Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

Size: 6.5 x 46

Body: Medium

Price: $8.00

The Paul Garmirian Gourmet Series was first introduced in 1990. Garmirian is known for obsessive aging of the leaves, often up to seven years before they reach the hands of the expert torcedores. Then, cigars are box aged for several more years before being shipped. For the seasoned, experienced smoker they claim it is reminiscent of old style Cuban Puros from the mid 1950’s.

Because of the extended aging process, there are not a lot of B & M’s that carry his cigars and even less online. Atlantic Cigar carries the whole line. Bingo!

Construction is rustic. Lots of gnarly veins cover the entire stick. The wrapper has a medium brown color. I would think it is triple capped but there is no info and I cannot tell due to the expertise of the roller. The wrapper has an oily sheen which has been aged for 5 years!

“There are hints of roasted nuts and honey which are underscored with the aged tobacco flavor that is a hallmark of all Paul Garmirian sticks.”

I do the sniff-o-rama and detect hay, honey, rich tobacco, earthiness and roasted nuts.

I snip and light up.

The first of the flavor profile is one of cedar combined with leather, wood, and spice. It has a flavor that has herbal overtones or floral notes…or both. You can almost taste the aging. And that letting it rest is wasted energy. Paul took care of that for me. For all I know, this cigar is 15 years old. It has the look of a cigar kept at the low end of the humidity scale to keep it dry, slim, and solid.

The char line is perfect as well as the draw.

A sweet bee’s honey flavor shows up in a much muted mode. I can taste nuts. The ash was hanging straight and true at the 1” mark until I let it slide into the ashtray for a photo. Yes. I am a schmuck.

I’ve only had truly aged cigars a few times in my life and this tastes just like the profile it brings from years of being stored. Very rich. I’m old but not old enough to know what Cubans tasted like in the 1950’s. I hope this is it. A smooth creaminess shows. And then near the end of the first third, I detect some red pepper. Mild but very apparent. There is also some cinnamon which is a nice surprise.

This cigar is not for the newbie and should only be smoked by men over 60. 😉 It is so deep and rich that I am taken aback by the quality and seriousness of the blenders. I have to try the other 5 blends. Some ain’t cheap…just a warning. The Symphony 20 Ltd series can be as much as $19 a stick.

The honey component is delicious. But this ain’t no CAO honey flavor. This is a deep and rich honey, almost a dark honey. The creaminess is different as well. Since there is no cocoa or coffee, it seems to hit the palate in a totally different way that I find hard to describe because I’ve never tasted it like this. It gives the feeling of being in an exclusive men’s club with cherry and walnut walls with rich leather furniture. And a very proper attendant who is there to be there for your every need.

The roasted nuts are also a muted flavor. It is a mixed nut flavor, not one particular flavor. Interesting. It is way out front…with the honey. These are basically the only two flavors. The rest of the allure of the cigar is the aging. It has a whole taste profile of its own that I’ve never experienced.

For a very experienced smoker with a wonderful palate, this as close to perfect as a cigar can be. I have never tasted a Connecticut wrapper that had taste overtones like this.

The fact that Atlantic Cigar has them is a windfall for smokers. I have no idea how they did it. The only time I have seen them was in 2008 when I ran a construction project in Sacramento and I frequented a small B & M that carried them. I remember the blend was too strong for me then. But I do remember a rich contractor would take a few hours off from his day and would sit down and the owner of the store would automatically grab a Garmirian and hand it to this guy…and that’s all he smoked every time. He knew something I did not.

I am light headed. Not nicotine spins. Aged tobacco impact. LOL.

The last third is more of the same except that the cigar becomes incredibly complex. The flavor profile is strong.

If you are looking for a unique experience, then head on over to Atlantic and grab some of these. Who knows how long they will have them.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS