I thought I’d quote a man who we hold in high esteem, because what reviewer never had this problem: “I ran out of batteries for my butt plug so I’m going to do this review sans plug. -Katman
Or better yet, “There are worse things than sipping coffee, listening to music, and smoking a good cigar on a Sunday morning.” -Katman
Sagrado Breathless Toro
Each: $13.00
Capa: Habano 2000
Capote: Ecuador Sumatra
Tripa: Nicaragua Aged for 5 Years
La Fuerza: Medium – Full
Forma: 6 x 52
Fabricante: Sagrado Cigar Factory Dominican Republic
The cold draw is mild with spare notes of red and black pepper, generic sweetness, robust tobacco, and cinnamon.
There are subtle flavor notes of bread, cinnamon, cashew, and dried fruit.
An early start with promise turns mean. We wish for a journey that is intriguing and delicate that still packs a punch. We are not happy when our cigar becomes an insult comic.
It is a stretch to find something good to report as I’m halfway through. Complexity is minimalistic. Transitions are gone with the wind. It is missing the intensity a premium cigar should bring to the table. A laundry list of flavor wheel components is not in the cards.
Balance is suitable for a just OK cigar purchase. A linear experience. The Katman gave a thumbs up for the Sagrado blend, Lilith. But then it was more his style with Ecuador and Dominican leaves. Don’t think he’d care for this one.
This is a must not for the serious smoker. A short review suited this blend.
Scoring System 1-100 averaged and rounded up as follows:
Appearance: 85
Construction: 83
Aroma, Draw, & Burn: 83
Complexity: 79
Balance: 81
Final Score: 82
CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
Each: $13.00
Capa: Honduras Olancho San Agustin
Capote: Mexican San Andrés
Tripa: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Cameroon
La Fuerza: Medium
Forma: 6 1/2 x 52
Fabricante: General Cigar Dominicana Factory
CAO points out flavors of: “Herbal, Cocoa, Hazelnut, and Raisin.” They are all there, but the first half becomes listless towards the middle with just a sacrificial hint of the above noted flavors. Shouldn’t the leaf stats be screaming complexity? Instead, I am yelling at myself for buying a five pack. A bonehead decision. The neurotic plague of the ever-searching cigar smoker. So many cigars. So little money. My cigars have had 3 ½ months humidor time. Six months from now? There might be some improvement.
The second half is better and leans into the prediction that time might make this a smokeable cigar.
This blend falls in line with the rest of CAO offerings. They are aimed at smokers in the middle stage of learning about cigars. A pass for the serious smoker.
Scoring System 1-100 averaged and rounded up as follows:
Appearance: 86
Construction: 88
Aroma, Draw, & Burn: 89
Complexity: 84
Balance: 85
Final Score: 86
Los Statos Deluxe Limited Edition 2023 Figurado
Each: $16.00
Capa: Mexican San Andrés
Capote: Sumatra
Tripa: Nicaragua Corojo ’98, Connecticut Broadleaf, Pennsylvania Broadleaf
La Fuerza: Medium to Full
Forma: 5 ½ x 50
Fabricante: El Maestro Factory Dominican Republic
A collaboration between Matt Booth, Justin Andrews, and William Ventura. The construct is quite striking. The gentle curves of this figurado show signs of a roller who didn’t see his work as a task, but rather an opus of love.
Soft aromas of milk chocolate, cinnamon, salted caramel, and spicy root beer. The roller’s skill set is evident by the small thrill of a perfect draw.
First puffs promise the goods are on the way. Creamy caramel, sweet brioche, espresso, hummus, honeysuckle, and Rainier cherries.
The cigar’s construction falls of the roof midway. This is my third try. I had hoped this would be my lucky crack. Flavors metastasize. It becomes a jumble.
The second half isn’t better. Smokers like surprises when they are upbeat. A quick citrus becomes sour pudding. Chocolate becomes Boston Baked Beans candy. The retrohale is approaching detonation speed with sharp red pepper and lonesome ridiculousness.
Complexity, balance, and transitions are missing. How much is this cigar? Oh yeah. $16.00. I wish I was the Katman. I’d have plenty to say. Like, “Don’t waste your time.’”
Scoring System 1-100 averaged and rounded up as follows:
Appearance: 93
Construction: 87
Aroma, Draw, & Burn: 80
Complexity: 75
Balance: 75
Final Score: 82
Antihero War Machine (Toro) by Raymond Pages
Each: $5.96
Capa: Nicaragua Habano
Capote: Nicaragua
Tripa: Nicaragua
La Fuerza: Medium to Full
Forma: 6 x 54
Fabricante: Tabacalera Pages de Nicaragua S.A.
