Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Claro
Binder: Nicaraguan AGANORSA
Filler: Nicaraguan AGANORSA
Size: 6 x 52 Toro
Strength: Medium
Price: $15.99
Released: July 2022.
Quantities released: 750 boxes of 10 cigars.
My cigars received 4 months of naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
Directly from Andew Considine via carrier ferret:
“The origin of this cigar came about in 2019 while smoking a cigar with Andre Farkas at our retail store. We had been after him to design a blend for SBC for quite some time. The name came as an homage to Claude the Dog who just had major back surgery. I wanted to build off other releases that Andre and I put our heads together on, and Claudenstein had such a nice ring to it. Well, the first release came and went rather quickly, so in 2021, we went to work on the next release. We expanded on the original blend by tweaking it and giving it a new size. The one-off size is a trademark of Viaje limited releases. A customer at the lounge designed the secondary cigar band for us. The Rise of the Claudenstein was released on 7/22/2022, which means that our stock has nearly two years of box aging.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
A heavy cigar in the hand. It needs a little help from its friend PerfecDraw to clear its throat. If you don’t have this tool, you are just erratic and stubborn.
A creamy chocolate foundation is immediate. This is wonderful. So rarely does a cigar grab me by the narglies this soon. A lemon twist finds itself a lovely counterpoint to what seems like a sweet leaning balance early in the fly over.
Berries that are slightly tart. Cinnamon sugar. White and black pepper. Espresso, sure.
The main thing going for this blend is the evident effect of aging. Initial complexity gives me hope. So hard for cigars to maintain low tones all the way through to the end. They can veer off in the last couple of inches and ruin everything.
Strength is medium. I’ve come to enjoy mild/medium blends over the last couple of years. They’ve all been gorgeous blends that didn’t skimp on quality. Richness will out.
Very, very slow roll. It’s like bread soaking up gravy. Savory kicks in. The balance is screaming laughter.
Flavors expand: café au lait, burnt oak, unsalted butter on the lips, caramel, and smoky peat.
Anyone remember using a push mower? Emptying the heavy bag of grass into the trash can and missing? A push edger? I’m having acid flashbacks to my teen years and chores. As an elitist, I was also required to manually clean the pool. The kid that was killed at Disneyland standing up on the Matterhorn ride in 1964 helped his dad build our pool. He was an asshole who bullied and beat up kids. The day after the accident, girl classmates went around asking for money for that 14 year old’s family. No one donated a dime. Tough legacy for someone so young.
I’m having a good time. No idea where that story came from. Writing in the moment does not always serve me well.
Caramel is just hitting it out of the park. And so creamy too.
I scroll up to re-check the leaf stats. I’d have never guessed. The blend finds the best of Ecuadorian and Nicaraguan origins by mimicking Costa Rican, Dominican, and Peruvian leaves. Nothing brash about this blend…it’s articulate and smooth. No sign of edginess. This is turning into a very unique thing. I’m going to stick my neck out and say that this cigar will never need extended humidor aging. Don’t smoke it on receipt, but waiting half a year or longer is not necessary. Nice.
The chocolate has the consistency of luxurious boutique nougat. As a kid, I loved the U-No bar. It had a truffle-like luxurious melt-in-your-mouth texture unlike anything else on the market. Candied almonds. Fresh lavender. Tart pear.
I have no idea why I never tried this cigar. This is stun gun cigar blending. Strength is still medium at 2” burned. 40 minutes. Color me tased.
I visited some very popular video reviews. I see why they are so. Basic common denominator aimed at vanilla smokers. I get it, I do. Just not my bag. I’ll take my cult niche anytime. I get the cream of those curious about this filthy habit.
Later this morning, I’m taking Charlotte to the hair salon. Three hours I’ll never get back.
Momentous times. I can’t believe I was in the next studio at George Martin’s Air Studios when Townshend was mixing the soundtrack to ‘Tommy.’ So casual and cavalier hanging with Pete. What are the odds? Ha.
The halfway point. From here forward will tell the real story.
Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) was such a tool. You can’t trust musicians who never smoked a joint in their lives. But then being yelled at by the man must put me in rarified air.
Coffee sip.
The cigar grabs on to the coffee suggestion and flies with it. Almost every cigar has an edge. This one does not. The polar opposite of an AJ blend.
I shred the secondary cigar band without nicking the wrapper. A bass player’s hands.
The mystical transformation of big fat flavors melding is at hand. Mouth feel is extravagant. Andrew and Andre did good.
The lovely spiciness is just right. A Goldilocks experience.
Grace Slick described herself as a slut. I was crushed.
I found only a solitary written review of this cigar. It was 2020 before the tweak. It got a 90. I wonder why no one bothered to jump on this cigar. Sometimes, superb is overlooked. I am so happy I can bring this blend to my readers’ attention. Really. Sam I am.
Dazed and Confused. One of the most iconic bass lines in musical history. I got chills when I began the song because audiences would go bat shit crazy. If you listen to John Paul Jones on live recordings, he is unworldly.
The blend is lulling me into a false sense of security. I reach for my sawed-off shotgun. I grab Sammy instead. He is a skinwalker. Love that series. Back this coming week.
God I wish I could write like other reviewers. They are just so damn professional.
Flavors are beatified and venerated. The second half soars. Medium strength in the right hands is a gift we receive with awe.
The last two inches sees the strength hit medium/full. A little delirium is good for the soul
.
So wonderful to meet my readers. A privilege. Thank you, my friends.
If you’re looking for a good time, I have a beautifully crafted blend for you.
You can purchase this cigar from sponsor Small Batch Cigar (10% off with promo code ‘katman’).
RATING: 97
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Cigar Reviews by the Katman 
My new resolution: As of today I will smoke only Viaje, select Cubans and anything Phil rates between 97 and 164. (And… well… the other 951 cigars in my humidor)
Thank you Charlie for your undying fealty.
But as truth is important, I should show everyone a photo you sent me.
Charlie has been storing his cigars in an aquarium.
And no, this is not plume
It is Blanco Schmekel Desorden. Or End of Days in English.
Speaking of high ratings, I found a box of these and bought them.
Any updates to your original review? You loved ’em, but also said your plan to rest a while longer…. I guess they are a year old now.
Crowned Heads Mil Días Marranitos E648 LE 2023 | Cigar Reviews by the Katman
would have commented on original post but don’t think possible