Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5.5 x 50 Robusto “Regency” Box Pressed
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $19.00
My cigars received 3 months of naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
From La Aroma de Cuba:
“A dark and lustrous San Andrés Oscuro wrapper leaf shimmers over coveted reserves of the finest premium Nicaraguan tobaccos cultivated on Garcia family estates in Estelí, Jalapa, and Namanji. Every leaf of wrapper, binder, and filler harvested for Noblesse matures during a patient triple fermentation to achieve optimal flavor and aroma. Noblesse is meticulously rolled in entubado fashion and finished with a traditional Cuban-style triple cap. Luxurious notes of dark chocolate lava cake, espresso bean, and Turkish fig emanate throughout a voluptuous, full-bodied smoke with accents of Himalayan pink salt and black peppercorn.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Rated 92 by Cigar Aficionado 2024.
This cigar was $16.00 in 2014. The price being upped by $3 ain’t no big thing.
The burnt brown wrapper sizes out like a Trunchbull and provides aromas of rich earthy tobacco, bakery spices, dark chocolate, black coffee, marzipan, mixed nuts, and cedar.
The cold draw is exactly as I hoped: Dark chocolate fudge with caramel, black pepper, red hot cinnamon, and freshly hewn cedar.
The air flow resistance is a tad tighter than a constantly schnorring Augustus Gloop….but instead of grabbing my PerfecDraw, I light up instead. If the airflow is not as hoped, I can don my stovepipe hat and poke away with the cigar lit.
I adore a cigar that shows its situational awareness by providing an initial tease of richness and depth. A great cigar always opens with this. Less than great finds the blend faltering and by the last third, is an outright failure.
In my early experiences with this fine blend, there was a vicious attack of power and spiciness. I’m not getting any of that. The blend is the same as its 2014 iteration so what is different? Something is different. Was ligero used in the original version? I can’t find info on this. Could it be my palate has evolved or maybe my brain has become hardened to the effects of power? Not a clue.
Caramel and banana find a way from cigar to brain. A short journey.
It is extremely creamy as a multitude of flavors unravel: treacly sweetness, Brazil nuts, herbal essence, coffee, dark chocolate, giant peach, graham cracker crust redolent with melted butter, cedar, and a touch of old leather.
The graham cracker crust component is met with cinnamon and nutmeg. Gives it a Nicaraguan Twang. It’s a good-looking cigar:
The finish causes lip smacking and the need for gum chewing. Construction is able bodied which finds a sharp burn line. Most notable is the smoothness. I can taste aging which I find no evidence of from the manufacturer. Fertile soil can be tasted.
I would like to see some savory components to offset the onslaught of sweetness…like tomato soup, roast beef & baked potato, and maybe blueberry pie.
As I’m still wishin and hopin, everything becomes larger than life. Some of the sweetness dissipates just enough to allow the savory elements of the cigar to flourish: rich earthiness, cinnamon, sourdough toast, black coffee, almonds, black pepper, and peat.
The spiciness returns. Flavors intensify. There are now two layers of flavor. That rich earthiness really shines. The dark chocolate, coffee, floral notes, nuts, and cinnamon are sitting on top of the flavor profile. The others in the list remain but perform a subordinate role now. Just the slightest touch of angina salt.
The last third is the sweet spot. It has become as close to a perfect blend as possible.
Not a cheap cigar. But it meets the criteria for a good cigar. It’s such a shame that in order to get a blend full of complexity, richness, depth, and cultivated flavors, you must drop two sawbucks. You can take this cigar off your list of rotten Vermicious Knids. Doom-ba-da-dee. We are the music makers.
You can purchase the La Aroma de Cuba Noblesse in 4 sizes from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN.
RATING: 96
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
