Wrapper: Candela, Dominican Habano
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Size: 7 x 64 Salomon
Strength: Medium
Price: $35.80
My stick has nearly a year of naked humidor time. No idea what is ahead of me other than a very long review.
One single roller made all 10 of those cigars. Not every box was the same with 50-100 designs made by this one roller.
My guess is that the binder and filler are the same tobacco regardless of the wrapper. The wrapper is the unique portion of this blend.
A few online stores still have a few. Of course, my sponsors Small Batch Cigar and Luxury Cigar Club have some. But since you don’t get to look inside a box before you buy it, you never know what you’re gonna get.
So, my dear friends, what I review now most probably is like nothing in the rest of the line. Or maybe it is similar…but candela does possess a special taste unlike other wrappers.
The cigar is a work of art and feels like blasphemy to smoke it. Either smoke it or dunk it in Lucite and make a pen and pencil set out of it.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
I happen to like Candela wrappers. Unfortunately, I’ve only found a few blends that do it well: Sinistro Cigars Mr. Candela, Illusione 88 Candela, GB-19 by Nomad Cigar Co., La Flor Dominicana Double Claro, and Illusione ‘888’ Claro.
The schnozzola picks up aromas of strong peppermint. Coming in second are notes of fresh cut grass, charred oak, creaminess, malt, cedar, and espresso.
The draw is just a scoche too tight for my preferences, but I decide to let my PerfecDraw draw adjustment tool stay in ready mode just in case the cigar doesn’t open up after a few minutes.
This is a heavy sucker. I cannot let it dangle from my lips. I need to use my Gila monster jaw strength to keep it in place.
Long review coming up…seat belts and tray tables up please.
I check with National Geographic and I’m sure that the cat shown on the wrapper is a cheetah.
The burn is ultra slow as the foot is the most bulbous part of the cigar. I know there is a dirty joke with the word bulbous in it somewhere…I must be off my game.
I gotta use my PerfecDraw. The plug was in its usual positioning of the cigar band area. Should have done this before I lit up. If you think you are stubborn now and people tell you will mellow with age…well, they’re wrong. Look at the two grumpy old men in the Muppet theater balcony and pick which old heckler you’ll be: Statler or Waldorf.
Flavors…Salty pretzel, creaminess, black pepper, raw sweet cashews, nutmeg, and cedar.
I don’t really expect to be wowed until I’m several minutes into the smoke. So, time out.
17 minutes in, I reach half an inch burned. Oy. Speaking of being cremated, my dad would have reached 100 this month. But he’s been gone for 20 years. Pretty much the standard tale of the Greatest Generation. They are dwindling fast. Meanwhile, Boomers are dropping like flies.
I get my first state of harmony. Complexity goes kapow. A wonderful richness appears. So much tobacco in this cigar. I should have weighed it first. I do it anyway: 23.71 grams. Just 5 grams shy of an ounce. Don’t ask why I have a scale that weighs in grams.
The char line was a bit dicey at first, but it has converted to brilliant. I would think that if only one #9 roller produced all these cigars, they are tighter than Archie Bell & The Drells.
The flavor profile is warming up. A very nice cigar. My curiosity is in the wait and see mode hoping the cigar rips it up as each half inch is burned.
The aforementioned flavors become more ingrained into the blender’s intent and the finish is finding depth on my palate…or is it in my palate? Dunno.
I like the cigar. (Jinx).
Strength is an easy-going medium. Unless special leaves were used, Dominicanos mostly find themselves in this category…but my gut tells me that this cigar is going to hit full tilt before the halfway point, and I will be leaving the planet via the strong cigar express.
I can’t keep rambling. I’m already past my usual halfway point of word usage and I’ve only burned 1-1/2”. Stay tuned.
Spiciness kicks in with multiple pepper influences: black, red, poblano, and cayenne.
The balance is perfect. Sweet v. Savory is mainlining.
I find the flavor profile, complexity, and depth delightful. Is it a monster blend at 3” burned? Not in contextual terms, but this is a solid experience that I’d like to try again.
I would tread lightly calling this release a gaggle of gimmick cigars. The artistry deposited into this series of cigars had passionate beginnings. The price point is based upon the uniqueness of the design. Is it worth $35? Dealer’s choice. I find this blend to be excellent. I would rank it as a great $25 stick with $10 worth of artwork.
Strength ratchets up to medium/full.
The halfway point is reached at one hour 15 minutes.
A major sweet spot kicks in.
Creaminess, spiciness at the optimal level, sourdough bread, baking spices, malt, charred oak, lemon curd, Froot Loops, brown sugar, oatmeal, and cedar.
Not a flavor bomb. A sophisticated blend. Aging has done this cigar a solid. The overall depth of richness is the prize in the Cracker Jack box. A smooth and enchanting blend.
If you decide you would like to try this cigar…and by cigar, I don’t mean this specific wrapper, you can buy a surprise wrapper Unico from Small Batch Cigar by the threesome or at Luxury Cigar Club by the single. Now that I am smoking one, I would have no issues with trying a few when my wife wasn’t looking. It is a great herf cigar that would delight and surprise your friends when you pass them out. A great conversation cigar. For two hours, the discussion would be comparing notes. I’d like to do that.
Construction is superb. I generally find that large Salomons always have burn issues. Not so with this baby. The amount of sausage stuffed into this cigar is on the heavy side making it at least a 2.5-hour cigar. Great for evenings on the porch with your favorite libation.
I skip ahead to the end of the cigar. I enjoyed every puff. It is complex, rich, flavorful, and elevating to the palate.
If you feel outlandish, you can snag these sticks from Small Batch Cigar (10% off with promo code ‘katman) or Luxury Cigar Club (15% off with promo code ‘katman’).
RATING: 94
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
