Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Undisclosed, Peruvian Ligero
Size: 6.125 x 55
Strength: Medium
Price: $44.00
Quantity Released: Regular Production
Factory: Tobacos de Costa Rica
My solitary cigar received one year of home humidor time. This is a one off.
BACKGROUND:
From United Cigar:
“Atabey is produced every year in limited quantities and laid to rest for a minimum of 5 YEARS POST-ROLL.
“Using five different cedars (Cuban, Spanish, Lebanese, Brazilian & Mexican) the cigars are cleansed by bringing humidity down to 40% and then back up to 70% to allow the cigars to breathe in these unique cedar notes.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Atabey does smokers a solid, despite lifting their wallets, by aging the cigars for 5 years after rolling. The Ecuadorian Connie wrapper looks good for an old man who in dog years is 35. Even better is the aromatic floral display that my nose takes in as I sniff like two dogs in season. In addition, there are undisputed notes of honey, summer fruit, maple syrup, allspice, vanilla ice cream, and white chocolate. On the savory side, are slight notes of smoky cedar, lemon rind, pistachios, and white pepper.
In short strokes, this is a Gordo. A big cigar is not known for possessing a wide spectrum of complex flavors. This is a heavy cigar packed to the gullet. I use my PerfecPunch to open a gateway. And…the draw is the opposite of exquisite. I task my PerfecDraw and with one simple swoosh, the Munchkins can return to Oz.
The cold draw is spicy with cinnamon, black pepper, and clove. Caramel sets up shop while other notes queue up: Partagas creaminess, honey, lemongrass, and exotic fruit.
Time to light up. I use my best shillelagh to beat the cigar into submission. Why? Long ago and far away, a young lass showed this lad how to milk two goats at once. When you grew up in 1950’s SoCal, this was a fine task to possess. I didn’t know what a scotch egg was until Quinn offered it to me after the third goat was spent. I showed her how to master the Rum Crook. It was a match made in heaven. To this day, when I come across a large tubular device with a Connie wrapper, those days come flooding back. Dr. Rod, because he is smarter than me, was able to milk four goats at once, which led him to the field of dentistry. The first name for the PerfecPunch was the Knobbed Cudgel. His bespoke attorneys talked him down from that ledge. I learned later that those were male goats.
Generally, this blend gets rave reviews. So I’m just another lemming who is late to the ho down…adding my two cents ($26.45 in 2025 dollars).
It is as if the aromas and cold draw find a cozy home. Honey, floral, caramel, raw cashews, lemons running down my leg, clotted crème, cinnamon, and sweet cedar.
Could this blend be an ACID because it begins as mainly a sweetie pie? Not a chance. Nothing inherently infused or absorptive in the sanctuary of taste. Savory is left in the dust.
And just like that, café au lait raises its hand as if to say, I gotta pee. Followed by sourdough toast slathered in ghee.
I read other reviewers to clue in on cigars I haven’t tried or to read along with while I smoke. Know why? If I don’t write, I’m a dummy. Seeing flavors in friendly font triggers something in my brain so that I can recognize and taste those flavor notes. Is it suggestive? Is it brainwashing? Of course it is. If you are in solitary mode while smoking your next cigar, bring up a review and just take notice of the flavor points. I do it all the time. For what we spend on cigars, it never hurts to get a leg up.
The strength is on the lighter side of medium. The body is on the high side of medium. And I’m on the medium side of high.
The ash takes no prisoners. Light as a feather. It disembarks the mother ship with mere suggestive thought.
I enjoy watching documentaries about Egypt. Just fascinated by that stuff. I found a couple of websites that allow you to insert your name, or any number of words and the site translates them into Egyptian Hieroglyphics. The first one is Cigar Reviews by the Katman. I don’t see a cigar. But the giveaway is the second line. Three hawks. The middle hawk is staring at the camera and saying, “You looking at me? Are you looking at me?” Clearly, the transmogrification is correct. Try it. Click here.
Inch two is more of the same but with the induction of aged leather, rich earthiness, a widening of the spectrum from an expanding universe, the maple element doubles down, dew kissed berries, and complexity grabbing a serious fibroid. Smooth is the cartouche of the day.
