Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut (Aged 3 years)
Binder: Dominican (Aged 3 years)
Filler: Dominican (Aged 3 years)
Size: 6 x 52 Toro
Strength: Medium
Price: $18.00
My cigars received 3 months naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
From Lampert Cigars:
“LAMPERT CIGARS has begun shipping the “FAMILY RESERVE 2023” to retailers. While the cigar bands are changing, the rest of the cigar’s details remain the same.
“The “FAMILY RESERVE 2023” is a medium-bodied, full flavor cigar blended by none-other than Hendrik Kelner Jr., KELNER BOUTIQUE FACTORY (KBF).
“The limited release uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper and underneath a Dominican binder and filler which were grown, fermented then aged by the Kelner family in the Dominican Republic…including private tobacco, available only to the Kelners. The “FAMILY RESERVE 2023” will be available in toro shape (6 x 52) in boxes of ten and has an MSRP of $18.
“This KELNER BOUTIQUE FACTORY production is a yearly limited release of only 8000 cigars, with 600 boxes being available in the USA.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
I reviewed both the Lampert Family Reserve 2021 and 2022 in May 2023. They earned ratings of 96 each. The leaf stats are the same for all 3 years. I’m guessing it will be produced again later in 2024 based upon the December release date of the 2023 blend. I got mine early. I believe that anything can happen from year to year even with the same exact combo of leaves.
These cigars are produced by the famed blender and farmer Hendrik Kelner. The same guy that Jeremy Casdagli works with. An impeccable pedigree by all accounts.
The cigar’s wrapper looks like a photo of the canals on Mars. Plus, the hue is much lighter than the versions from the last two years. Change is good. Especially from Kelner.
The cigar has nice weight. A sturdy stick. Out of the corner of my eye, I see my PerfecDraw fleeing the scene. From one of its petite feet, I see trailing toilet paper. My nose detects a foul aroma. My PD has taken a shit in my Ralph Lauren sneakers. The scent is not unlike Mark Zuckerberg’s apology. I set a trap for my traitorous PD’s return. I will wait. But not too long…and then I hear a tiny scream:
Instant splendor. Charming flavors of creaminess, vanilla, butter, and lemon begin the beguine. But also, instant shawarma. Thick rich complex flavors that man was not meant to describe using words. Or at least out of the reach of this old man. Kelner’s stamp is immediate.
Transitions begin to whirl like a dancer performing for the new king.
I loved the 2021 and 2022 versions, but I think 2023 might be better. Still, too early for that kind of decision making…plus the sun has not risen at this early hour.
‘Nothing But The Whole Wide World.’ Glen Campbell and Eric Clapton. Check it out on Campbell’s last album before he was consumed by Alzheimer’s.
Man, I’m telling you…this cigar starts with a tremendous bang. Damn straight. This blend is pure gold. Lampert took a page from the Casdagli Playbook.
I’m less than an inch into this cigar and I stop and buy a 10-count box. I’m not making this shit up. The cigar is that good. Really. Again, I loved the earlier versions, but I didn’t stop and buy more while still reviewing. I did smoke a couple sticks prior to this review, and they were good. But not this good after a few months of humi time. Instead of $18 per stick, the katman promo code gets you the cigars for $15.30-$16.20. Better the dough is in my pocket than my sponsor’s. But the cigar is still worth $18 regardless of the discount. Lampert could have charged twice the amount, and I wouldn’t have flinched. But he didn’t. Good man, Dr. Lampert.
My gumboots are tapping in a syncopated rhythm as my brain sends signals that my palate is happy.
We had a chick singer who played violin. A pretty blonde girl who liked to wear tops with no bra. National Geographic nipples. It was impossible not to stare. And if she caught you staring, she would look down at her own nipples to see what you were looking at…this was very strange to me.
Candied lemon rind, banana, creamy parmesan, strawberry parfait, the perfect touch of black pepper, barley, cumin, and hazelnut. The complexity is off the chart. I feel for Dr Lampert. The big sites will either choose not to review this cigar or scat it because I liked it. Not fair. But this is the world of petty cigar biz. I’m just too old for that shit.
There is aged tobacco and then there is aged tobacco. I’ve slammed my share of cigar blends boasting of extended time in the oven…but this baby is killing it.
I lean back in my office chair and imagine myself sitting, on a warm sunny day, at the banks of Lake Michigan…watching the old tires wash ashore.
I will let my not-yet-arrived box of cigars rest for at least 6 months before I light the first one up. This purchase must wait a year before the 2024 Family Reserve will appear.
Watch for my online cigar sponsors to unveil two-day katman specials for Super Bowel. One store has committed. Still putting pressure on the other two.
Construction is immaculate conception. No penises or vaginas were used in the process of birthing this cigar. The char line shines.
I love small cigars. But I love perfect blends in big sizes more. Rarely does a blender get a big cigar right. Lampert and Kelner nailed it.
Speaking of Clapton…1967. Cream’s “Disraeli Gears” was released. My band had a college dance the weekend of its release. The moment we broke into “Sunshine of Your Love,” the college girls went nuts. We were on a big stage, but it didn’t stop the girls from storming it. They grabbed at my ankles as they bellowed in Jungian primal screams. I was so skinny that I only appeared in 2D. It was that moment that gave me purpose and the goal of every teenage boy: Be a rock star. We played the song all 4 sets and the girl attack repeated itself like Groundhog Day. We were careful not to play any tunes by Sonny & Cher.
The second half kicks in after an hour of bliss. Pure harmony. Cloud Nine. Hard to imagine that a sweet spot can see this wonderfulness be upped, but it does.
This cigar will be in my top 10 of 2023. No doubt.
Forgot to mention…strength is medium throughout. A very difficult task to accomplish. Medium potency cigars always hit medium/full at some point. Not this baby.
Smooth, rich, nuanced galore, subtleties cannot be counted, complexity is through the roof, and my palate rests…
The flavor notes have been canonized since the first inch. Nothing added. Nothing subtracted. It is the intensity of the experience that flushes my brain from any thoughts but sheer blessedness. This is what all smokers seek out…the perfect cigar…now and again. And only $15.30-$16.20 for the E Ticket.
I don’t care if I’m crude. I don’t care if I’m inappropriate. I don’t want to look back and regret I left anything on the table. So what if the industry dislikes me. You love me. My sponsors love me long time because you love me. That’s all I need. More dough would be nice.
I blathered on. Sorry. Great cigars have that affect on me.
This beautiful cigar lasts over two hours. I nubbed the shit out of it.
You should purchase this blend plus other luscious Lampert cigars from sponsors Small Batch Cigar (10% off with promo code ‘katman’) and Luxury Cigar Club (15% off with promo code ‘katman’).
RATING: 100 That’s right…a perfect blend!
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Cigar Reviews by the Katman 
You must be logged in to post a comment.