Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown Corojo 2006
Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo 2006
Filler: Nicaraguan Corojo and Criollo 2006 (Jalapa, Esteli)
Size: 6 x 52 “Toro”
Body: Mild/Medium
Price: $9.00
Today we take a look at the Anejo Havana by Pierson Geoffreys Cigars
I would like to thank Jeff Pearson for the samples.
BACKGROUND:
From the Pierson Geoffreys web site:
“This is a throwback to Cuban-esque cigar making but using the Entubado style of rolling. It has a very smooth, light and airy draw (almost perfect). The Anejo Havana is rolled by all Cuban rollers and construction is legendary. The wrapper is Sungrown and gives the cigar a light sweetness and rich aroma. This cigar is aged for two years before release, giving this medium bodied blend a unique and enticing flavor.”
The cigar comes in 20 count boxes, 5 packs or in a four blend sampler. The blend comes in the one size only.
Yesterday, I reviewed the Vintage 1967. The day before; the Estilo Cubano and was quite impressed on all fronts. Jeff Pierson sent me samples of four blends: Estilo Cubano, Vintage 1967, Anejo Havana, and Perfecto. I plan to review them in that order.
Tomorrow will be the last review of the Perfecto. Which by the way does not come in a perfecto shape.
One thing I’ve discovered from the first two reviews is that both cigars had enormous flavor profiles. I’m looking forward to the Anejo Havana. But I must provide a caveat…Not a fan of mild/medium cigars. So this blend will have to sway me with flavor.
The only place you can purchase these cigars online is at the Pierson Geoffreys web site. There are five blends: Vintage 1967, Anejo Havana, Estilo Cubano, Perfecto, and Confianza. Prices range $9.00-$15.00.
DESCRIPTION:
A slightly rustic looking cigar but solid. Tight seams. Lots of veins. Perfect triple caps. A nice oily toffee colored wrapper that is very smooth.
AROMAS AND COLD DRAW NOTES:
From the shaft, I smell sweet floral notes, chocolate, sweetness, spice, and cinnamon.
From the clipped cap and foot, I smell heavy spice, earthiness, dark cocoa and leather.
From the cold draw, I taste milk chocolate, coffee, leather, cedar, earthy tobacco, and cinnamon.
FIRST THIRD:
The draw is good. Not too tight, not too airy. Just right said Goldilocks.
First flavors are of cedar, earthiness, allspice, red pepper, and a dab’ll do ya of cream.
The strength is mild/medium.
My fingers are crossed that this is a very flavorful cigar as mild/medium ain’t my style.
Flavors are somewhat muted half an inch in. Something is brewing but hasn’t broken free yet. It took a few minutes for the Vintage 1967 and Estilo Cubano to kick in.
Lots of smoke. I love that. (That took 1.75 seconds to read. I love those video reviewers who take 2 minutes to explain how smoky the cigar becomes.)
The creaminess makes a big leap. The kettle is bubbling.
More flavors. Huzzah!
Caramel, sweetness, dried fruit, and floral notes. Here we go.
The spiciness surges big time. I love that too.
The char line is dead nuts. (For the uninitiated, it is a commercial construction term. Structural steel. When a high strength bolt is tightened to its proper tension, using a special tool to read torque…then it’s on the money, and it’s called dead nuts.)
The Anejo Havana has hit its sweet spot earlier than the other two fuller body cigar blends. It isn’t complex yet. And the finish is only a medium length, but it is quite flavorful.
The caramel, creaminess, brown sugar, cinnamon, and graham cracker turn the Anejo Havana into a high falutin’ French dessert.
SECOND THIRD:
Smoke time has been 20 minutes. A little less than its two predecessors.
The ash never seems to last longer than ¾” but at least it is falling into the ashtray and not my unencumbered lap.
The Great Katmanowitz declares that, at some point, the Anejo Havana will become a flavor bomb.
There is a nice curve to the cigar’s flavor profile. Constantly making transitions and becoming more interesting with each puff.
The strength is just shy of medium body.
This is a perfect stick for those that like a breakfast cigar or prefer their blends on the milder side. For the experienced palate, it provides a lot of popes in the pizza to look for in terms of picking out all the different flavors.
Sweet cedar appears. Along with some nice baking spices. There is a touch of maple syrup in the background.
HALFWAY POINT:
Oh man. What an intense flavor profile. A giant cornucopia of different flavors. Who cares if it ain’t full bodied?
It seems that Pierson Geoffreys has scored once again. SCORE!!
