Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero
Size: 6 x 54 Torpedo
Strength: Full
Price: $4.00
My sticks have been marinating naked for 4-1/2 months.
BACKGROUND:
From Cigar Page:
“Megilla is a full-flavored, full-bodied, boutique Nicaraguan gem. If you’re a fan of uber-boutique, lower-production craft sticks, this blend is your new favorite. It brings an absolutely gorgeous, oily Habano wrapper that’s practically oozing with oils. Dark brown with a dark reddish hue, it’s utterly redolent. This wrapper is paired with a Nicaraguan binder and choice blend of Nicaraguan Ligero long-fillers. Loaded with spice plus notes of toast, sweetness, and a BBQ-like aroma. Mouthfeel is textured and gritty (in a good way), and the flavors and complexity builds as it burns. Savory and leathery, it’s the perfect balance of spice and sweetness.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH (This is the correct spelling):
The name of the cigar is a mystery. Either it is a derivation of the Judaica meaning “Scroll” as in The Megillah of Esther” or defined as The Book of Esther.
Or…It is simply an homage to Magilla Gorilla.
There are 7 sizes for this blend. Prices range from $3-$5.
Man, I hope this cigar is a nice everyday go-to cigar. I chose to buy it simply for its name which should be obvious.
The cigar is packed solid. For a $4 stick, it looks pretty nice.
I clip away and the air flow is as free as a runaway squid. My PerfecDraw draw adjustment tool sits there with a grimace that worries me.
Aromas are mellow but I detect caramel, milk chocolate, peanuts, creaminess, cedar, and BBQ sauce like Cigar Page says in their own description.
First up are notes of buttered toast, creaminess, cedar, and an unidentified sweetness.
The most potent element, as I break the ¼” mark, is the creaminess.
So far, not bad for a $4 stick.
Black pepper and red pepper show up. Strength upped itself from mild to medium to medium/full in just 5 minutes. I don my 1957 football helmet in case of a fall induced by strength and nicotine 45 minutes from now.
Cigar Page was very accurate describing the sweetness and the BBQ elements. I taste slow smoked ribs with a delicate vinegar and brown sugar-based slather. The spiciness sits in the background coming up with a strategic plan.
Here’s the thing…inexpensive go-to sticks have one issue that I find regularly when I try them…they may start off with high hopes, but by the mid-point, they slither out of their skin and become mundane and useless. I expect this to be a 90-minute cigar based upon the excellent construction and the slow burn. Will Cigar Page love me? Or will I become the enemy?
The char line is razor sharp. Good sign. Inexpensive cigars rarely have that capability in their back pockets.
The BBQ is just screaming laughter. But it is tempered by a wonderful creaminess.
The natural smokiness gives the cigar a sense of enjoying a cigar near a campfire.
I smoked a couple of these sticks too soon and wasted them. If you want to get the most from the cigar, stick them in your humidor and forget about them for 4-5 months.
The ash does not disembark the vehicle at 1-1/2” burned.
Complexity shows its face. The BBQ melds with creaminess, spicy black and red pepper, a lovely maltiness, dark chocolate, garlic toast, smoky cedar, and fried ferret.
The blend hits the go pedal on smoothness. Flavors join hands and then duck and cover. I’m old enough to remember that in elementary school in the 1950’s, we had exercises in which we did just that in case the Russians decided to launch a nuclear attack on Long Beach, CA. It seemed futile even then as we watched the evening news and realized that we’d evaporate in that stupid position.
For a $4 stick, it ain’t bad at all. Cerainly not linear. It isn’t supremely complex but it stands up under pressure. The construction is excellent.
Small nuances begin that dart and giggle around my palate doing the Hully Gully.
2” into the cigar, it hits full tilt strength. Oy.
Time to sit back and let the cigar rest. And to also let the acid flashbacks conclude that the strength triggered.
The overall flavor intensifies and becomes as dense as granite. Black cherries fly. Chocolate covered malted milk balls attack. The creaminess becomes an ice cream sundae with caramel oozing on top. Whipped cream gives it a slightly different slant. The smokiness continues without a warrant. I can taste those baby back ribs.
My first sip of water causes an explosion of complexity.
“Oh Happy Day” by The Edwin Hawkins Singers. You gotta be my age to remember this great tune from the 60’s. Not an acid flashback…I’m listening to Amazon Music while I write. It is a happy day as it is a lovely 28 degrees outside, the sun is out, and the birds that built a nest on our patio are singing an opera.
I gauge my smoking taking puffs every 3 minutes or so. The cigar was not meant for constant huffing and puffing.
The Megilla won’t be confused for a heavy-duty premium cigar…but the blender showed some real passion for delivering an inexpensive cigar that is truly enjoyable. The construction is immaculate. The blend has some depth. A nice level of complexity. And a lovely compendium of disparate flavors. For $4, who is going to complain?
There are some cigars in the marketplace, by renowned blenders, who have produced smoky flavored cigars at twice or three times the price and they aren’t better than the Megilla.
“Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” by The 5th Dimension is playing. The song is from the musical, “Hair.” 1968. My first year of college. I asked this hot chick to go see the musical. My hair was long. So was hers. We had a good time. I was shocked at the total nudity part but I maintained an even keel. I took the girl home, we kissed, and she never returned my phone calls. It wasn’t always peace, love, and understanding. A misnomer.
The Megilla is a nice slow roll. The strength is mightier than the pen. But I remain upright. The inherent smoothness keeps the train running on time.
At the halfway point (45 minutes), it seems that the laundry list of flavors is now canonized. No argument from me as they are tasty and unique.
Complexity is sort of there…but there is nothing linear about this blend. More than I would expect from 98% of inexpensive cigars.
The strength is tempered by its flavor points and inherent smoothness.
Transitions are in play. The finish is very spicy.
Mesquite has been a wrap around this entire time. It’s making me hungry.
Cigar Page sells a 10 pack for $40. Can’t beat that with an angry ferret.
The strength is at its zenith but the nicotine is mild. No blurry vision. I remove my football helmet. I feel safe now.
The sweet spot arrives with 2-1/2” left to go. Fat nuances and smoky fruitiness along with chocolate, creaminess, cinnamon, buttery rye toast, and glazed doughnut.
Complexity becomes a made man. Transitions are running the gauntlet. The finish is exemplary. You can hand this cigar out to all the mooches in your life and never wince. Tell them it is a $10 cigar. They’ll never know.
The cigar comes in Lancero ($5) and a Corona Gorda size ($4). I’d love to try those sticks.
It is difficult to rate this cigar as I always consider the price. And yes, I know all the cigar experts say never factor in the price when critiquing a cigar. I vehemently disagree. Therefore, my rating will reflect that for a very inexpensive cigar, it’s a solid purchase for a grab and go cigar.
The cigar won’t break the bank and it’s worth a try.
Check them out at Cigar Page.
RATING: 90
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Cigar Reviews by the Katman 
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