Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan (Double Binder)
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5 x 52
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $11.60
My cigars received two months of naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
Brand spanking new company from Esteban Disla and Daniel Lance.
There are nine sizes of this blend.
From Domain Cigars:
“Specially chosen, aged AAA Habano sourced from Oliva Tobacco Co. is paired with a double binder complemented by filler tobacco from our exclusive Despanic Process of fermentation originating from Condega.
“Harmonizing robust ligero primings with our Despanic process Viso and Seco.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
I reviewed the Domain Neutron Belicoso His Excellency Shaggy yesterday. Loved it. On the surface, the Negentropy doesn’t seem to be a big blending change from the Neutron. I understand the devil is in the details, but debut blends might have been more interesting if they showed two diverse styles that provided some flare…instead of using the same playbook. But then what do I know. I live in Milwaukee. Speaking of cheese curds…have you ever eaten one? Lord. Squeaky tasteless things whose sole purpose is to soak up the barrels of beer you drink. Tiny devil dogs…just say no.
Furthering the discussion of being plugged up, there is debris near the cigar band area keeping my giant open maw from getting a clean puff. One simple swoosh from my PerfecDraw. That’s it. I could rail about construction, but I won’t.
The aroma of barnyard will train most smokers not to sniff their cigars. Me included. But this wrapper has minimal goat dung and maximum floral, chocolate, cinnamon, and black tea. Very nice.
I start my morning playlist with ‘Dazed and Confused.’ Yeah, I know…the hipster has left the building.
A natural sweetness emboldens the first puffs. I’ve smoked several of both the Negentropy and Neutron. I’ve confused the two a couple of times. I didn’t notice substantial differences. Nine sizes each. That’s just crazy for a new release. Disla and Lance must know something I don’t.
Every cigar experience is different. You know this.
The Negentropy has proven to be the lesser mortal of the two blends. The Neutron was a more consistent encounter. This blend feels pedantic. It could easily get lost among the trees. Not a bad cigar but it doesn’t stand out like the Neutron did. This morning’s cigar could be any of a thousand cigars on the market. I’ve just begun so I will shut the fuck up and wait because there might be a reckoning further on down the road.
Domain describes the experience as to include flavors of: “Eucalyptus, Molasses, Clove, Black Pepper, Leather, and Hickory.”
Early flavors are cinnamon, black pepper, some creaminess, burnt saddle, and the star of the show: a lovely sweetness.
There isn’t much richness in play. Just a scoche of complexity. And that’s what’s wrong. Depth is missing. This has been the most consistent issue for the Negentropy.
Sip of coffee. Stare at the ceiling. Thinking. Nice smoke output.
Like the Neutron, strength starts at a tick above medium and then scrolls. By the first inch, the Negentropy has sidled up to medium/full and there is no retreat. Both blends kicked my lovin’ arse.
Will this blend do better with extended humidor time? Sure. But I’m beginning to become blasé about the Negentropy. I said yesterday that I’d wait until I reviewed both before I went back and bought a bunch more. I’m going all in on the Neutron.
Sometimes you wake up and not a sign of cleverness looming. I want to just pack it in and not publish. I promised only good cigars…maybe great cigars. Sometimes I just fuck up. In my next life I’ll be a Republican.
There is improvement as the cigar slithers on down the line. Again, construction is good on both blends as the slow roll finds a home. There’s always hope. Occasionally, the second half is the culprit that provides the ‘ah ha’ series of moments.
In high school, I pretended to be a music reporter for the Long Beach Press Telegram. It got me into a sold-out show for The Byrds at The Golden Bear in Huntington Beach. I interviewed the band. They let me hang. I briefly met Dylan. On the advice of his guru, Roger McGuinn changed his name from Jim. When he began his autograph, he mistakenly wrote a big ‘J’ and then stopped. He continued with Roger. He let me hold his iconic 12 string Rickenbacker. Jingle Jangle. I submitted my article to Tiger Beat Magazine. They roundly rejected it bleeding all over my returned copy. What stood out was that I was told “It isn’t cuddly enough.” Sigh.
The halfway point. I’m wishin’ and a hopin’.
Strength is full tilt. Thankfully, no nicotine.
A very pleasant cigar. I want more than just pleasant. I want to be surprised. I want the wow factor. I can get pleasant from an unending list of available blends.
We all know that size matters. The downside to nine sizes is that unless someone writes a review fawning over a Toro or Robusto Gordo…or a round vs. a box press, I’m not willing to spend the dough to find out which size suits my palate. And that’s the mistake Domain should have expected. So maybe there is a lesson here. Go slow.
With 1-3/4” to go, I’m out of steam. A decent cigar but my money is dear to me. I’ll stick with the Neutron. At least now I know.
You can purchase Domain cigars from sponsors Small Batch Cigar (10% off with promo code ‘katman’) and Luxury Cigar Club (15% off with promo code ‘katman’).
RATING: 89
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Cigar Reviews by the Katman 
Greetings – Thank you for all your reviews and rock stories and more. Question – Can you share your thoughts on “best” humidor practices? When you post “two months of naked humidor time”, I understand that means you take it out of the cellophane – yet cigar stores maintain theirs in the wrappers – likely so you know what they are and maybe for hygiene – but in reviews I’ve read typically it says it’s ok to maintain cigars in your humidor in there wrappers? And time? Right off the truck? Is it all personal preference? Is longer than two months naked time better? If I have a five pack of whatever – should I take two/three out of the cellophane – wait and compare? Any way – thanks for listening. Stay safe and healthy. Best, Ken
Thank you for your comments.
Rather than me waxing stupidly, Famous Smoke does an excellent job of describing your options when storing your cigars.
hi Katman. Do you use the perfecdraw before you light the cigar or after? Thx.
99% of the time, I use my PD tool prior to lighting up.
But now and again, the cigar proves that it doesn’t want to comply after being lit…and I must use the tool again.
I’ve even used it several minutes into smoking my cigar.
My PD is also good for grabbing olives, or as a roach clip, or for poking my forearm to see if I’m still alive when I’ve been sitting too long. Great tool.
Thanks for your comment.
Phil