It is so complex that my ears are wiggling in time to the music on the cable TV radio station.
The finish is super long.
Smoke time has been 35 minutes.
OK. Here they are again: Creaminess, caramel, red pepper, graham cracker, cedar, sweetness, maple, baking spices, cinnamon, dried fruit, leather, and earthiness.
What? No steak sauce?
Strength hits a solid medium body.
A little bit of nuttiness climbs aboard. No, not my wife. She rarely climbs aboard anymore. I have to ply her with alcohol and zircon baubles. Remember when you woke up every morning with a little pup tent? Maybe still do? That all goes away when you are 65. Very disappointing.
A bit of cloves appears. Easter ham.
The char line needs its first touch up.
It’s nice for a change to smoke a mild/medium body stick that doesn’t have a Connecticut wrapper. Not a big fan of that wrapper because I don’t think it necessarily imparts that much flavor.
And here is the proof in the pudding. The Anejo Havana is absolutely delicious and one doesn’t miss the fact that it isn’t a stick with real oomph. In fact, it should be on a stick like something you buy at the Summerfest.
I am taken aback at how good this blend is. I must admit I was worried when I read that the blend is mild. I can count on one hand the mild bodied blends I like. I don’t want to disappoint Jeff but I also must keep my integrity by telling the truth. So I am really relieved that the blend is a powerhouse of flavors. And the second half rids itself of the mild tag and becomes medium body.
LAST THIRD:
Strength is a tick over medium now. Red pepper is a’ burnin’.
The Anejo Havana has been a real pleasure. I should have known better. Jeff hasn’t let me down with his blends in the two previous reviews so why should I think he would on a milder stick? Because I’m a schmuck? Maybe. Will have to ask the wife.
The baking spices surge to the front of the line. Creaminess and caramel and spiciness right behind.
I had to put the cigar down for 5 minutes and when I returned, it was still lit. Good sign.
I go through this routine every single morning. Our boxer likes to sleep in. I get up around 7am, but the dog doesn’t want to get up til 9:30 or so. So when she comes down, I have to take her out, feed her, give her ice water (She loves ice cubes), and give her a little lovin’. Not Tijuana lovin’. Wisconsin lovin’.
A very tiny bit of nicotine shows itself but as I am near the end of the cigar, no worries.
Flavors are still pumping. The long list of flavors has not really seen any of them disappear. Maybe a change up in order but no disappearance.
I could easily smoke one of these as my first cigar of the day. Right after my sugar free waffles and sugar free maple syrup. It’s like eating air.
The dog is sitting next to me burping from being a chazer (Hebrew for pig, also used to define a pig like person or a slob) due to the ice water massive consumption.
You pronounce the first syllable like there is popcorn stuck in your throat: Cha. And the second syllable is just Zer.
Smoke time to finish will be an hour and 15 minutes.
I don’t believe this. The dog went back upstairs and climbed into our bed. What a slacker.
It’s like having your teenage son living with you.
The Anejo Havana finishes beautifully. No harshness. No heat. Very little nicotine. Perfect construction. And a true flavor bomb.
What more could you ask for other than to be rich and good looking?
PRICE POINT:
Dealing with boutique brands is not the same as dealing with big manufacturers. The boutique brand pays more for everything.
Therefore, one must adjust your thinking. I cannot think of another mild/medium body cigar like the Anejo Havana. It’s distinct and has its own personality.
So would I pay $9.00 for more? Absolutely. A cigar of this quality from a big manufacturer might go for $2 less but that’s it. And that’s the key: The quality.
SUMMATION:
Jeff provides a sampler of four blends: Vintage 1967, Perfecto, Estilo Cubano, and Anejo Havana. Four cigars for $48. If you are interested, this would be a good place to start.
Here is the order in which I prefer the Pierson Geoffreys cigars: Vintage 1967, Estilo Cubano and the Anejo Havana. The last one is only due to the strength issue. But each cigar is totally different from the previous one. Jeff worked very hard in developing these five blends.
The Anejo Havana is incredibly smooth. And so flavorful that I’m sure I missed things.
If I were a rich man, I’d buy boxes of all the brands from Pierson Geoffreys. They are that good.
You can read my 15 questions for Jeff in the Vintage 1967 review.
I have only one more blend to review: Perfecto. Not the shape. Just the name.
And then I shall go into a deep depression, curling up in the fetal position, and moaning for mommy.
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Cigar Reviews by Phil 'Katman' Kohn 
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