Paul Garmirian Reserva Exclusiva | Cigar Review

By Cigar Reviews by the Katman on February 21, 2014

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Size: 5.5 x 46 “Corona Extra”
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $10.00

From the Paul Garmirian web site:
“Paul BK Garmirian earned his PhD cum laude in International Politics from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC in 1975. He lectured on Politics and International Marketing and managed his real estate firm in McLean Virginia until 1990.

“Paul Garmirian’s interest in cigars led to his 7 years of researching and 2 years of writing the Gourmet Guide To Cigars originally published in 1990.

“The first PG cigars were officially released nationwide at a cigar dinner in Chicago on May 1st 1991.

“The Reserva Exclusiva, an exceptional cigar from 10-year old tobaccos, also arrived in late 2001 in Corona Extra and Belicoso. Churchill, Robusto and No. 5 joined the PG R.E. family in early 2002.”

Thank you Atlantic Cigars.

From their web site:
“Paul Garmirian Reserva Exclusiva cigars is a limited production cigar rolled in 2001 and then carefully aged to perfection. A medium to full-bodied cigar that’s smooth, rich and tasty, these cigars are the result of the aged tobaccos used and the additional aging process after the cigars are rolled.

“Made with 10 year old tobacco, the wrapper is a hand selected Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. The Reserva Exclusiva has a Dominican binder with filler tobaccos from both the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. These hand-rolled cigars are complex and deliver loads of flavor and great aroma.”

Except for the cap, this is a well-constructed cigar. The cap seems to have been the last of the day for the roller and got slap dashed. Seams are fairly tight. Lots of veins. The wrapper is semi-oily with a very smooth touch. On the back side of the double cigar bands, I can see cigar glue oozing from the where they connect. Oh well, if it’s a good cigar, who cares.

I clip the cap and find aromas of spice, chocolate, barnyard along the shaft, and sweetness.
Time to light up.

A few puffs go by before anything happens. It is very nutty with a rising spice in the background. The draw is excellent.
The cigar relies primarily on the effects of 10 year old aged tobacco. This will not be a flavor bomb. This is a different animal.

A meatiness exhibits its character bringing a richness to the flavor. I thought the spice was going to take off but does not.
The nuttiness is driving the bus behind the natural tobacco flavor. A sweetness shows up and helps round out the cigar’s subtleties.

Creaminess appears. And so does some caramel. I am just beginning the second third.

This is not a cigar for newbies. First, its power. Second, one needs a seasoned palate to appreciate what real aged tobacco tastes like. This was never meant to be a flavor bomb; it is meant to be a very sophisticated cigar with a flavor profile full of nuance and richness.

The cigar started out at high medium and is now officially medium/full bodied. And methinks it will hit full before too long.
One of the nice things about writing reviews first thing in the morning is the fresh palate. I can taste things that later in the day after chain smoking my brains out, would go right past my crispy palate. A cigar like this needs all of your attention and a fresh palate.

I near the halfway point and the cigar is absolutely delicious. There is a wonderful balance. Construction has been excellent throughout. The char line is spot on.

I am now getting a strong flavor of cedar. And then cocoa arrives out of nowhere. A rich milk chocolate….that makes the creaminess pop.

And then we are now in full bodied land. But no nicotine as of yet.

Paul Garmirian cigars are not cheap. You can pay heavy double digits for these sticks. But if anyone is an expert on the science of cigar making, this is the man.

Halfway point. I don’t want the stick to end. In its own way, it has become a flavor bomb. The star is still these 10 year aged tobaccos. The spiciness returns in the form of red pepper. Very potent. Houston, we have found the sweet spot.
Along with the strong nuttiness, there is a wood element that goes hand in hand with the nuts. Did that come out right? And then a strong espresso arrives.

Time to remove the secondary cigar band. As I feared when I saw that oozing of cigar glue on the back side of both bands, removal was difficult…but not impossible. All is intact. The secondary band which says, “”Reserva Exclusiva,” is extremely difficult to read. The lettering is very tiny.

The last third begins and I am digging this cigar. If you consider yourself an aficionado or just an experienced smoker, you must try this stick. Yeah, it ain’t cheap but shop around. You can get it for a buck or two cheaper online.

