Nomad Estelí Lot 8613 | Cigar Review

By The Katman on April 18, 2015 • ( 0 )

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5 x 50 “Robusto”
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $8.50 MSRP
Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 0
Accompanying Libation: Water

Today we take a look at the new Nomad Estelí Lot 8613. Two cigars were gifted to me by a reader so I’m guessing, and hoping, that it is ready to smoke.

BACKGROUND:
The Nomad Estelí Lot 8613 is a regular production cigar that is distributed by the House of Emilio.
The Nomad Estelí Lot 8613 is produced at Tabacalera Fernandez.

From Nomad Cigars web site:
“Estelí Lot 8613 marks the 5th full-production cigar for Nomad.

“Frankly, I am still a bit overwhelmed how much Nomad has taken off.

“Like my other blends, I start with an individual profile in mind, but stay open to adapting along the way if other flavors command attention.
“That is the fun part…letting the tobacco guide you to what it wants to be.

“I fell in love with the flavors and richness of Estelí Lot 8613 at the blending table but the big question was how would it marry and age?
“When checking it a year later to see how it was aging, I was more than happy with the result. It was definitely time to release it.”

DESCRIPTION:
The Nomad Estelí Lot 8613 is a bit on the rustic side with sloppy seams, lots of squiggly veins, and the triple cap varies in its flawlessness from one cigar to the next. There are slight dings in the wrapper I suppose that were caused in shipping. The milk chocolate colored wrapper is semi-oily and very smooth to the touch.
I dry boxed the cigars for 48 hours when I got them several weeks ago and dry boxed them for another 24 hours prior to this review.
There is a footer band to differentiate the Nomad Estelí Lot 8613 and from the C-276 and the S-307. Both reviewed here.

SIZES AND PRICING:
Robusto (5×50) $8.50
Coronita (5.5×46) $8.50
Toro (6×50) $8.75
Grand Toro (6×58) $8.95
Churchill (7×48) $8.95

AROMA AND COLD DRAW NOTES:
Aroma across the shaft is earthiness, cedar, leather, baking spice and pepper. At the foot, and newly clipped cap, I can smell cocoa, toastiness and more pepper.
The cold draw produces some nuttiness, hay, fruit and spice.

FIRST THIRD:
The first puffs smack me straight in the puss with a huge wallop of red pepper. And followed by a perfect draw with smoke billowing and filling the dining room. Creaminess is up to bat next followed by some generic sweetness.
A good sign that the cigar comes out swinging.

The fruit is pineapple. Both sweet, tart, and acidic. Smokiness pervades the flavor profile like a nice camp fire just before you’re eaten by man-eating bears.
A muskiness appears. And the nuttiness makes a big surge.

The strength hits medium full by the first half inch. The char line is behaving nicely.

The spiciness wanes a tick but the creaminess takes a hold of the situation and grabs some chocolate with it. Coffee is found in the mix also. Cedar is pretty potent as well.
I get a salty pretzel that offsets the acidity of the pineapple nicely.

I don’t know if it is because I am so enjoying this cigar but it seems to be burning quicker than my palate desires. This is a scrumptious cigar. So flavorful and bunches of character and complexity at such an early stage. I am impressed. But then, I was impressed with the other four blends. Rewey has got the Midas touch when it comes to blending.

SECOND THIRD:
And then it happens, as the second third begins: The “It” Factor kicks in. That elusive character, complexity, and balance come together as one creating a masterpiece.
It is such a pleasure to go out on an excellent cigar. I’d love to have this in a Toro. A box of them. This is a most impressive cigar.
The spiciness wanes considerably. The strength remains at medium/full.
The fruitiness expands from just pineapple to black cherries. There is some graham cracker and brown sugar as well. A touch of vanilla comes home to roost. The salty pretzel remains.

With each puff, the Nomad Estelí Lot 8613 increases in its boldness and potential.

This is unusual as I am barely touching my bottled water. But when I do, flavors explode on my palate like a fireworks show.
The Nomad Estelí Lot 8613 will definitely make my Top 25 cigars of 2015. BTW-This cigar was released earlier this month.

I don’t want this cigar to end. Luckily, I have one left from the two I was gifted. I shall save it for the last cigar in my dwindling humidor.
Despite the funky construction, the cigar has behaved like a champ. It has required a couple of minor touch ups; more for the photos than really necessary. It turns out that I made a good decision by waiting over two weeks before reviewing it. I’d have been really bummed out if I wasted one because it was still too green. But still, only two weeks of humidor time and it is rarin’ to go is a sign of the New Breed method of cigar blending. Kudos Fred.

HALFWAY POINT:
The pineapple disappears completely leaving only the black cherries.
Here they are: Creaminess, graham cracker, spice, cedar, smokiness, wood, sweetness, rich earthiness, coffee, nutmeg, vanilla, and a hint of caramel.
That is an impressive kitchen sink list of flavors.
The Nomad Estelí Lot 8613 is extremely complex now. The balance is spot on. And the finish is long and chewy.
I’m going to miss this.

The Nomad Estelí Lot 8613 is burning on all six cylinders.
A bit of nicotine sneaks in. But no crash helmet required quite yet.
A sip of water and BLAM! Damn. Lawdy, lawdy, lawdy, Miss Clawdy.

Time to remove the main cigar band. The beautiful sunny Milwaukee morning really shows off the oiliness on the wrapper now.
The graham cracker and caramel move up the list of flavors. The fruitiness is fading. The spiciness as well. The coffee moves up too. The smokiness is gone.
It leaves a desperately rich earthiness of the tobacco. The blend is spot on.

LAST THIRD:
Tears gently fall down my cheeks. The cigar is approaching the denouement.
The strength has remained medium/full throughout the experience.
The Nomad Estelí Lot 8613 is a damn fine example of masterly cigar blending.
The nicotine kicks into high gear and I grab for my crash helmet. I bring my dog next to me to cushion me when I pass out. My eyeballs are dilated and I feel like I’m in a sea of swarming simbas.

The learning curve by Rewey is nothing less than exemplary. With each release, his blending reaches new levels of expertise.
The last couple of cigars I’ve reviewed lately did not get such good reviews. And it saddens me to report that a cigar is not worth your time or money.
The complexity of the Nomad Estelí Lot 8613 is in hyper space. I can see the Monolith floating alone in the cosmos now.

The Nomad Estelí Lot 8613 is a thing of beauty.
The finish is without harshness or heat. Flavors remain at a heady high.
What a great cigar!

PRICE POINT:
No Greed Master here. I applaud Nomad Cigars for keeping the price wallet friendly. The $8-$9 price range is a godsend. Rewey could have easily jacked up the price like all the other manufacturers seem to be doing. But the man is down to earth and wants to sell cigars. What better way to do that than keep the prices down?
The box price of 21 cigars brings the single price down to $7.67. I’m screaming laughter. What I wouldn’t give for that dough. I would stock up on several boxes.

SUMMATION:
I believe I’ve said it all. I fawned over this blend like a new father seeing his baby for the first time.
This blend is Nomad Cigars’ crowning glory.
I shall treasure my other stick. I will take it to bed with me. I shall bathe it in the finest oils and emollients. I will read stories to it. And murmur sweet nothings in its ear.