God of Fire Serie B2019 | Cigar Reviews by the Katman
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Strength: Medium
Size: 5.5 x 54 Robusto Gordo
Price: $28.95

My cigars received 10 months of naked humidor time.

BACKGROUND:
“In 2004, the God of Fire cigars were first introduced with the majestically crafted, limited edition humidors produced by Prometheus. Since then, the God of Fire cigars have been released in their signature red and black boxes imprinted with the painting of Prometheus Bound. Cigar connoisseurs all over the world have given the God of Fire cigars raving reviews.

“In the second band, we also put the year of making. After the harvest, the fresh green tobacco is hung in curing barns where their moisture is allowed to evaporate slowly. After over 6 weeks in the curing barn, the leaves gradually turn to a beautiful, rich shade of brown. The cured tobacco leaves are then fermented – after which they are aged for years before they are ready to be used for the God of Fire cigars. Even though the God of Fire cigars are handmade with aged tobacco, they have been aged again in the aging room before the release for another two to three years for the further enhancement of balance and complexity after skilled torcedores rolled them.”

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Sometimes a cigar makes you glad that you frequent this filthy habit. Beautiful aromas of faint barnyard, dark chocolate, anise, bell pepper, cinnamon graham cracker, and black tea.

The cold draw is gorgeous with notes of hot cocoa with marshmallows, sassafras, cloves, black pepper, and bitter almonds.

You immediately know you’re smoking a class blend with this cigar. I must add that smoking this cigar upon receipt, or even months after, will cause a huge letdown to your psyche. Silent rest is the God of Fire Serie B2019’s friend.

On the cusp of transitions starting, initial reaction is there was serious planning to get this blend right. Most cigars are devoid of this simple action. Slapdash is the middle name for most cigar companies. Of course, that doesn’t stop them from charging an arm and a leg for a subpar cigar blend (My head shakes in morose disgust). Going back 15 years when I started my review blog, at the spritely age of 60, the purpose was not only a fun hobby but to vent my anger at expensive $10 cigars. It has morphed into a beast I no longer control…while I wait for the unsmiling mental decline to begin.
A perfect morning cigar with your coffee as its strength lingers at medium…whilst its body is full tilt.

The thing in evidence is not about individual flavors. It is one of those rare cigars that enjoys a considerable big picture where the whole is the sum of its parts.

2” in and the blend sings. The depth and richness hunker down. It’s not messing around with a series of teasers. It feels like the room is shrinking. And the physical tobacco tube is compressing to squeeze the gospel into a million pieces.
Nicotine 0 Taste 90.

There are subtle notes of dried pear followed by strong notes of café au lait and hot cocoa. A lovely creaminess begins. A very light touch of pumpkin spice is nearly symbolic. This is good.

Transitions are smooth and glide like a brand-new Fleet Enema in its original untampered packaging.

Transitionally, this cigar is nearly perfect.

Dark chocolate, espresso, and cashews are dominant. The sheer richness of this blend holds sway over my palate.

Are you old enough to remember when a bottle/can opener was a must have in your pocket?
Around 1960, my dad and I were on a DC-3 traveling from San Francisco to Long Beach. Maybe 5 people on this very loud prop plane. One of the passengers was actor Lloyd Bridges. The man had a successful TV series called “Sea Hunt.” My old man goosed me to go over and talk to Mr. Bridges and get his autograph. I sheepishly dragged my ass a few rows back and saw him reading a script for just that series. He was very nice and asked this little boy all the right questions. I handed him the post card with the airplane photo on one side and he asked my name. I told him Phil. A couple minutes later I returned to my seat jubilant. I handed the postcard to my dad and after reading it he handed it back laughing. He read it to me: “Hi Bill. Nice being on the same plane with you. Sincerely, Lloyd Bridges.” I was crushed. At the deplaning in Long Beach, his family was waiting. I was introduced to Beau and Jeff. Jeff and I are the same age, and we engaged in kid talk about baseball, Soupy Sales, bicycles, and our least favorite foods. I am positive that The Duderino remembers me.

We all want to be more.

The cigar meets its end at the 95-minute mark. Great cigar. If you dig smooth, this is the cigar for you.

You can purchase cigars directly from God of Fire.

RATING: 95

God of Fire KKP Special Reserve 2021 | Cigar Reviews by the Katman
Wrapper: Dominican Habano
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Size: 5.25 x 58 Piramide
Strength: Medium
Price: $53.95

My cigars received 9 months of naked humidor time.

BACKGROUND:
“In 2004, the God of Fire cigars were first introduced with the majestically crafted, limited edition humidors produced by Prometheus. Since then, the God of Fire cigars have been released in their signature red and black boxes imprinted with the painting of Prometheus Bound. Cigar connoisseurs all over the world have given the God of Fire cigars raving reviews.

