What We’re Smoking: Ferio Tego Summa

  • Cigar: Ferio Tego Summa 
  • Size: Torpedo
  • Smoke time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
John Dwyer , The Vintage Whiskey and Cigar Bar | Ferio Tego Summa Review

Appearance & Aroma
Beautiful 6 1/2 x 52 torpedo showcasing a velvety smooth Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper with very few veins. I’ve smoked a few of these (this will be the 4th) and this one is by far the most perfectly constructed of the bunch. (Not knocking the other 3, this one is just really well made.) 

Light-Up & Draw
I used a standard double-blade guillotine to cut the cap and lit up with a soft flame S.T. Dupont lighter. I was able to get a nice, clean cut and the draw is ideal with just enough resistance to get a good mouthful of smoke, but loose enough that I don’t feel like I am working for it. Cold draw gives notes of wood, leather and earth.

Early Profile
This smoke opens up with lots of flavor—initially notes of smoked meat and black pepper with some saltiness on the finish. The smoke is full body, but well balanced and doesn’t leave me reaching for water because of dry mouth. First impression is that this cigar is a very pleasant, fuller-body smoke, however, I feel like I should’ve started with a steak for dinner before touching it.

Middle Profile & Burn
The cigar is now offering more meatiness and pepper and salt. Its strength is roughly the same as before, although maybe slightly more pop and a bit of butteriness. Still well balanced and very smokey. It can blow a really dense smoke ring without too much work or the cigar burning too hot.

Late Profile
Discovered a bump in intensity later on in the smoke. This may be due to the torpedo shape and naturally getting slightly more intense. Black pepper, wood and meatiness are even more in your face, and that butteriness is still in the background. It reminds me of cooking with salted butter. This cigar has both stayed consistent and grown on me from first to final third, which is a nice treat.

Overall Impression 
Working in a cigar lounge with more than 300 facings leaves me with a lot of options on a daily basis to smoke or recommend. I frequently find myself going back to FT for their Timeless or Metropolitan lines, but when I’m looking to really unwind and relax, their premium offerings (Generoso, Elegancia and Summa) really make an impact. The Summa was a great smoke, with no funny aftertaste to be found. Certain cigars leave you feeling like you’ve smoked a cigar when you finish them. This is not one of those.  

– Review by John Dwyer, tobacconist at the Vintage Whiskey and Cigar Bar in Charlotte, N.C.

This story first appeared in PCA The Magazine, Volume 4, 2023. To receive a copy of this magazine you must be a current member of PCA. Join or renew today at premiumcigars.org/membership.