Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan Ometepe, Indonesian
Filler: Nicaraguan Condega, Jalapa, Estelï
Size: 6.5 x 56 Gran Toro
Strength: Mild/Medium
Price: $13.00
My cigars have had 2 months of naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
From ATL Cigar Co,:
“Named in honor of Atlanta’s adopted son, John Lewis, this Habano-wrapper blend from Estelí boasts a complexity of Nicaraguan filler from 3 growing regions, double-bound by Indonesian Sumatra paired with a priming from the volcanic soil of Ometepe. The outcome of this unique blend is a flavorful, accessible cigar that leaves a clean finish.”
“Never, ever be afraid to make some noise; get into good trouble, necessary trouble.” – John Lewis
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
If a cigar smells good, I report it. Very fruity. Dark chocolate, vanilla, baking spices, jalapenos, black coffee, cedar, and sweet cream.
The draw is adequate. I can’t find my PerfecDraw. I find a note. In the scribblings akin to a serial killer, there is a message…”On vacation. Leave your name and number in the ashtray and I’ll get back to you.” I never liked that little bugger.
Interesting start. Notes are very creamy with additions of mild black pepper, grapefruit, espresso, buttery baked goods, and a nice smoky presence.
This is certainly a big honker of a cigar. I rarely review behemoths. No patience. I also find that huge cigars never have the intensity I desire. Small cigars are where it’s at for displaying a blender’s passion.
Strength is a bit milder in its attack than I like. I just don’t get mellow cigars. I guess so many decades have passed since I started this filthy habit, I can’t remember. But then a flash into the way back machine materializes…I was in college and smoked maduros. And they weren’t mild. I need a check from the referee to verify this aged memory.
Bananas foster. Sort of. The stick needs a serious kick in the ass to get me to love it back. Mild, Schmild. The first puffs were in the medium range and now the cigar has retreated.
The burn is terrible. Oh no.
Man, ATL is so unpredictable. There is no consistency in their products. A good cigar. A meh cigar. A good cigar. A meh cigar…you get the gist.
I look back at my ATL reviews of the Fye, Wise Blood, and the Black. They all fell into the ‘nice’ category but none really tolled the bell for thee…or me. To be fair, I did fall in love with the 2021 Magic release. It made my top 25 for 2022 at #18.
An inch into the Good Trouble and it’s trouble. This mellow thing is not up my alley. It is a great beginner cigar but that’s all. But as I swore the Reviewer’s Oath of Allegiance, I will marshal on and finish the cigar. Hopefully, the second half is better.
Seen that tv commercial from a company called Kardia.com? You can check your heart rate with an app on your phone anytime you want. I guess Hypochondria.com was taken.
Banana-y, creamy, black pepper, lemon citrus, a little fruity like Little Richard, and sorely missing some savory tobacco notes.
Strength is barely medium at 1-1/2” burned. 25 minutes. Lawdy, this is torture. A seasoned cigar smoker needs complexity. And there ain’t any in this matinee. Some richness would help, but none is available.
Great. Nicotine. I mean, what?
I guess the majority of cigar smokers are in the slow lane of experimentation. And hence will like this cigar. But few will even know about boutique blends. If you are aware of the boutique cigar industry, you probably want a stronger cigar. So, this makes no sense.
The cigar was released in 2021. I only found a couple reviews from that time. No one thought much of this blend. This is what happens when you make a spasm purchase without research. Fool me once…
You’d think that with all the fancy tobacco in this cigar, it would be over performing. You would be wrong. I’d love to toss the cigar. I’m in arrears of my reviewer’s union dues. Mush I say to the sled dogs.
Man, bland is the theme.
Destined to be a punchline. Mediocrity.
As a teen, I actually worked in two different record stores. One was the iconic Licorice Pizza in Long Beach. The other was the equally iconic Wallich’s Music City in Lakewood. They had a huge sheet music department, and I sold sheet music. But the real age of dinosaurs department was the wall of record listening booths. You could grab an album, or a single, and listen to your heart’s content. Amazingly, kids and adults took this responsibility seriously. No one ever stole. Records were played carefully, and scratches almost never occurred. Can you imagine that existing today. Nope.
The halfway point arrives at 16 hours of smoke time. Has it really been that long. Time has stood still. Damn, I’m in a 1950’s sci fi flick.
As a critic, one should be impartial. I should think of the broad audience. So OK, for newbies, this is the perfect cigar. But instead of paying $13, pay half that much. Check out my Value Spotlight list of cigars.
Totally linear in its weakened attack. Not an iota of change has occurred. Same flavors. Same strength. Same boredom.
75 is looming. I’d give anything to be 70 again.
The cigar strength is medium. Alert the media.
As long as ATL Cigar Co. continues to charge this kind of dough, I shall put a pause on reviewing further blends. I bought a fiver. That was 65 Simoleons. That’s an eighth of some good NorCal weed. Damn. I’d prefer the weed. Will Wisconsin ever legalize marijuana. Not in my lifetime.
I try but can’t watch Pawn Stars. Rick Harrison is so fucking skeevy. He is facing a lawsuit for taking advantage of his mother. If the man has that little shame, and that much raw greed, what are the odds he is fair when he buys shit from strangers. And don’t tell me that his ‘experts’ aren’t in on the deal. What kind of fee do they get for undercutting the value of things they appraise. Harrison now looks like Uncle Fester. An insult to the good Fester.
Don’t let your daughters date musicians. My kid sister dated Eddie Munster. I was never so disappointed in my life.
I swear the cigar is growing back.
So, I’m taking a dump in my jeans next to the Baskin-Robbins. The ride home with my dad was eventful. I was 12. Sure.
Screw the union rules.
Two of my sponsors carry the ATL line of cigars: Small Batch Cigar (10% off with promo code ‘katman) and Luxury Cigar Club (15% off with promo code ‘katman’).
RATING: 75
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
