Welcome to The Ash Report
I’m on a journey to find the perfect cigar. Every episode I sit down with a cigar, light it up, and tell you exactly what I think — the flavor, how it’s built, how strong it is, and whether it’s worth your money. No fluff. Just honest reviews from someone who genuinely wants to find that perfect smoke.
For Episode 24, I’m smoking the La Orden Serpiente De Terciopelo — also known as the Velvet Snake. Big thanks to Mike over at La Orden for sending these over. Let’s get into it.
How I Score
Every cigar gets scored on a 100-point scale across four categories:
| Category | Points Possible |
|---|---|
| Flavor | 40 |
| Construction | 25 |
| Strength Match | 20 |
| Value | 15 |
Simple. What matters most is flavor, and the score reflects that.
The Cigar
La Orden is a boutique brand, and this stick is built with an Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper, Mexican binder, and a Dominican and Nicaraguan filler blend. The name itself is worth knowing — Serpiente De Terciopelo translates to “velvet snake,” named after the terciopelo, a pit viper found throughout Central and South America also known as the fer-de-lance. It’s one of the most recognizable snakes in the region, and the name fits the cigar well once you smoke it — there’s a smoothness to it, but it’s got some bite up front.
Michael designed the flagship size, a 6″x56 toro, specifically for someone who’s never smoked a cigar before and wants to try it for the first time. It runs $12 for the toro and $11.25 for a 5″x50. Worth keeping that beginner-friendly intent in mind as you read the review — this cigar is doing a specific job, and it does it well.
First Impressions
Right off the bat, spice is forward — front of the mouth, no hiding from it. There’s an earthy cocoa note in there too, and on the retrohale you get a real, defined flavor push, which isn’t always a given with smaller boutique brands. A lot of boutique sticks can be chaotic up front. This one isn’t. It’s got a clear, definable profile from the jump — spice forward, earthy, with just a teeny bit of sweetness balancing it out. Not overwhelming like an Añejo from Arturo Fuente. Just a clean, direct first impression.
The Smoke
The flavor evolves, which I always appreciate. It starts spice forward, but heading into the second third, that spice starts giving way to a nice sweet molasses note. A lot of cigars — boutique or legacy — fall into the trap of having just one note the whole way through. This one doesn’t. First third, second third, and on into the last third, there’s something happening. That’s a sign of a well thought out blend.
For a pairing, I’m a coffee guy — always have been, even ran a small coffee shop at one point — and this cigar goes great with an espresso or a morning coffee. Easy, safe pairing right off the bat.
Construction is pretty solid out of the gate. Not too veiny. I did notice a dent in the wrapper, which wasn’t from biting or my mouth — just something to note. The wrapper isn’t perfectly straight either, which tracks with what’s going on with the binder and filler underneath; it’s a little crumbly in spots. But the ash holds up well and the draw is good. Overall, the construction is good — not perfect, but pretty decent.
Strength sits right around medium. Honestly, this could be a good morning cigar — I’m barely feeling it in the chest, even at medium to full. That works in its favor, especially paired with the coffee. It’s a nice match for an early morning or early afternoon smoke.
The Scorecard
| Category | Score | Out of |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | 37 | 40 |
| Construction | 20 | 25 |
| Strength Match | 17 | 20 |
| Value | 14 | 15 |
| TOTAL | 88 | 100 |
Flavor (37/40): This is where the cigar earns its score. Spice forward, earthy cocoa, evolving into molasses through the second and third. Defined, balanced, and genuinely enjoyable from start to finish.
Construction (20/25): Good, not perfect. There’s a dent in the wrapper, and the wrapper itself isn’t perfectly straight — a little crumbly in places. The ash and draw are solid, but as Michael and La Orden refine the build, this is the category with the most room to grow.
Strength Match (17/20): Lands right at medium, which is exactly what this cigar is going for. Easy enough for a beginner, smooth enough to enjoy any time of day — morning, afternoon, doesn’t matter.
Value (14/15): At $10 to $12 a stick, this is a genuinely great price for a boutique cigar. A lot of boutique brands can’t hold that line anymore. This one does, and it puts the cigar in that range where you could smoke it multiple times a week instead of saving it for a special occasion.
The Verdict
88 / 100
This is a strong showing from a boutique brand, and it’s clear Michael knows what he’s doing with flavor. The Serpiente De Terciopelo delivers a defined, evolving profile at a price that actually makes sense for regular rotation. Construction needs a little polish, but that’s a fixable thing — and as it tightens up, this cigar’s overall value is only going to climb.
If you’re newer to cigars, this one was built with you in mind. If you’ve been at this a while, it’s still worth your time.
The search continues.
The Ash Report is my ongoing search for the perfect cigar. New episodes coming regularly. Follow along.
