Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Honduran Cuban Seed, Nicaraguan Cuban Seed

Size: 5.625 x 46

Body: Full

Price: $6.50

I say this again and again. What is wrong with Casa Fernandez? Can’t they make a bad cigar? I guess not.

So here is a little number that flies under the radar of CF fans..Los Hermanos. I picked up a 5 pack of the natural and maduro at Atlantic Cigar. I wrote a review of the maduro back in February: https://kohnhed.com/2013/02/26/cigar-review-los-hermanos-maduro-by-casa-fernandez/

The cigar has a triple cap and I know this because the caps are very sloppy and I can count them. The cigar is rustic looking. It is a coffee bean brown with visible, but tight, seams. Lots of veins. And a nice oily sheen. The band is very Old School.

If you are a CF fan, you know all the info and history of these fine blenders; so I won’t tell you again what you probably already know. I will say this…the sticks are made in small batches each year so how long they will be around is anyone’s guess.

I sniff around and detect a lovely milk chocolate; it is so intense that it smells as strong at the cap as it does at the foot. There is a nice sweetness and earthiness.

So I cut it and light up.

First impression comes from a blast of red pepper. And some very subtle cocoa. And lots of earthiness. The stick starts off as classic medium bodied. There is a nuance of leather.

The char line isn’t very good but that’s my fault. I lit it while my wife was talking to me and I didn’t pay attention. Sure. Blame the wife.

The cocoa continues to climb until it is the most prevalent flavor on board. As the first third comes to an end, the flavors excel. There is a sweetness I can’t identify. Almost floral. The spice isn’t as strong as the first inch. The cocoa is charging away. And there seems to be a tad bit of coffee in the mix. But no creaminess.

I am at the halfway point and the complexity shows up. The flavors are hitting my palate with such finesse. And the stick becomes so balanced with a long finish that I don’t want to remove the stick from my mouth. But a soppy cap makes for lousy photos.

The last third sees the rise of a nuttiness that adds more earthiness to the cigar. Yes this is a Casa Fernandez blend, but I would never know it. It is completely different than the other blends in the line. It has an old school flavor profile to it. It’s not a flavor bomb. It is missing that Nicaraguan creaminess.

It is at this point, the body moves to full. I’m a bit light headed.

And now the flavor carnival begins. All of the previous components are emboldened. The creaminess arrives. It amplifies the sweetness. The spiciness also ramps up. It ends smooth and cool. A very nice cigar.

And now for something completely different:

I love telling my music life style stories. I miss it and I know I’m a washed up old fart. So, I inappropriately, live in the past…sometimes; at least when I write reviews.

I’ve told this story before so if you’ve read it…walk on by.

We normally headline throughout Europe. But for 5 gigs, we supported Larry Coryell and the Eleventh House. Larry was considered the Father of Jazz Fusion Guitar. Back then, I was 24 and he was in his late 30’s.

His band was killer. He had Alphonse Mouzon on drums. One of the Brecker Brothers on reed. And no one else you’d know. And a blind keyboard player.

Larry smoked cigars and had picked up some Cubans. He invited my band up to his hotel room after the gig to sit around, smoke dope, drink and smoke cigars. We all went willingly. But while all of the 4 other members in my band smoked cigarettes; none had ever smoked a cigar. Only me.

It was around 1am and we sat in Larry’s room. Stew brought out the hash and Larry brought out some expensive Cubans. I can’t remember that far back as to what they were; but they were huge; maybe 6 x 60’s.

I was handed the cutter and lighter and lit up. It was great. Larry took an expensive humidor with him on the road so all his sticks were nicely aged. He and I filled the room with smoke. The chick singer lit up and so did the boys. Coughing could be heard in the dining room.

Larry asked if they were OK? They all shook their green faces in an up and down movement.

And then, my stupid compadres started interviewing Larry. I looked on in horror as they became obsessed fans in front of me. I was the big jazz fan in the group so I steered it away to the players of the day, who mostly played on the infamous CTI label. They were known for having the best jazz players and the most beautiful album covers anywhere.

My band finally shut up because they couldn’t comment on what Larry and I spoke of. They had no idea who we were talking about. Shame, shame.

About one third into my cigar, my band mates started dropping like flies. These were strong, full bodied cigars and they were just dying; but didn’t want to look inexperienced in Larry’s eyes. Stupid, stupid.

One by one, they excused themselves so they could go back to their rooms. Green to the gills.

So I had Larry all to myself as we smoked cigars all night and talked music. He even had a couple of small practice amps in his room and he ordered me to go get my bass. I never let the roadies control my bass. Never.

It was around 7am, when Larry suggested we go down for breakfast. I was exhilarated. No sleep but Larry had become my temporary friend. He and I sat at a table by ourselves. My band mates were at another table looking ill.

He and I ordered big breakfasts. We were in Switzerland and the food was great. We stayed at a luxurious hotel in Zurich. Right on the lake.

My comrades were sipping tea and eating toast. LOL! Not even consuming half a cigar shoved them over the edge. None had slept…because they were sick as dogs all night.

We still had 3 gigs to do with Coryell and so he and I and a Brecker brother hung out seeing the sights. The band wasn’t invited. Larry brought lots of Cubans and we walked the boulevards of Zurich in the brilliant weather of July. It couldn’t have been any better.

ME ON THE FAR LEFT WITH THE FAR OUT ‘FRO

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS