Wrapper: USA Broadleaf (Viso Priming)
Binder: Cameroon (Viso Priming)
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan (Viso Priming)
Size: 5 x 55 Gran Robusto ~ Box Pressed
Strength: Medium
Price: $15.00
Quantity Released: 5,000 bundles of 10
Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos Nica Sueño S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua

Photo courtesy of Small Batch Cigar:

BACKGROUND:
“Departing from the direct-to-consumer model of his first release, Tyler is making The 555 available to cigar retailers nationwide. ‘This cigar was crafted to be enjoyed by as many enthusiasts possible and partnering with top retailers across the country was the next logical step in sharing our passion,’ he said.
“Once again, production has been entrusted to Fábrica de Tabacos Nica Sueño S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua—a factory renowned for its dedication to quality, craftsmanship, and its people. The blend was a collaborative effort between Tyler Jeffery and Alex Nowogrodzka.
“Tyler emphasizes that this release holds special significance, as he played a hands-on role in procuring a key filler leaf that defines the cigar’s final profile. “Being involved from the very beginning—personally selecting the tobacco that became part of this blend—makes The 555 deeply personal for me,” he shared. ‘Crafting this blend was both an exciting and rewarding challenge. Utilizing only viso primings throughout the cigar, we focused on achieving the perfect balance to ensure an exceptional burn and effortless draw. The result is a unique smoking experience that showcases the rich complexity of viso while maintaining flawless performance.’
“He also highlighted the experience of working alongside Alex, saying, “Alex’s passion for tobacco is contagious, and his depth of knowledge is remarkable—especially for someone of his age. Being with him in the bodega and factory was an incredibly rewarding experience.”

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
I have pre-release samples, and as such, the cigars are naked without the footer ribbon.

How do you look at this cigar and not think of Caddyshack?

Aromas from the wrapper are flowery and contain strong notes of barnyard coated dark chocolate. It has a lovely sweet smell you don’t often aromatize in most cigars.

This Ty Webb wannabe has a bit of a tough airhole. Not sweatin’ to the oldies…I have my PerfecDraw. I see they/them standing with a bus pass. I validate. In return, the PD validates my need to have a reliable draw tool at my behest.

Spicy cold draw dripping with zesty baking spices, diphtheria covered Hostess cupcakes, red pepper, black licorice, refreshing peppermint, and creamy bechamel.

A dry cocoa powder start with just the right dose of mild sweetness. Creamy to the bone. Peppery, but not too much. An immediate and pleasant finish that hangs.

Richness rarely begins on Moment One. It does so with the Viso Horny. Despite the multi-country leaves, it tastes initially like a Nic puro…very similar to the Padron 1926 maduro.

The flavor profile is chocolate forward. Very nice.

And there it is…the black cherry I associate with fine maduros. A naturally occurring sweet leaf process. I look to my maduros for that sugary journey. Half the time, they fail miserably because my desires outweigh my common sense. Today, it seems I chose correctly. But wait, it’s early.

The burn gets wonky. Do I hesitate for the self-correction or go in with the fire of the gods? I will try to be patient but this is not my forte.

Moments pass. Time slows down. My g-string is damp. The char line, on its own, corrects. I can be patient for up to one minute at a time. This is what waits for you, dear friends.

Sips of water accentuate the savory. Notes of mushroom, smoky oak, cedar, black tea, a hint of green apple, and black peppercorns.

The burn is slow as she goes. Nothing pisses me off more than a fast burner. This stockyard dick is packed to the gills with the good stuff.

Breaking my neck has had lifetime consequences. My fingers aren’t fond of synchronized swimming. It’s like they are a spider running from bird’s nest in a can. Still, they entertain me.

Strength began at medium. Now, not so much. The thing lifts its skirt to reveal a pale blush, a waffle, and a kick in the arse. Mikey likes.

Transitionally, an interesting blend. Never boring. Never mundane. I’m alert and not comatose. A step up for my morning dew. The blend’s sweetness is pleasant and refreshing. This is how all my dark cigars should behave.

Only twice in my life did I punch a time clock. The first was in the 60’s when I slogged it out at Knott’s Berry Farm. 30 year later, I spent two months at Schuff Steel in Phoenix as a structural draftsman. This place was a city. There were 40 guys in the drafting room. All of us using a pencil except for one guy who was tasked with the new world of auto cad. I was tasked with designing a massive and sprawling building’s hip and valley roof. I was given my own office. I had drawings covering every inch of the walls due to the complexity. When the checker was halfway through my design, I asked how I was doing. He said that I got my name right. I hated guys with red pencils.

The first half was lovely and relaxing. This is all we ask from our tubular bell of burning leaves. Time spent without a trouble or a care. I’ve heard from you and it’s what we all have in common…that, and the deep indentured debt. Must we have more to soothe the savage breast? Yes. We do.

For 15 years, I have written three to five times a week. That’s a long time to keep it up. Especially at my age. Everything is hard to keep vertical. But I love it. Thank you.

The strength is being upped. But gradually and without prejudice. Not normally my morning go to. I’m listening to SRV because perfect companions seek each other out…only thing missing is me drunk on the floor with a strange woman’s panties in my mouth.

The late 60’s. I was steamboat captain of the Cordelia K at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. The not-massive ship held 30 people…who stood in line with their 25¢ tickets hoping for a Disneyland style ride. I was instructed by our maniacally obsessive manager to bellow at every person boarding: “Watch your head and watch your step.” It was not needed that I say this on a constant loop because everyone heard me. I stood at the boat’s entrance to help all that boarded. It wasn’t like I stood on top of the boat, like a John Huston character, and laughed as patrons tripped and died on the dock…falling into the black water and consumed by piranha. But the asshole would see me not screaming orders every 2 seconds and run over to straighten me out. He would push me aside and do the rigmarole to embarrass me in front of customers. The ride was an exciting two loops around Duck Island. That’s it. There were no rising hippos that required being shot full of lead. No waterfalls. And no cannibals on the hunt. Just a relaxing ride on sloop john b. I was asked by every kid on every ride if the boat was on a track. I told them, ‘No. But the water is.” Not once did I get a smile…only confusion. Kids full of crappy park food loved to vomit in my boat. Right on the ribbed floor. And it was my job to clean it. Have you ever cleaned puke from hot rubber floors while it is 90 degrees outside? Fortunately, I was making $1.65 an hour so it was worth it. I used my dough to eat nightly with my buddies at Bob’s Big Boy…and buy 8 track tapes. I was a sophisticate who grew out of the 4-track variety. Now I buy cigars…and make $1.85.

OK here they are: Dark chocolate, black cherry, creamy oats, black pepper, cinnamon, black coffee, black tea, smoked oak, cedar, licorice, carnation bits, candied pear, black walnuts, and brown sugar. A flavor bomb? Nope. All pretty in pink subtle flavor points that has me scrunching my eyes to find them.

Know what makes a bass player feel stupid? The 10 string Chapman Stick. You don’t pluck it. You touch the strings with both hands independently. It’s great for a keys player because they think this way but for us mortals, it drops the average bass player’s 85 I.Q. to bare knuckles and elbows.

Despite the choco-toy appearance of this cigar, it is rich, refined, transitory…with a great finish and layers of delicious depth. It don’t come any smoother. While I make several allusions that this cigar might be a maduro, it is not. What it is…a great cigar that had everything going for it; including what a maduro should be. While potent, it is not an in-your-face knee dropper. I’d buy a bundle. It is a limited release with no information about when it will see daylight again.

‘Pain comes from wanting’…Buddha. The man must have been pelted every hour with online retailer emails.

You can purchase the Viso Horny from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN.

RATING: 96

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