Wrapper: Brazilian Mata Fina
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Nicaraguan, Colombian
Size: 4 x 52 “Short Robusto”
Body: Medium
Price: $8.80

Today we take a look at the 262 Paradigm.

I think it is serendipity that I should choose to review this cigar now.
262 Cigars’ name represents the month and year that President Kennedy signed the bill for the Cuban Embargo.

OK. I will stick my neck out. And predict.
Cuban cigars will become available in the near future. They will be costly. Very costly. Over the next two years, the prices will come down. But in either case, there still looms the problem of the multi billion dollar industry of fake Cubans. How do you find a seller you can trust? Just because they have a Cuban return address guarantees nothing.

I’ve been ill with an unknown health issues the last week. They did tests and waiting on the answers.

This review is also a test. For me, not you. Unless you want a test. How about this one: Describe the primary use of the Pythagorean Theorem in the basic fundamentals of modern day geometry as it relates to uses never dreamed of by Pythagoras.
Actually, more on that later.

From 262 Cigars web site:
“Assembled in Honduras, this well-balanced cigar starts off with 3 fillers coming together to create a rich array of tastes. The Seco and Ligero tobaccos from the Esteli and Jalapa valleys in Nicaragua are blended with a Cubito tobacco, a Cuban-seed leaf grown in Columbia. The binder for the filler blend is Honduran with a Brazilian wrapper that pulls everything together to deliver notes of citrus, coffee and a dark chocolate finish.”

If this means anything, the cigar was rated 91 by Cigar Snob Magazine.

The cigar comes in six sizes:
Lancero: 7 x 38 $8.30
Robusto: 4 x 52 $8.80
4Sixty: 4 x 60 $7.10
Torpedo: 6.25 x 54 $8.85
Box-Pressed Toro: 6 x 54 $8.75
6Sixty: 6 x 60 $9.50

As usual, I am late to the party in reviewing this blend. I’ve reviewed the Ideology and that’s it.

I like the appearance of the wrapper. It has a mottled, almost antique look. It is sienna brown. Some oiliness is apparent. And it feels only slightly toothy. Construction is top notch. Invisible seams. Very few veins. Solid but with enough give. And a perfectly applied triple cap.

Because of photos, I rarely dig it when the manufacturer chooses to make the cigar band a footer. Takes away the lustre of the photo. And in this case, a tad too much glue.

I clip the cap and find aromas of strong barnyard, spice, and the tiniest hints of cocoa and coffee, cream, and a delicious smelling earthiness.
Time to light up.

First puffs are full of flavors: Wood, cocoa, cream, sweetness, creamy coffee, and rich earthiness.
The draw is spot on.

Strangely, no spiciness. I’ve had this cigar for almost a month in my humidor. And I bought a 5 pack which I’ve whittled down. And all of them started with a bang of red pepper. But not this one, of course.

Honey blossoms show up next. A combo of the sweetness, floral notes, and good ol honey.
Flavors are subtle. Nothing is jumping out at me.

As I look closely at my photos, the 262 Paradigm appears to have nipples or buttons near the cap. How odd. Don’t you love nature and organic things? If I look even harder, I might see the Virgin Mary. Quick. What’s the number of the Vatican?

Just as I was about to type this sentence describing how perfect and razor sharp the char line is, I drop the cigar. Du-oh. (Must be the brain tumor “It’s not a too-mor!”)

The strength is classic medium body.

A bit of black pepper begins to form about ¾” in.

The back side of the cigar is seeing some wrapper cracking. Goddam the Pusherman. Seems like everything I smoke has some kind of wrapper issue. This frigid weather is not a cigar’s friend. I forget to cover my humidor in a blanket at night and this is the result. Humidity is just fine. And this last week of battling with my health is to blame for my lack vigilance in this matter.

If I’m lucky, it will remain on one side only and I will fool you with photos of the good side.

A nice meatiness appears. Along with some lemony citrus. While the 262 Paradigm is a good cigar, it doesn’t seem to possess flavor bomb qualities. But that’s OK. This blend is not one dimensional and if the blender chose to make this a nuanced cigar with loads of character and not shooting flavors at you with a T Shirt gun, then so be it and I tip my hat to him.

