Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5.5 x 48 Robusto Box Pressed
Strength: Medium
Price: $13.00
My cigars have had 2 months of naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.
Cigars released: 500 boxes every 3 months.
“Charter Oak Pasquale is produced at AJ Fernandez’s factory in Nicaragua and is an homage to Melillo’s grandfather. Named after the man, Pasquale is comprised of an all-Nicaraguan blend that is finished with a Broadleaf maduro wrapper. Medium in body, expect rich notes of leather, spice, and hints of dark chocolate on the finish. This smooth maduro is light enough for morning but packs enough flavor for the nighttime.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Wonderful aromas of dark chocolate, Christmas spices, and bright orange slices. Isn’t it just fantastic that we passionate few can smell these elements. I hold a cigar up to Charlotte’s nose and every time she responds with, ‘It smells like shit.’ “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.”
I love it when a top knot on the cap is big enough that when twisted becomes a perfect blow hole for air to pass through. The cigar is packed evenly. My PerfecDraw seeks refuge in a coven of nuns. It brings its own wood ruler for use in knuckle squashing.
Head tilts back. Inhale. Exhale. Stare at ceiling. Furrowed brow. Thinking. I speak: “Nice smoke output. I taste earth, wind, and leather. A little chocolate. Very creamy. Spicy.”
I watched a popular video-caster warning his viewers of hyped top 25 cigar lists. He asserted that there is evil behind those lists. And then the man said he only likes mild Connie blends. Well, there you go. The man made it sound that these lists are conspiracies of the highest order. Balderdash. It is understood that the online retailers and the giant cigar publications are partial to their advertisers. But the rank-and-file majority are fair and even in their assessments. There is no conspiracy. He said that our lists are narrow based upon our experiences. Well, duh. My sponsors give me the opportunity to taste a broad swath of cigar blends. This is good for smokers and good for me. But I purposely stay away from most catalog brands because they are overly predictable and blended for smokers exactly like the vodcaster that warned us against people…just like himself. The top 25 lists are usually the most popular post throughout the year for most reviewers. This is good. And it is absolutely wonderful that Halfwheel posts a consensus top 25. Every year, I look forward to their list.
Very creamy and chocolatey start. I can taste AJ immediately. It is like the verboten ‘twang’ quality in Cuban cigars. AJ knows how to manipulate Nic leaves like nobody’s business. The twang is a misstep. The AJ imprint is laser guided.
Lemony like Thai food. Espresso pops up. Brioche bread with its doughy, yeasty sweetness slithers from cigar to palate.
Strength is medium as described. Designed to be a morning cigar. After lunch is good too. I take for granted, that as a retired person, I can smoke a cigar when the desire arises. I am not relegated to the bitter cold garage or porch. I have it pretty good.
Vanilla. The dark Maduro wrapper scares off most potential cigar smokers. It is associated with strength. We know that ain’t true. This blend is an example. Dark as night…medium on the starboard bow.
Complexity is missing. The richness is just OK. A nice array of standard Nic flavors is welcome. But they don’t make up for an absence of richness. It’s early. And the cigar has only had a couple months of humi time. I will be patient.
What kind of mystical palates do video reviewers have. They can take a cigar with a week of rest and describe a flavor wheel of elements. Do these guys have super powered palates. Or are they just making shit up. Every passion borne cigar smoker knows it can take months and months for a cigar to breathe with fury. What is their magical shortcut.
I’m killing time. The cigar is just OK. It is one of those blends that needs a ridiculous amount of humidor respite. The second half will tell the truth.
The moment I finish the last sentence, richness kicks in with surplus balance. If I was a better man, I’d edit it out. BTW- the lifeforce happened at 1-1/2” burned.
The burn on this box press is a bit wonky. The char line is not an example for your children to look up to. Neither am I.
Spiciness is minimal. The easy-going strength needs a push.
Did Amazon ban butt plugs. Asking for a friend.
I am reviewing this cigar too early. My bad.
The Charter Oak family has been reasonably priced at around $7-$8 per stick. This hike of roughly $5 is where we are headed in 2024 cigar pricing. This ain’t inflation.
I’d like to reiterate what Halfwheel’s Charlie Minato recently wrote: “As a cigar smoker, I’m not sure how many more new cigars the world really needs, especially because it seems like the demand for new cigars is driven by cigars being new, not being better than what currently exists.”
A pleasant blend. Earth shaking…nope. Groundbreaking…nope. A nice cigar. Minato told me in an email that if a blend needs extended humi time, it should say so on the cello. He’s not wrong. Good cigars are becoming so expensive that it is not fair to the smoker who must guess when his purchases are ready for prime time.
I’d love to report constant changes in this blend…but the cigar ain’t no big thing. Bummer. I can tell if the blender’s intent is on to something. For $13, a cigar needs to be more than just pleasant.
The ‘richness’ is not on a progressive path. Stasis creates boredom. I have the Pasquale’s partnered blend called the Pegnataro. It is a Connecticut Shade with Nic guts. And described as mild/medium. I’m not sure if I want to spend the energy reviewing it.
As reviews for both blends are non-existent at this writing, I fathom a guess that reviewers are waiting for their cigars to mature into something smokeable.
I bought the Foundation New Releases Sampler. Not cheap. It included the $40 Tabernacle Knight Commander. I expect multiple blow jobs from this cigar.
The second half. Waiting. Strength changes to nearly full tilt. Nicotine is out of control. I’m now thinking that the blend needs a year of humidor time…not two months.
You become older and revelations occur. Not like when you are younger. When I say younger, I mean 60. Is it wisdom from life experience. No idea. Every path is different. No explanation extended by Wikipedia.
Rick Rubin read a quote by John Lennon to McCartney on their recent Hulu documentary. Lennon said that Sir Paul was an incredibly talented bassist. McCartney was overwhelmed. He had no idea. Tell the people you love, while you have the chance, how you feel. I’ve lost so many friends and loved ones. Opportunities lost.
I am disappointed.
Three sponsors carry the Foundation Cigars line: Small Batch Cigar (10% off with promo code ‘katman’), Luxury Cigar Club (15% off with promo code ‘katman’)
RATING: 85
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