Here are the flavors: Natural tobacco, nuttiness, creaminess, cocoa, spice, caramel, sweetness, cedar, coffee, and a small bit of raisins.

It would be rough to follow this cigar up with your second cigar of the day.

The cap has behaved admirably. No loose tobacco. And the burn line has been razor sharp most of the time.

Time to remove the main cigar band. It’s fighting me exactly where the glue is smeared. Time to bring out the knife. I damage the wrapper in doing so. Drat. And it was right on a seam.

If I had to criticize this cigar it is the roller who sloppily glued the two bands on. No excuse for that. Well, for photo’s sake, I can flip the cigar and you won’t see it.

The last couple inches are a culmination of what came before. It is a rich tasting cigar meant for the cigar enthusiast that can enjoy fine cigar making. Not over the top cigar blending. And strangely, not a hint of nicotine kick.

The accidental cutting of the wrapper in order to get the main cigar band off makes a real mess of the last inch of the cigar’s wrapper. Shame on you, Roller.

Yeah, of course, you should try this stick. Well done, Paul.

And now for something completely different:
1975

We always started out European tours in Holland. Lots of great cities to play. And the audiences were always enthusiastic.
As always, Amsterdam was our first stop out of all those wonderful Dutch cities.

After the first gig at the Paradiso Club…the government run hashish club, our Dutch BTM manager took all of us out to a late supper around 1am. The band, the management people and the upper echelon of the road crew. Around 10-12 people.

After a nice meal paid by someone else, Michel (Miles Copeland’s man in Holland), asked who wanted to get laid? Darryl, the violinist, and I both raised our arms high. No one else did. Scaredy cats.

Off we went to the Amsterdam Red Light District which was legal and supervised by the Dutch government. The girls sat in tiny bay windows back-lit by red lamps.

Michel kept vetoing our choices until he saw an Asian beauty that he said we must try. He then told us that all three of us would take turns using the same one and he would work a deal for the 3 of us. All of a sudden, this didn’t sound so hot.

He came out 5 minutes later, triumphantly, and said he got us a deal at $20 each and he would pick up the bill and pass it on as expenses.

Michel got to go first, and then Darryl…and I got sloppy thirds. While Michel went in, I was formulating my excuse for calling it off. I had never been with a hooker before. In rock and roll, you don’t need them.

He came back out 10 minutes later. Darryl and I were engaged in small talk but both of us were nervous.

Michel was grinning from ear to ear.

Darryl moseyed to the whore’s room and knocked on the door and in he went.

Michel spent the next 10 minutes bragging how this chick dug him and what a good time they had and blah, blah, blah.
Darryl came out right on time. 10 minutes with a shit eatin’ grin.

Shit. It was my turn. Where could I get a lawn and leaf trash bag this time of night and use it as a body condom?

I went it…shaking. The chick was all business. She ordered me to take my clothes off. I complied.

She took her skirt off to reveal no panties but left her halter top on. She handed me a condom and told me to put it on.

She got on the bed and grabbed a bunch of goo on the table next to her and slathered it on her money machine. I gagged.

I got on top and not 30 seconds later, this came out of her mouth: “Can’t you cum, huh? Can’t you cum? Can’t you cum?” Over and over and over.

I told her to shut up and take off her top. I couldn’t concentrate. Tits always help.
“10 Guilders please.” (Around $5 back then)
“What?”
“You want me to take my top off, well pay up.”
I said no.

So she let me put my hand inside her halter top for free.

And then back to her screeching denials of my manhood.

I realized this was the most ridiculous moment of my life. (But it did give me a story to write about)

While on top of her, I began singing the Paul Simon song, “Keep the Customer Satisfied” I did the whole song and then ping!
As I got dressed, she said this to me: “You didn’t drink tonight, did you?”
“Nope. Why?”

“The others did,” she said. And then she took her forefinger and made it straight and then bent it downward telling me the other two couldn’t even get it up. I let out a laugh so hard, my condom popped off.

I swaggered back to the boys smiling like I had a secret. Both of them were leaning against the car, staring at their shoes, not saying a word.

“So boys, how did it go?” And I laughed hard and razzed them the whole way back to the hotel.

The girl made out…$60 and only had to screw one guy. Me.