Wrapper: Nicaraguan (Corojo Rosado)
Binder: Nicaraguan (Corojo ‘99)
Filler: Nicaraguan (Corojo ‘99 & Criollo ‘98)
Size: 4.5 x 48 Box Pressed
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $7.50 by the box. $8.00 in a fiver.
I posted this review in 2022.
You want a cigar that doesn’t drain your wallet to the bone. I plan on re-publishing my reviews I think you will like. I will do this on days that I am not reviewing a new cigar.
BACKGROUND:
Released March 2019
Production: 200 Boxes of 25
Factory: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A.
From Small Batch Cigar (12-19-2019):
“Earlier this year, Guardian of the Farm Claude Le Chien was first introduced to the public. Named after Head Cigar Smoker Andrew’s very own French Bulldog, Claude Le Chien is a box-pressed 4 ½ x 48 Nicaraguan puro adorned with a closed foot.
“Now, just before the New Year, we’re excited to announce the newest expression of Claude Le Chien to celebrate Claude’s fifth birthday!
“In addition to the previous adjustments of the original Guardian of the Farm, our second release of Claude Le Chien also includes an adjustment of the filler tobaccos to include a Criollo 98 leaf that is five years old (like Claude himself)!
“The same bold, spirited Corojo Rosado wrapper was included, and only minor adjustments were made with the filler ratios to accommodate the five-year-old leaf. Claude Le Chien’s size also remains the same iconic box-pressed 4 1/2 x 48. 200 boxes of 25 cigars (5,000 cigars total) were produced with an MSRP of $7.99.
“Fans of the previous Claude Le Chien will be happy to know that they will be able to distinguish the two releases from each other by the bands, even though the artwork has remained the same. The original Claude Le Chien bands were folded over the artwork, while these bands display the whole intent of the band all the way around.”
SMELL THE GLOVE:
Sweetness hits my schnoz first: Powdered sugar, caramel, dried fruit, vanilla pudding, sweet orange slices, and cinnamon buns.
The savory puts forward notes of floral, black pepper, beef jerky, mint, sourdough bread, cedar, peat.
The cold draw is on the money. It is exactly how I like to suckle my cigars. I gently put my PerfecDraw draw adjustment tool in my gun safe which contains only guns made before 790 A.D.
The cold draw presents flavors of caramel, black pepper, lemon zest, cinnamon buns, jerky, sourdough bread with butter, cedar, honey, mint, and Liva Snaps.
FIRST HALF:
Nice start. Extremely flavorful.
A very strong complexity kicks in immediately.
The cigar hits medium strength toot suite.
Raisins. Caramel over vanilla ice cream. BBQ brisket. Combo of lime, orange and lemon. Mintyness keeps the profile Kool.
This baby is screaming nicely aged before it hits the shelves. But I do not recommend smoking one ROTT. I did that and the cigar was just hay and Ben Wa balls.
The char line bursts my box press curse…it is just fine, thank you.
The balance of savory v. sweet is Captain America.
The creaminess shows up along with a big dose of lemon.
This might become a flavor bomb. A dozen tidbits from the flavor wheel are masters of their own domain. A perfect cigar if you don’t have time for a big honker. And I love that no greed was involved. At this quality, a price of a couple bucks more could have been asked…but was not.
Strength hits medium/full.
The balance remains king of the jungle. But the star of this blend is the subtle sweet notes: creamy vanilla ice cream, caramel, key lime pie, raisins, honey, and cinnamon buns.
The savory presents: Beef jerky, charred oak, sourdough toast slathered with sweet butter, a lovely mintyness, heavy malt influence, cedar, mixed nuts, and cabinet spices.
Complexity is through the roof. Transitions keep moving along with a spring in their step. And the finish is redolent with spicy cinnamon, vanilla, espresso, and creaminess.
The coffee rears its head like Godzilla meeting Rodan for the first time. This new development gives the cigar a nice kick in the arse.
SECOND HALF:
I kept my eye on the clock and this tobacco Yogi Bear finishes the first half in exactly 30 minutes.
Dark chocolate appears in spades. The mixed nuts take a step forward.
There have been zero construction issues. The char line did not require a single touch up.
I sneakily picked up another five pack while writing this review. Katman promo code gets you 10% off.
Flavors disappear into a plutonium ball. It is here that the sum is greater than its parts.
Nothing linear at play. A constant forward adventure that will not diminish in any form.
“Rocky Mountain Way” by Joe Walsh is playing on Pandora. I’ve said this before so I will say it again…Back in 1976, there was a Friday night of live rock n roll. Walsh played this song live. But my focus was on the grooving bassist with a fretless. That was the point in my life that I had to get one. I did, but not for another 7 years. Couldn’t find the right one till I got my Schecter.
Graham cracker, espresso, dark cocoa, citrus, nuts, spices, and caramel lead the charge.
I have the windows open, so I don’t fill the apartment with smoke. It is -3 outside and my naughty bits have retracted like a turtle’s head.
Strength hits full.
Experienced smokers will love this blend. Newbies should try it as well. The nicotine held off til the last inch.
Small Batch Cigar. Use promo code ‘katman’ for 10% off.
RATING: 95
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS, VALUE SPOTLIGHT
Cigar Reviews by the Katman 
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