We are all caretakers for the next generation but in spite of that old wisdom, it was devastating selling my treasure chest of classic bass guitars. If I had someone to pass them on to, I would have held on. If I was still playing out, I wouldn’t have let them go. But I’m just too old to lug gear around for the gigging ritual. They needed to be passed on to others that can appreciate them the way I did and still do. I’m at peace with my decisions. Plus, what I was paid for them assuaged a great amount of the pain. I still own an electric upright and a couple of bass guitars. Excellent instruments…but not classic or vintage. These are the first instruments I’ve owned that aren’t made in the U.S.A. I never had to fix a bridge, file a nut, or worry about a bowed neck. Now that I own basses fabricated in Indonesia, I have become an expert on truss rod and bridge adjustments. And all these new basses for the rock bottom cost of $900-$1300. American made instruments are triple that. Back in the day, that would have bought me a new Ford Pinto.
Construction is excellent. The tobacco is evenly distributed like Tootsie Roll KishkaPops on Halloween. In the past, I could count on making a few bucks licensing my Eddie Munster music video to tv stations for the honored holiday. Now, not so much. The thrill is gone as Butch has preceded ancient by thirty minutes. He still goes to the conventions where he sits and autographs memorial items and selling his trademarked woolen wear.
The end of inch two. And the cigar begins to soar like a furtive eagle. A lot of blends age out after a couple years of home humidor time. I don’t want to mention which ones because I’m still young. How does a blender know that his design will come out the other end of extensive aging like a champ? How do they do that?
A stunning blend. I saw that a couple reviewers gave this blend a perfect 100. What? Are they me? Do they realize that scorn will follow? While the more professional critics say, ‘Uh, sure. Good cigar. Uh, a 90.’ Sheer enthusiasm always wins me over. Do you gotta be drunk to really like a cigar? What, me worry? I got all the friends I need and I don’t need no stinkin’ community of snobolas.
The first half was thrilling. I got a boner this big.
Strength is an easy going medium. The perfect morning cigar with coffee. But it might be a little light in body to smoke after a big dinner. Cleansing your palate helps. Methods vary.
This is a grown-up cigar. Or a cigar for grownups. Flavors juxtapose between subtle and mind bending. The balance of sweet v. savory is 50/50.
Flavors are canonized. I’ve described them all in totem. The real growth is in its complex nature. It’s depth. It’s richness. Moe telling the boys to spread out. The blend’s wealth comes from an exacting design. How much is it? Lawdy. I hate that I prognosticated it correctly when I warned about the cigar industry coming for your nuts way back in 2023. Now that $15 is the median range, what is coming in 2027? Did I just hear a collective gulp?
The second half is pure gold. I checked SBC’s sales page. They’ve taken a little of the heat off by allowing you to buy just a couple at a time. $200 for a fiver is proportionate to street gonad surgery. But two sticks allows one to indulge while holding the wife at bay while dazzling her with fancy jewels.
While I’ve shortened this experience for you to a mere 4 minute read, this is nearly a three-hour ride. I met the Captain once at the anniversary of his lobster restaurant on La Cienega. Big party. A press agent’s nightmare of disparate celebs. From Rudy Vallee to Jethro. And all that falls in between. Alan Hale Jr. was a sweet man. Gilligan wasn’t at the party so I have no opinion. I just remembered something very typical of the time. I was tasked by two local newspapers to interview a couple celebrities. When press agents, who were tied at the groin with their clients, saw me taking notes, they all scrambled to get in line for me to talk to the folks that they represented. It was embarrassing as I was there only to write about musicians, not film or tv stars. So, I pretended to be interested and did them all. Burning a pile of business cards from press agents was fulfilling. They are just as horrific as entertainment lawyers.
The first half was great. No messing around. A sophisticated blend. Turns out it was a journey to get to the last three inches where the cultivated pearls lay.
Right to the nub it goes.
You can purchase the Atabey and Atabey Black from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN. Only two blends but Atabey follows the adage that size matters and will provide differing experiences. Check them out.
RATING: 98
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
This cigar holds no interest to me, but I am happy you passed your vintage instruments on to the next generation. I know a guy who has a pre CBS Fender Jaguar in mint condition sitting in its case for 40 years & has not been played. He has Corvettes, fancy pistols & shotguns that he uses but he wont part with the Fender because its an investment. What a shame for such a beauty to gather dust & never be played by a talented pair of hands. You should be proud to pass your instruments on so they will live
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