Raymond Pages was head of operation for AJ Fernandez. When the time was right, he struck out on his own.
Katman sent me a sampler of these cigars. Five sizes. All $6.00 or under. I tried a couple during the “Let’s see” period and wandered into the abyss. My sticks were nearly wet and plump like my 14 year old black Lab, Moose. I moved them from my Tupperdor to a humidor for two months and they are now as God meant them to be. Nice construction with zero flaws. Beauties all.
Can a $5 cigar be any good in this era of go-for-the-nuts pricing?
It has the unmistakable AJ burning sensation on the lips. Abundant spiciness. With a dried apricot and candied lemon tang. Personally, I don’t care for blends with a tart lemony taste. Sourness shouldn’t be a cigar flavor.
There is an underlying limber sense of richness. A Padron, an OpusX, and a Casdagli all have deep richness qualities. The Antihero is not that. But then I didn’t expect profound richness from a $5 stick.
The cigar progresses nicely. I can’t point and say the cigar is linear because it isn’t Constant movement in an inexpensive cigar is rare. Normally, these types of blends are one trick ponies. (I can steal Katman stuff all day long).
The burn remains crisp and uniform. No matter the amount of time that I choose to pay no attention to the cigar, it stays lit.
Chocolate heavy. Crispy frybread fried in lard, nuances of honey, black cherry, creaminess, aged cedar, and strong black pepper.
It glides like a skinny dildo. No doubt that this is a potent blend. Mind bending strength in the second half. Enough nicotine to calm the biggest zoo animal. Yet its undying character is its smoothness. My tongue feels the burn of red pepper.
Scoring System 1-100 averaged and rounded up as follows:
Appearance: 90
Construction: 90
Aroma, Draw, & Burn: 88
Complexity: 87
Balance: 88
Final Score: 89
Crowned Heads Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2024 LC48
Each: $13.95
Capa: Nicaragua Habano
Capote: Nicaragua
Tripa: Nicaragua
La Fuerza: Medium to Full
Forma: 6 x 48
Fabricante: My Father Cigars
This cigar has been around for 10 years. The Katman reviewed the entire ten ring of LC releases.
I’m more partial to the aroma of Ecuadorian wrappers. This typical blend of Nicaraguan leaves has barnyard notes along with pleasant fruitiness, cinnamon, and floral shades.
Absolutely love the flavors as the foot is scorched. Freshly baked sourdough, creaminess, white pepper, oak, cinnamon, and vanilla.
This is my fourth stab at the LC 2024. After nearly four months, the blend opens like a beautiful woman after incessant begging. Its balance is on the proverbial money. There is nothing more exciting for a cigar smoker to be immediately rewarded with exotic, but familiar, flavors.
But there is no sustainability. It doesn’t bear down. Great start but fails to keep pushing. Complexity is not on its menu.
I had construction issues with all 3 test cigars. Serious burn problems. I kept them in two different humidors whose humidity was 67%. All needed touchups by the second third.
Earlier incarnations (2014, 2019, and 2023) of this highly sought after blend were better.
Scoring System 1-100 averaged and rounded up as follows:
Appearance: 88
Construction: 84
Aroma, Draw, & Burn: 85
Complexity: 85
Balance: 86
Final Score: 86
An Introduction:
It is touching that there is such an outpouring of love and support for the Katman.
Phil is a longtime friend who’s given me the opportunity to contribute to his website. And to that end, I am very grateful.
I will do my best to honor his tradition.
Please remember the man is entitled to his privacy.
I’ve been a cigar smoker for 19 years. I reside in Florida. I am descended from immigrants from Cuba. I am married with three children. I enjoy playing golf. I am an avid fitness trainer. I am a great cook. I am a Big Brother. I have opinions about good cigars and bad cigars. I will offer up both in this and future reports. Like my predecessor’s creed, I believe that brutal honesty is vital in winning a reader’s trust.
All hail the Katman. Call me Kittenman. Daniel Pérez for short.
Discover more from Cigar Reviews by the Katman
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Daniel,
I really like your short strokes / mini review format. There are so many cigars out there that being able to identify several that are worth trying or not worth trying in a quick read is a big help.
Jeff
LikeLike
Thank you, Jeff.
-Daniel
LikeLike