Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 4.75 x 60
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $30.00
These cigars were released in March of 2022.
Number of Cigars Released: Unknown
BACKGROUND:
From Luxury Cigar Club:
“Available in both sun-grown natural and maduro wrapper, the tobacco is aged ten years, then blended to create an exceptionally smooth, complex, balanced, and full-bodied flavor. For your protection, a double band with an individually numbered guarantee label is applied to every cigar to safeguard against counterfeiting.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Reaction to this cigar has been mixed. It might be that like most Padrons, they need a long time in your humidor before they really shine as blended.
This cigar has a year on it. Plus, tobacco has 10 years of aging. This is a big deal…hopefully.
Aromas from the wrapper wreak of aging. A lovely near mustiness works for the cigar rather than against it. It smells like old earth rich with nutrients. Also, notes of dark chocolate, black and red peppers, a wonderful maltiness near the cap, homemade whipped cream, vanilla bean, cinnamon, cedar, espresso, and very nutty. Pretty much what one expects from a Nic puro.
The draw is mighty good. Just the right resistance I prefer. My PerfecDraw draw adjustment tool lays silently, while I ignore it. This thing has to man up one of these days.
A hefty cigar that requires teeth to be used to hold it in my mouth while typing. It feels like a horse’s bridle bit. All Charlotte needs to do is kick me in my loins and we are off and running. (I was told not to discuss this subject in my reviews).
I rarely discuss smoke output because who cares? But this cigar is blinding me and I can barely see my laptop screen. A military spec smoke bomb.
The immediate strength is very mild, but that aged tobacco is flooding my palate with rounded notes of spiciness, chocolate, espresso, nuts, cinnamon, and creaminess.
The finish is elegant. No transitions at this point. Just an exquisite richness…and so early on. Fingers crossed that this is a start of a wonderful state of bliss…like finding a ferret nest and cuddling with the babies while you insult their mother and watch the babies cry. Doesn’t get better than that.
The cigar burns, with a perfect char line, ¾” in 8 minutes. A little fast.
The cigar is missing and noticeable complexity other than what is produced by the aged tobacco…meaning, the needed depth isn’t quite there yet. Yes, the flavors are rich and smooth. Transitions are missing.
I’ve burned 1-3/4” in 15 minutes. Yikes. If this continues, the math says it will be only a 40-minute smoke.
The pillar-like ash holds on like an ironworker dangling from an exterior 4” beam flange 32 floors up. Stupid me, as a project manager, did this once. Another story, another time.
Complexity kicks in finally. The Asian bellowed hand fan spreads its wings like an attacking swan. Those fuckers are mean.
The blend is now everything I had hoped for just moments after I complain about it not having any and the quick burn.
A dashing Errol Flynn swings from the cigar to my brain and grabs the heroine in his arms and flies away like Tarzan. (Gotta stop doing shots of Drano before I review).
Oh lord. Lawdy. Just like flipping a switch, the cigar goes into the stratosphere. Fucking amazing. A shame that had to burn a third of the cigar to get here. This cigar ain’t cheap. It took $10 to get here. I only gave the stick 24 hours of dry box time. Maybe it needed more. Dunno.
Cinnamon, dark chocolate, creaminess, espresso, perfect level of spiciness to give the blend some oomph, raw cashews, maltiness, and that nice touch of vanilla.
This is a damn fine cigar. I’m a damn fine cleaner of the litter box. Sammy always nods with appreciation when I finish. I think I’m making that up.
Keb Mo. Amazon Music. New Blues station. Now this is damn fine music. (I should have used this analogy).
I replaced Charlotte’s phone and it wouldn’t activate so I called for tech help. We spoke for an hour. A 43-year-old guy named Dallas who is a multi-instrumentalist…but guitar is his main axe. He is a true musicologist as we talked about music from every age since electric guitars and basses were born. It was soul lifting as musicians have always been my best friends. I miss it. We are going to stay in touch. Know how defeating it is to talk about world class bands from 25-40 years ago and people have no idea who you are talking about?
BTW- Cigar Page is coming up with a new katman special that reflects my imprint. Coming soon.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd with Keb Mo. “Born Under a Bad Sign.” Damn.
I do not have the words to describe the depth of flavors and richness I’m experiencing. The cigar has become a work of art.
During the 90’s, we lived in Mesa, AZ. There was a traveling Monet exhibit. It included wine booths, food booths from the finest restaurants in town, and martini booths. Charlotte got snockered and then we entered the art museum. There was this massively sized Monet that had to have been 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Charlotte walked right up to it and began to touch it. Then she used her fingernails to gently scratch at it. There was plenty of security but they didn’t see her do this. I grabbed her elbow and whisked her away back outside. Jesus, if anyone saw her do this, she’d still be in Terminal Island Prison.
Sips of water cause minor shock waves to my palate and withering brain.
Man, if the blend had started with this blessing, I would rate it higher.
Strength is medium/full at 2-1/2” burned. At 40 minutes. Thankfully, the burn slowed way down.
I stretch out the puffs to gather the sheep closer to the cliff. This is why Wellington Boots were invented. Sheepherders used the boots to have sex with the sheep. Stick the hind legs of the animal into the boots and then move to the edge of the cliff and the scared sheep moves its ass backwards and the shepherd has a pleasant evening. Afterwards, both the sheep and shepherd share a cigarette.
No new flavors. But no loss of the aforementioned flavors either. Transitions are fast and furious. The finish is rich and warm.
The blend becomes a Milky Way bar, a Snickers bar, and chocolate mousse.
The aged tobacco is the only source of serious savories. The nuttiness helps.
The perfect balance of black pepper and spicy cinnamon are ass kicking.
Strength hits full tilt. I’m swooning.
My rating is against all reviewers’ rules as price is not supposed to be taken into consideration. Balderdash. If this was a $15 stick, I’d give it a 97.
Know what gives away my extinction? I use the term, “Okie Doke” too much.
1-1/2” to go. I awaken my PerfecDraw from its sleep to nub the cigar. 55 minutes have passed. I no longer keep roach clips in the house. I’m a disappointment to the American Hippie Association.
Construction is top drawer. The char line has been razor sharp.
I must be careful when I nub. Age has made me stupid at times. Can’t count the times I’ve put my mouth to burning cherry instead of the cap. When this happens, I yell at the cat.
An incredibly flavorful cigar. Rich and complex. The strength empties my sinuses.
I will finish nubbing off camera.
The smoke time is one hour 10 minutes.
Sponsors, Small Batch Cigar (promo code ‘katman” gets you 10% off) and Luxury Cigar Club (promo code ‘katman’ gets you 15% off) have these cigars in stock.
RATING: 94
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