Wrapper: Brazilian Cameroon Seed
Binder: Connecticut Havano
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan (Estelí, Jalapa and Ometepe)
Size: 6 x 52 Toro
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $17.99
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Aromas are nearly nonexistent. Itty bitty bits of floral, chocolate, malt, black pepper, cedar, steak sauce, coffee, and something fruity.
The cold draw presents flavors of barnyard, bitter licorice, espresso, cedar, black pepper, and mulch.
The cigar is one continuous plug. I grab my PerfecDraw draw adjustment tool and go to work. First time doesn’t clear the plug. I go deep to the hilt of the tool, and it is still plugged. I try several more times and the plug is tenacious. I turn the cigar around and insert the tool into the foot. I hit the foot several more times. Small amounts of tobacco cascade into the ashtray, but the draw is not to my liking. It takes a total 5 minutes before I clear the detritus from this steel rod. I finally get to the draw I prefer that won’t cave my cheeks in each time I take a puff. For this price, better rollers should have been used. I had the same experience with the cigars I smoked previous to this review.
Go to the PerfecSmoke website and there is a 5-minute video of Dr. Rod explaining how to fix any cigar dilemma. Plus, you get to see a decrepit old man. After each video, Rod is slid back into his iron lung.
I proceed to put my PerfecDraw in the same place Jimmy Hoffa was buried. It is common knowledge here in Milwaukee. Hoffa was cut into 9 pieces and placed into the foundation underneath the Bronze Fonzi in downtown Milwaukee. Notice the lovely background…It is the state-of-the-art Milwaukee Cultural Center built in the early 1900’s. The waterway shown is the runoff from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. Local fisherman can be seen on these bridges bringing dinner home for the family. Fish are a natural deterrent to Covid.
This is really odd…nearly zero smoke is emitted from my first puffs. I grab my PerfecDraw again and use it in the hope things change. It helps a bit, but this cigar is overly packed.
Each puff projects one spindly line of smoke. I don’t remember it being this bad in the previous sticks…maybe a transformation occurred in my humidor. I pick several entry points for the tool to enter the cap and that seems to help immensely. The cap now looks like a shower head. Much larger hunks of tobacco are removed, and the problem is now minor. I have never had this much trouble with a premium cigar.
OK. What the hell does it taste like?
No serious barrage of flavors. Mostly heavy and hearty moments that include black pepper, dirt, barnyard, and then some sweet bits show up to urge on some balance.
So far, the main thrust of this blend seems to be merely the exotic tobacco. It is certainly a grownup’s cigar.
Strength is medium.
Some complexity and an interesting character begin to show itself. Unless there is a complete make-over, this is going to be a cigar aimed at serious afficionados who like the taste of well-aged tobacco over a flavor bomb.
There are no transitions. The finish is as dark as a Black Sabbath concert on bad acid.
The char line is dead nuts. So, it has that going for it.
Even with turning this cigar into a sieve, the smoke output is minimal at best. Strange. But I am done with stabbing this cigar. If I continue, I am afraid of fucking up and pierce the wrapper. Then I will need to slather the cut with Rod’s PerfecRepair Cigar Glue which is made for just this situation.
My cheeks are working like Suzanne Somers’ ThighMaster. By the time I am done, I should be able to dead lift 100lbs with a flick of my tongue.
My ashtray is just full of unnecessary tobacco.
An inch burned and the cigar is a bit lifeless. Here’s hoping that it won’t need a defibrillator by the halfway point.
Maybe the cigar tobacco ain’t aged that long after all. And it needs 9 months of humidor time before it molts and shines with its new skin.
Natural tobacco sweetness enters the picture which is a big leg up from that first inch.
I don’t believe this is going to be a blend that spews a laundry list of disparate flavor points. I once again believe it will be the tobacco doing the heavy lifting aimed at sophisticated smokers’ need for a great solid cigar without all the fluff and numerous flavor editions.
It begins to improve exponentially. Now that I have my head on straight as to the purpose of the cigar, I begin to truly enjoy it.
Smokers expecting a bevy of balance between savory and sweetness are out of luck. This blend is one-minded. It is designed to kick you in the nuts and awaken your inner appreciation of Marmite on toast.
That first inch had me dreading an eviscerating review. There is no P.R. describing exactly what I am conveying to you now. It would have helped. And since I seem to be the first written review, I have no one to get crib notes from.
My hair chest begins to return to its natural black, eliminating the white dental floss look.
Complexity is in full swing. Nuances and subtleties come from different levels of the diverse tobacco.
As I near the second third, the depth of the cigar keeps digging away as the experience intensifies.
The Partagas will find itself more definitive with several more months of humidor time.
Still, I understand the blender’s intent now.
While it is a limited edition, I found no numbers of cigars produced.
It’s taken 40 minutes to get to the second third. Not counting the time spent trying to clear the tunnel.
At this point, I have absolutely no idea if it is worth $18.
The changes take place at glacier speed.
Strength turns medium/full.
The cigar remains a very hearty blend and the only sweetness is non-descript and must come from the natural behavior of its leaf stats.
The only changes occurring are coming from the cigar spreading out as it burns down.
Intensity increases. No longer linear.
The cap comes off…and allows a seam to break free. I use the PerfecRepair glue to fix it.
Creaminess finally appears at the halfway point.
“Kashmir” is playing so I take a Bic lighter and hold it above my head.
The halfway point took one hour 15 minutes.
Strength moves to full tilt.
Not only does your palate need to be ultra-sensitive to the composite of unique tobaccos, but you also need to completely adjust your mind set compared to what you normally smoke. A very interesting cigar.
The char line needs its first touch up.
The stick is jammed up with tobacco like the new meat sissy in prison for the first time.
My windows are open, and it is below zero outside. My nads disappear.
I get a very definitive sweet spot now with half an inch from the last third.
The cigar oozes sophistication and it ain’t for everyone. A very potent manly blend. Thank God I clearly survived my Bar Mitzvah.
I really like this cigar. It is a totally different animal for most smokers.
Nicotine is minimal.
The sweet spot releases additional flavors…very meaty, creaminess is viable, strong nuttiness, caramel, Bran Flakes, and a lovely generic sweetness.
The issue with very little smoke emitted from the foot disappeared at the start of the second half.
I still have my vision and that pleases me.
I have the sinking feeling that when more reviews pop up, they are going to mop the deck with my assessments.
But the blender’s intent is clearly visible. It is an excellent cigar. And more time will make it even better.
I only recommend this cigar for the brave and adventurous.
I’m sure I would have rated this cigar higher with extensive humidor time. The construction issues certainly docked several points off the final rating.
With an inch to go, I decide it’s time to walk it off.
You can purchase a big variety of Partagas cigars from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN.
RATING: 89
A rerun of the Stulac Blue Lightning Sky Pre-Release *Katman Edition* is on the move. Due to the popularity of this cigar blend, Paul and SBC were gracious in allowing another stab at getting these cigars in your hand. Read about it here.
Discover more from Cigar Reviews by the Katman
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