“In the second band, we also put the year of making. After the harvest, the fresh green tobacco is hung in curing barns where their moisture is allowed to evaporate slowly. After over 6 weeks in the curing barn, the leaves gradually turn to a beautiful, rich shade of brown. The cured tobacco leaves are then fermented – after which they are aged for years before they are ready to be used for the God of Fire cigars. Even though the God of Fire cigars are handmade with aged tobacco, they have been aged again in the aging room before the release for another two to three years for the further enhancement of balance and complexity after skilled torcedores rolled them.”

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Since contracting Covid, oddly, my sense of taste is still spot on. Who knew. But my ball sack will not droop lower than my knees…my socks miss their buddies. Ergo, this crazily expensive cigar smells like golden lilacs, caramel pillows, hot cocoa with wild marmot scat, and chimp noisiness.

The cigar is plugged like a Hippie chick on a six-day mellow yellow banana diet. My PerfecDraw is no where to be seen. I hear a ticking sound. How cute…my little pal is teaching itself to tell time. I ask, “How are you?” “I’m thirteen and five thirds o’clock, thanks.” Sigh…Dr. Rod is furiously working on a resolve.

The cold draw is very savory with notes of smoked hickory, charred steak, cloves, cinnamon, red pepper, and allspice.

Beefy start on first draws. Think bouillon with a whiskey chaser.

The wrapper to lip ratio is super delicious. Lipular spanking ensues to get every ounce of its aged goodness. Sometimes the wrapper is the gold ticket. Sometimes not so much.

Smoky hickory continues from its place in the cold draw. But also, oakiness. Is the blend confused or is it me. My palate seeks out any hint of sweetness but locates none. And the moment I finish the last sentence, sweetness appears. I’m not a patient man.

After an inch burned, the cigar kicks in with balls a’flailing. Enormous depth of field is announced. Richness is abundant like genital warts on Luther my pet souse.

As a professional musician, there are so many artists you wish you could play with. It is a never-ending list for most of us. But pony-treking away at that register still brings a smile.

My coffee is cold. I am left without resources.

This would be a great smoke with Glenfiddich or Johnnie Walker Blue. In 2000, I was a construction manager for a company in the S.F. Bay area. The owners were serious alcoholics. You know the type…they must stop at a bar at least once on the way home. After my first Friday, they took me to their drinking hole. I was poured a water glass full of the Blue. $180. My bosses knocked it back like it was Kool-Aid. I had a 25-mile trip home to Livermore. I took a few sips and poured the rest in a fake plant next to the bar. It’s hard to please drunken sod superiors.

The strength is pleasantly stuck in middle gear. The blend is ultra smooth. Notes of savory oak, good whiskey, baking spices, almonds, bitter chocolate, and Rice Chex.

The sweetness is a light afterthought on the palate. It’s all about the finish.

Speaking of which…as young men, how often did we hear “Not yet! Wait. I’m almost there!” Thoughts of foul balls and strikes took over.

The ash is a concrete statue. The transitions are marvelous. A limber complexity that breathes along with me. The richness is a given.

The halfway point arrives at one hour. I’m sated but still want more. I’m all in.
Honeydew melon arrives out of nowhere. How nice. A tart citrusy sweetness. Fried pumpkin seeds show up as a remora fish to the melon.

I saw a startup a few months ago for Kevlar lap protection for cigar smokers. Only $500 each. I signed up for updates. Never heard back. Stupid idea. We smokers have full wardrobes of duds we use for smoking. We wear our holy shirts and pants humbly.

While the strength is an even keeled medium, the blend has me wanting a bigger kick. This might be the fatal flaw in its design. The first half showed promise. We all expect, and hope for, a kick to the nads in the second half. Sometimes this apparition is not missed. Other times, the blend needs this thrust to finalize its dénouement. The KKP is one of those cigars.

The first half was killer. The defect that plagues so many cigar designs is a lackluster second half. It is so disappointing to be lured into submission and then be lemminged off the cliff. The God of Fire KKP Special Reserve is a good cigar…but not a great cigar. And for over $50 per stick, I expect magnitude of character.

My choice is to buy the God of Fire Serie B2019 instead of the God of Fire KKP Special Reserve. You can nearly get two sticks for the price of one.

You can purchase God of Fire cigars from their authorized retailers.

RATING: 90

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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: cigar reviews, cigar reviews by the katman, cigars, god of fire cigars, God of Fire Serie B2019 & God of Fire KKP Special Reserve 2021 | Cigar Reviews by the Katman, katman, phil kohn, prometheus cigars