Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan Estelí Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan Jalapa Habano (Aged 5-8 years)
Size: 5 x 56 Robusto Gordo
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $7.79
My cigars have had 2 months of naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
Factory: Tabacalera A.J. Fernández Cigars de Nicaragua
Regular Production
A collaboration between AJ Fernandez and STG’s Justin Andrews
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
The Nose picks up notes of floral arrangements, dark chocolate, barnyard, baking spices, espresso, slight mintyness, black cherries, cedar, and rye bread. Fairly typical of a Nic puro.
The weight of the cigar feels right. It seems to be nicely constructed.
I like how the cigar takes off. Spicy and pungent with notes of black pepper, spicy cinnamon, creaminess, tree fruit sweetness that is slightly tart, strong espresso, and lots of maltiness.
I believe that the aged tobacco is in play. What a nice surprise. Not bad for an $8 stick. Especially when it is a Diesel.
The char line is dead nuts.
Strength is medium+.
The balance is astonishingly poised. I am speechless. No, I’m not.
Just 5 minutes in and the cigar boasts a pleasant complexity.
Justin Andrews is a young man who is now senior brand manager for STG. The partnership between AJ and Justin worked flawlessly for taking a generally mediocre catalog brand and giving it a needed boost in cred. Diesel cigars can be OK, but they just aren’t designed for a sophisticated palate. Some blends are nice go to cigars, but I don’t have any in my humidor.
The cigar obtains a mellow richness that swarms my palate like wasps that spent too much time at a Grateful Dead concert.
Sips of water accentuate the lush creaminess.
I smoked one of these cigars a month in and I tossed it. Something slightly magical happened at the two-month rest point.
1” burned. 15 minutes.
The ash is monolithic. The cigar has the capability to just lay there like a flounder and refuses to give up its ghost.
My giant granular cortex tells me that this cigar is going to the moon, Alice. A Diesel totally unlike any Diesel I’ve smoked.
And $8. I said that, didn’t I.
I don’t usually force the ash off the mother ship but when I am writing, my naughty bits are totally exposed. I’m too old to have emergency personnel tending to a genital burn. In 2016, I had a physical meltdown and spent 5 days in ICU. The only thing I remember is on that first day, I needed a catheter up my wiener so I could pee. Naturally, three 25-year-old pretty female nurses came in to do the deed. First, it hurts. Second, three 25-year-old female nurses. I’d rather they’d have just pulled the plug.
The cigar is turning into near spectacular.
Strength hits full tilt but there is no loss of vision, no loss of sensory activity, no loss of mental acuity, and no loss of my bowels.
The best part is that this is a regular production cigar. Although, I have no idea how they are going to keep up with using 5–8-year aged tobacco. I’d like to know how they are going to accomplish that. Regardless, this is a great purchase. A box worthy cigar (comes in 10 count). Small Batch Cigar has them and with my promo code, this size is only $7. Absolutely a killer deal. There are 5 sizes to choose from.
I know reviewers aren’t supposed to say this shit (But then I’m not a professional cigar reviewer.), I stopped writing and bought a 10-count box of the Rabito size…6 x 46. If I had Andrew’s money, I would have bought more.
Oddly, the giant online catalog brand sites don’t have this cigar. No idea why not. Maybe it is still limited in its production. Or maybe this is a test release. And maybe the regular production run might not have extended aged tobacco. A subversive theory. In any case, now would be the time to snag some just in case.
Flavors: Creaminess, graham crackers, chocolate malted milk shake, rich espresso, black pepper, tangerine tartness, cinnamon, mint, sweet cashews, and that immersive richness that stems from a naturally aged tobacco purity.
Killer cigar for the price.
I truly hope that Justin Andrews keeps working with AJ on future projects. He has a real sense of getting the best from AJ.
The halfway point arrives at 40 minutes. Such a smooth ride.
Sweet v. Savory is on the money.
The richness keeps on keeping on.
If the industry reviewers decide to critique this cigar, I know with all my being that it will receive a rating of 85-89. For them, that is high praise.
I, on the other hand, configure this blend at a much higher level. First, because the price point is impressive for this quality. And second, using beautifully aged tobacco makes this cigar a bona fide winner.
The cigar starts my early day off with a bang. I miss the young man’s ability to roll over in bed and have a willing participant for morning sex. If that’s you, treasure it while you can. When you get older, the response is, “Are you crazy? Get off me!”
I’m mellow yellow, my babies.
I am shocked that the full tilt strength hasn’t ripped my head off. I can miraculously still see with both eyes perfectly.
I believe I still have 2 or 3 left. I’m a happy boy.
Ever feed a trained seal with an anchovy and he bites you? Me neither.
When I was young, I wanted to club baby seals for a living, but my mother told me no. As punishment for saying that, I was forced to take accordion lessons.
I didn’t expect such a slow roll. Again, nicely constructed. The char line is perfecto-a-mundo. Living in Milwaukee does take its toll.
Flavors are canonized. The complexity does not stop. The sheer richness on my palate continues to impress.
The cigar finishes at the 85-minute mark.
A perfect cigar for newbies to try as an exercise in experimenting with strong cigars. Seasoned smokers will love it for its palate pleasing sophistication.
Sponsor Small Batch Cigar sells these cigars. Use promo code ‘katman’ for 10% off.
RATING: 94
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
