Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican
Size: 7 x 48 Churchill
Strength: Full
Price: $7.50
My cigars have had 3 months of naked humidor time.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
This is one of the few SD blends I’ve not reviewed. I’ve made no bones about being a fan of everything that Robert Holt and AJ Fernandez blend. I am overdue to review this cigar which was released in 2018. Hence, this cigar has had 5 years of box aging. They don’t need months and months of humidor time.
You can read all about this project on the Southern Draw Cigars website.
A hefty stick that is as solid as this country’s credit rating. Yet, the draw is how Pappy likes it. My PerfecDraw slinks away into the nether world from which it came.
Music always tells the truth. It begins. “Can’t Find My Way Home.” Blind Faith.
Wang dang doodle of a start: Creaminess, dark chocolate, espresso, malt, black licorice, peanuts, black pepper, and smoky cedar.
The finish is all Almond Joy…dark chocolate, coconut, almonds, and sweetness.
You will someday tell your grandkids when they ask, “Grandpa. Do you remember when you could buy a cigar for less than $100?” And you’ll reply, “Nope. Who are you?”
Strength wastes no time as it punches through to medium/full. A biting assemblage of flavor notes. Pungent.
In most cases, an inexpensive AJ stick is a decent go-to cigar. Add Robert Holt’s influence and I vote yes.
Candied orange rind tickles the ivories. The spiciness relents from its frontal attack and morphs for the good of the collective.
“Badge” Cream. I listen to modern era music and the art of the ‘hook’ seems to have disappeared. Pop music is just a drone of derivatives and not done as well as the originals. Country music is a throwback to 60’s pop music and has those hooks but I can’t stand the twangy vocals. And I’m too old to appreciate hip hop. I love jazz and blues and that will never change.
The first sweet spot appears at 1-1/2” burned. 20 minutes. The orange notes along with the chocolate and coconut remove the head of the snake. Other notes back up slowly.
Marzipan sidles up. But the peanut brittle is just as heady.
How odd to find an inexpensive cigar that has character and panache. A dying breed.
The cigar has a nice even keel of complex tones. A childbearing level of richness is ready to pounce. A slow roll.
I watch too much TV. We all have the same contempt for commercials. But what I truly dislike are advertisements that show musicians playing and singing and not a single actor knows how to play their instrument. Guys and gals grabbing the necks of guitars and basses like they are hanging on, not playing. The drummer. Not a clue. And the addition of backup vocals, strings, horns, keys that come out of nowhere…well, all I can tell you is that I need to get a life and stop obsessing. Did I say that out loud?
Balance of sweet v. savory is spot on.
These cigars are a great deal at $7.50 each. I bought a 10 pack from Cigar Page a few months ago and paid only $5.
Turns out that CP bought up the entire lock, stock, and barrel of the remaining supply on the market directly from Robert Holt. I didn’t know that until I contacted them before this review and asked if I could have a promo code for this cigar. They obliged. Now you can snag what is rest of this limited edition for around $4 a stick. Even my naysayers will pounce on this. “He’s a shill.” Yeah, when it comes to bringing your attention to good cigars, damn straight I am. Everyone is a shill when it comes to proselytizing for their favorite things in life. Snobs need to get off their high horses and remember we aren’t scientists or peace negotiators or engineers (well, I am). We like cigars. Period. No one that gives their opinion is unbiased. If opinion makers tell you that they can maintain impartiality, they are delusional.
“Positively 4th Street.” Dylan. The man. What a long, strange trip it’s been. Some artists will be listened to 100 years from now. Most will be forgotten. (e.g. The Moody Blues).
Strength hits full at 3” burned. 40 minutes.
Construction is perfect. The burn line is constitutional.
A secondary sweet spot appears. Intense chocolate, malt, creaminess, coconut, orange citrus, licorice, marzipan, peanuts, and espresso…
This is a fine ride. If this is all the stock left in the world, I need to act accordingly. Otherwise, at some future point, I will regret being a dumb ass. I’m tired of spending an average of $15 for a single cigar. Commonwealth friends are grimacing because of that statement. The poor blokes pay even more for Cubans than we do in the U.S. A good friend told me that he is going to visit Cuba. That is a brave man. I never want to leave this country again. Not with an American passport. You’re asking for trouble. I have no sympathy for greedy businessmen that go to autocratic countries and are arrested for being spies. Pawns. And then they beg for the United States government to bail them out. Idiots.
Oh my. The strength tries to David Carradine me. Holy shit.
Outstanding blend. It’s trying to kill me, but I love that it’s trying. Seasoned smokers will grab their nutsacks and laugh. And then pass out in their pudding.
Super complex now that the second half is behind me.
Richness is cheese on a Ritz cracker.
“Helpless.” C,S,N,&Y. Great Neil Young song. It will always stand the test of time.
Chocolate is oozing. Creaminess is pussy galore. Almonds and coconut slather a fresh orange. Espresso and black pepper are baseline.
I’m glad that we have organizations that donate cigars to our armed forces. We also need to supply our first responders. I reach out to local police and fire departments to donate. These underpaid souls love cigars too. I called a local department, and they were here in 9 minutes. Instead of giving cigars to your friends, think of the brave folks that protect and serve. They are more than deserving.
The cigar finishes out at just under two hours.
Don’t let this deal slip away.
Sponsor Cigar Page still has these cigars for sale. For this deal only, use promo code KATMANHANDS for 20% off.
RATING: 91
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