The 262 Paradigm turns a corner and all of the flavors are warm and comforting. I am nearing the halfway point and it seems that the first half is an introduction to the character, rather than bombast.

A good reviewer would smoke the whole damn thing and not make an ass of himself like I do. He would assess the first half knowing full well that the second half is where the cigar shines. But me? Fuck no. I step on my dick all the time.

I’m officially at the halfway point and the cracked wrapper is creeping around the entire cigar. It is not the cigar’s fault. My bad.

The honey, cream, coffee, bits of cocoa, citrus, make a nice combination of flavors.

The price point. It ain’t cheap brothers and sisters. But it ain’t expensive either. This is where a boutique cigar price should be. $8-$9. Not $12-$15. The goddam cigar makes more per hour than ¾ of the American work force.

Flavors really kick into high gear now. As I am a man of limited vocabulary, my only description of a certain element that makes a great cigar great is the IT factor. The flavor components are beyond my expertise. It is as if everything I’ve described has morphed into one flavor. And impossible to point to just one and pick it apart.

This is a truly impressive blend. Now the question of the day. Does the 262 Paradigm need much more than a month’s humidor time or is a month right on the money?

As I write this sentence, the spiciness kicks ass and takes names.

As the wrapper disintegrates, at least it does so in an orderly fashion. I might be able to get one decent photo still.

The 262 Paradigm sates the needy palate. I would like to delve more into the blends of the 262 Cigars catalog. There are 5 blends: Paradigm, Ideology, Manifesto, Revere, and Allegiance.

The sweetness element soars. There is a perfect balance of sweet and savory. The black pepper adds that perfect steak house touch.

The 262 line has six sizes and I’m not crazy about any of them. I would like to see a real 5 x 50 robusto, a 7 x 48 Churchill, and a nice 5.5 x 46 Corona.

All in all, I recommend this blend. It is solid and flavorful. I like how the spiciness really jumps in at the finish of the cigar. And how I feel no nicotine. The cigar finishes at medium body.

Someone must explain to me why a short robusto like this 262 Paradigm costs more than most of the other sizes. Less cigar, more money. The only cigars more expensive are the torpedo and the 6 x 60.

You can check out the 262 Cigars web site and find out more.

And now for something completely different:

My loyal readers probably want to know what’s up. I’ve been sick for a week and the doctors don’t know why. I couldn’t have picked a worse time to become ill. Everyone took a few weeks off for the holidays and I won’t be able to see a specialist til mid-January.

At the ER, they ran a few tests but came up with nothing. What’s the joke? They scanned my head and found nothing. Badda-Boom!

Only this “thing” is centered in my intestinal tract. Luckily, good buddy, Joseph Talotta has some health issues and he has been a great help in allowing me a peek into his ailment and how he deals with it. Thanks JT. Good buddies are rare these days.

This kind of problem affected my mother and her sister and killed both of them. How’s that for an uplifting end to a review?

But back then, they knew even less about this shit. And I hate doctors. I always sense they are only guessing.

It started with what I thought was a kidney stone. Turned out it wasn’t. I’ve had one before around 20 years ago and will never forget what that felt like. That’s what last Saturday felt like.

The ER actually discharged me with the diagnosis of “Flank Pain.” What am I? A side of beef?

So the reason I haven’t been reviewing is the nausea. Can’t kick it.

Anyway, my fingers are crossed it is nothing and time cures all things.
I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday and a healthy and happy new year.

Do not forget the contest giveaway I am having courtesy of Gary Willis of Perfecto Cigar Holder. Gary has donated 12 to give to my readers. I discovered this because my daughter gave me one a couple days ago. It is pretty cool. Take a look at the “NEW CONTEST!! Perfecto Cigar Holders (12 to be given away).”

You can buy them on the Perfecto Cigar Holder web site for $24.95 + Free Shipping.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: 262 cigars, 262 Paradigm Cigar Review, cigar review, cigar reviews by the katman, cigars