenzo decided to commemorate half a millennium since the Spanish founded Havana in 1519. The man literally named his company HVC - Havana City - so when November 16, 2019 rolled around marking 500 years of Cuba's capital existing, you knew he wasn't going to let that slide without rolling something special. Originally released as a limited edition that immediately became a unicorn, the 500 Years Anniversary proved so popular it eventually became regular production. This particular Short Toro vitola was crafted as a Small Batch Cigar exclusive, with Lorenzo adding a touch more Estelí tobacco to maintain balance in the compressed format. Limited to 600 boxes of 15, it's the kind of release that makes you actually read shipping confirmation emails.
🔥 THE VITALS 🔥
Cigar: HVC 500 Years Anniversary Short Toro
Master Blender: Reinier Lorenzo
Size: 4 1/2" x 52 (Short Toro) - Small Batch Cigar Exclusive
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos HVC S.A. de Reinier Lorenzo (Estelí)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo '99 (Jalapa)
Binder: Nicaraguan (Jalapa)
Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo '98 and Corojo '99 (Estelí and Jalapa)
Price: ~$9-12 MSRP
Strength: Medium to Medium-Full
🚀 WE ARE LIT!
Draw: Excellent with just the right resistance
Burn: Even and consistent throughout
Smoke Output: Generous clouds worthy of the celebration
Ash: Dense and pale, holding well past an inch
The Corojo '99 wrapper presents in that gorgeous milk chocolate brown that makes you understand why people take photos of cigars instead of just smoking them. Seams are tight enough to be invisible and the triple cap sits perfectly in true Cuban tradition - because when you're commemorating 500 years of Havana, you don't cut corners on presentation. The Short Toro format delivers the full 500 experience in a more manageable package, like getting the director's cut condensed into a theatrical release that somehow doesn't lose the plot. Construction from Lorenzo's own Estelí factory reflects the obsessive quality control that comes from having just 10 rollers working in pairs while the owner watches over their shoulders.
🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY
FIRST THIRD: The Foundation
Fresh bread emerges immediately on the light - not artisanal sourdough from a Brooklyn startup, but honest bakery bread like your grandmother would recognize. Cream joins the party bringing a richness to the profile that coats the palate without overstaying its welcome. Spice arrives with restraint, white pepper mostly, announcing itself on the retrohale like a polite guest who brought wine. The Jalapa Corojo wrapper is doing its thing, delivering that signature Cuban-profile sweetness Lorenzo chases with every blend. There's an underlying nuttiness developing in the background, roasted peanuts with a hint of salt, setting up what's to come. The medium body feels perfectly calibrated for the shorter format, dense with flavor without demanding your full attention.
SECOND THIRD: The Development
The nuttiness that was hinting in the first third now steps fully into the spotlight - cashews and almonds joining the earlier peanut notes in what's becoming a surprisingly sophisticated nut medley. Leather enters the profile, supple and well-worn rather than tannic or harsh. Black pepper builds on the earlier white pepper foundation, particularly on the retrohale where it creates a pleasant tingle that doesn't cross into aggression. Cedar and oak wood tones emerge, adding structure to the creamy base. There's a subtle sweetness here too, almost like buttered popcorn, a characteristic Corojo calling card that makes you understand why Lorenzo keeps going back to this varietal. The body pushes toward medium-full territory while maintaining impeccable balance, like a tightrope walker who makes it look boring.
FINAL THIRD: The Crescendo
Earth takes the lead in the final act, rich and complex rather than muddy or one-dimensional. The bread notes from the opening transform into something more like toasted biscuit as the cedar intensifies. Coffee emerges - not espresso-aggressive but more like a well-made pour-over that someone who actually knows coffee would order. Sweet tobacco weaves through everything, the kind of natural tobacco sweetness that reminds you this is actual fermented leaf and not a chemistry experiment with flavor extracts. A slight mineral quality adds depth to the finish while the pepper maintains its presence without overwhelming. The cigar closes clean, exactly as Lorenzo intended - no harshness, no bitterness, just a satisfying conclusion that makes you immediately understand why this limited release became regular production by popular demand.
🏆 THE VERDICT:
A- TIER
Flavor: A-
Construction: A
Availability: C (SBC Exclusive, Limited Production)
Price: A
Final Rating:
The HVC 500 Years Anniversary Short Toro delivers everything Lorenzo promises about Cuban-profile cigars in a format that fits into a lunch break without sacrificing complexity.
📊 BOTTOM LINE
Reinier Lorenzo went from checking cow genetics in Wisconsin to running his own cigar factory in Nicaragua, which is either an inspirational immigrant success story or the most elaborate midlife crisis in agricultural history. Either way, the HVC 500 Years Anniversary proves he made the right call. This is a cigar that honors Cuban tradition without being shackled by it - Nicaraguan tobacco delivering a profile that would make Havana proud while adding the kind of flavor-forward punch that the original island struggles to consistently achieve these days. The Short Toro format was specifically tweaked with additional Estelí tobacco to maintain balance, proving Lorenzo actually understands that different sizes need different approaches rather than just using the same blend in every mold like it's a Xerox machine. At roughly $10-12 per stick with this level of quality and complexity, the value proposition is genuinely excellent. The C availability rating reflects the SBC exclusive nature and limited 600-box production, but this is a hunt worth undertaking.
TLDR: Buy it and try it if you can find it.
