Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: USA-Grown Pennsylvanian Broadleaf
Filler: Dominican (Ligero, Olor, Piloto), Paraguayan
Size: 5 x 54 Robusto
Strength: Full
Price: $11.00
Released: June 2025
Quantity Released: Undisclosed

My cigars received two months of naked humidor time.

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
I’ve reviewed 6 Sinistro blends: Mr. Desflorado (84), NV Lancero (95), Mr. Red (95), Honor Among Thieves (96), Last Cowboy Maduro Scala LE (94), Mr. Candela (94). Clearly, I have a thing for the Sinistro brand. The company produces solid cigar choices for a very reasonable price point.

Mr. Sinistro has an oily, golden/bronze wrapper. The stick possesses the weight that has my head nodding its approval.

Some folks know how to get the most from an Ecuadorian Habano leaf. This one is extremely floral with additional aromas of baking spices, curry spice, and caramel mixed with honey.

I look for my PerfecPunch. I call out its name. I hear a snorting sound as it tries not to laugh. Great, the bloody thing is completely delulu. Dr. Rod programs one out of three tools to have an attitude problem. I can’t believe I’m writing about this. I play the game. ‘I’ll give you a week off if you help me out.’ More snorts. ‘OK. I’m going to use my $14 guillotine cutter.’ I hear the skittle of skibidi little feet. It stands before me, huffing and puffing from the 2 foot skedaddle. ‘Too late.’ I hear sobs. ‘OK little friend, get up on the desk and all is forgiven.’ Dr. Rod thinks this is funny. You don’t. Me neither. The shit I do to shill for the man…

The resistance is a little too tight. I grab my PerfecDraw which requires no kneepad backstory. It’s seriously clogged at the cigar band. Takes several stabs and it fights me. I had a similar experience with my previous two cigars. The clog is finally cleared. Why throw away a perfectly good cigar.

The cold draw is clove, cinnamon, and hot nuts with lesser notes of earthiness, old leather, and red pepper.

Zesty start with multi-colored earth tones. Immediate depth with a mysterious full roundness that may be defined as a nice mouth feel. Sweet cream with berries. Or maybe clotted cream with scones. It tastes like breakfast in Devonshire. That was 50 years ago and it remains memorable.

The cigar demands I take a sip of coffee. The flavor profile widens horizontally like Cinerama.

Know what I only found out recently? Drummer Hal Blaine and bassist Carol Kaye weren’t the best of friends. Mostly Hal’s fault. It explains why Carol was deferential when I’d mention Blaine to her and how friendly we were. It all makes sense. Still, Ms. Kaye was a class act who never bad mouthed the man.

Like nearly every other state in the union, Wisconsin has been deluged with rain, heat, and humidity. It’s like breathing water. I use my Humidimeter and it reads 66%. Sometimes my humidors pony up the results I crave.

Inch one is the gatekeeper for this exploratory induction. So far, a lovely cigar. No inkling that this blend’s strength is going to kick my ass.

The thing about boutique blenders is that they still have passion. Mass quantity producers’ passion is strictly the bottom line and probably never smoke their own shit…using their spoils to smoke good cigars by others. And the crime is that they sometimes hold out false hope that their next catalog release will be well received only to see those expectations dashed like crypto currency in the hands of retirees.

In the late 60’s, playing gigs at Camp Pendleton for graduates of boot camp was awful. Watching young men in agony as they readied for war. Their drunken fear and cries for salvation overwhelmed us. It was a rotten time for our country. Politicians didn’t give a shit about our finest. Still don’t.

Creamy and sweet like yours truly. I can’t believe this is only an $11 stick. A lot of cigar fiends in the $15+ range aren’t this good…but I’m only on inch two.

Construction is excellent now that the plug was removed. The char line is dead nuts perfect. I stare at my gonads and bellow, ‘Get off the floor.’ AARP’s newsletters never mention the safety factor of having your balls follow a foot or two behind you. It is the number one reason old men end up in the ER. Number two is neck strains while desperately seeking one’s incredible shrinking weenie.

Froot Loops on your pancakes. A dash of maple syrup. Astringent sips of coffee make for good bedside manner.

I saw cigar smokers on social media praising short reviews of 50 words or less. Complaining that us pseudo professionals are too wordy. 20 years from now smokers will require 3-word reviews, no adjectives, and auto-cooling in their rocket suits. We are doomed.

I’m beginning to feel the strength increasing as my fingers don’t follow orders to type with algorithmic alacrity. The second half will probably kill me. But the smooth nature of this blend is alluring. The best thing about a good cigar is that we stop paying attention to it and focus on other things. Rarely talked about. For good reason.

Inch three begins and complexity kicks in. Transitions become noticeable. Instead of feeling like a step ladder, it is more reminiscent of a water slide.

I’m starting to feel like I want more as this was my last stick. How does Sinistro use exotic leaves from Ecuador, DR, and Paraguay and do it for only $10 after promo codes? I know why. They aren’t greedy.

Politicians are always wrong. Always corrupt. A shame that good folks refuse to become the ruling class.

The first half was charming and delightful. Not a single criticism. These cigars will age well. As there is no info as to whether this is a regular production cigar, I jumped the shark and chose to review it with only two months of humi time. By not disclosing details, a manufacturer can see if the cigar shows market promise. If so, they can release more. They are like hedge fund managers.

I’m often asked how I get away with smoking indoors. My little man cave has three fans and two air purifiers. It’s like living in a Maxell Cassette commercial.

The sweet spot lands. Rich earthiness with notes of aged leather, creamy berries, café au lait, ghee on sourdough toast, white chocolate, vanilla, and cedary pungency. In fact, the second half is spicier without being annoying. Spiciness can ruin a good cigar. Just a touch of Dominican ligero gave this blend the appropriate leg up.

Balance is now very noticeable. It’s perfect. Savory v. sweet is 50/50. Just how I like my women.

I got married at 21. It went horribly. It lasted a year. As a parting gift from my bandmates, they got me a web-toed girl to take home with me after the gig. Her flippers caused consternation and I mostly kept my eyes closed. I told her I had to go to work in the morning. She didn’t ask for my number. I alerted Guinness. They told me get in line.

Just like my review of the Hooten Young RTBA, I believe that the strength may be exaggerated. At best, a medium/full encounter. Transitions are smooth as silk. I can mostly direct my fingers to accurately hit the keys.

In Switzerland, Curved Air supported Larry Coryell and the Eleventh House for a few gigs. Drummer Alphonse Mouzon took a liking to Sonja. Backstage, while their keyboard player did a solo, Stewart and he got into fisticuffs. Both Sonja and I got in the middle of it to break it up. Larry was pissed off big time. Mouzon was a big man but Copeland was tall and lanky. It was a draw but Ms. Kristina and I got the worst of it.

I like this cigar. All three were very consistent. No small thing. For the price, it will be hard to find a cigar of this quality. Smooth and rich throughout. A nice cigar to have and to hold in your humidor.

RATING: 94

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