Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan Jalapa
Filler: Peruvian Ligero (Aged 10 Years), Nicaraguan Estelí Medio Tiempo Ligero
Size: 6.5 x 50 Perfecto
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $25.00

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
This cigar is a sharp dressed man. Perfectly shaped; much like the pristine stake entering Dracula’s chest. It’s uniform oiliness shimmers in the bright light of freshly hewn garlic bulbs.

The wrapper smells of newly cut garden party geraniums. In addition, there are notes of honey, cinnamon, hemlock, salted caramel, chocolate covered malt balls, barnyard, and fresh summer peaches.

I try using my PerfecPunch on the cap. The protuberance doesn’t receive it well so I switch to a guillotine cutter which beheads the pointy head nicely. The draw is dead in the water. I clip a tiny piece from the foot but it doesn’t fix the problem. I’m an old man with arthritic shaky fingers so using my PerfecDraw requires some cheers from the crowd to boost my confidence that I don’t pierce the toast. Less than an inch in, there is a tiny plug that disappears into the mist with one easy going swoosh of my PD. I can relax. My hands are doing the Macarena in double time.

The cold draw is milk chocolate, floral notes, peanut butter, caramel, rich earthiness, the unmistakable taste of aged tobacco, white pepper, and baking spices.

I’ve never smoked a cigar with its first filler ingredients being Peruvian tobacco. A rare and unusual leaf that is not easily farmed. You often see it in lofty cigars, but generally, it is just a tiny amount. Plus, it is aged 10 years. This makes the blend more than interesting.

The first puffs are creamy peanut butter, honeysuckle, café au lait, milk chocolate, caramel, and white pepper. The aged portion of the cigar causes my palate to sit up and take notice.

Strength belies its future destination of medium/full by starting with a perfect morning toke of lightness and air. Translated, it tastes just this side of medium.

Charlotte likes watching those celebrity panel shows that turn people into instant rock stars. If I point out that the contestants are singing flat or sharp, she turns on me like daylight on a vampire. I can’t help it. All musicians are like this.

The char line is snappy. Construction is excellent, which rarely happens in a perfecto. Something is usually screwed up and requires endless stabs with my PD tool.

The earthiness and heartiness plant their flag. How many cigars have you smoked with seriously aged tobacco and you found yourself holding the cigar a foot from your side eye and wondering…’Age this, mutter futter.’ I tasted the aged Peruvian leaves without trying. It is in the forefront. And I’ve only just begun.

Miles Copeland Jr was a very nice man. Sure, he was CIA and helped overthrow governments in the Middle East. And yeah, he had the biggest dog I’d ever seen. But he told me a few stories about his work and I was enthralled. Did I think there was anything wrong with being a courier for him? Nah. I was stupid. He gave me small envelopes and instructions where to leave them while Curved Air was on tour in Europe. Park benches and hotel lobbies. There were never repercussions. And then his requests stopped. Maybe his family told him to ease up on the dumb fuck American. The band needed a good bass player.

Inch two begins and I’m thinking that this is one outstanding cigar. The creamy nuttiness leads the pack with caramel and soft milky texture right behind. This is becoming a very special cigar.

I wore good old fashioned boxer shorts. Clearly not the approved wear of British and European men. Certainly not for rock stars. The first time that Sonja and the band saw me in them, laughter took 5 minutes to subside. I wore them a couple more times on the road and I finally succumbed. The damn G strings caused involuntary twitches on stage that might have been confused with enthusiasm.

Transitions are formless and non-linear as flavors juxtapose naturally. The blend’s depth takes its time in exploring my palate. I explore back. I want to say it is akin to a Casdagli or Kelner blend but the blend has its own distinct identity. For $25, I’m asking the question, ‘Is it worthy?’ So far, it is a resounding yes.

The first half was a leisurely hour of fun. I sipped my morning coffee. And soaked up the good tidings. On to the second half.

Stewart and I came up with a plan to ambush his oldest brother, Miles III. Our first gig of any tour always began at a prestigious venue in London. We bought a couple of cream pies. The plan was for both of us to hit Miles in the puss at the same time in the dressing room after the gig. We were a foot away and we chickened out. Miles was wearing a very expensive leather jacket. I doubt he would have found the humor if we ruined his threads. To this day, I am ashamed of myself. I’m sure that Stewart feels the same way. The man signed our checks. Strangely, in those days, employees were given cash. I’m sure there were nefarious reasons. Every Friday, while off tour, I’d travel to management headquarters and pick up my packet.

As inch 4 begins, the aged tobacco speaks to me in Esperanto. It tells me that I shouldn’t mix whites with dark clothes. I adjust the translator. The blend is light and entertaining on a big scale.

Flavors have not changed but increased in intensity. Oddly, the strength remains at medium with zero nicotine. The surge to medium/full does not happen until the last third which complies with my earlier sticks. Ligero usually packs quite the punch but it is tempered in a perfectly blended choice of leaves. Obviously, the aging has had an impact.

The cigar is as smooth as my tushy on Hanukkah. Menorah candle wax is a stimulant for Charlotte. As inch 4 disappears, the sweet spot enters with a big bang. Damn, Louise, this is a great cigar.

On Miles’ invite, I drove from Long Beach to Santa Barbara where The Police were playing. Los Angeles had not been booked. Miles intended for me to surprise Stewart. I had exited from Curved Air 5 years prior. Stew and I hugged and then I was introduced to Sting and Andy. Sting immediately made fun of his drummer by asking what kind of dufus was he when I played with him. I didn’t know Sting yet and had no idea how to reply. So, I shrugged. Oingo Boingo supported them on the tour. Great band. Sting and I stood in the wings together and watched. We never held hands, but he I had coke and he didn’t. That was the theme of my visit.

I want more of these cigars. The three sticks have been consistent to a fault. Each one followed the same true path of excellence and distinction. I would never expect that a Felipe Gregorio blend would have the major wallop for my needy palate. In the past, I’ve equated his cigars to catalog blends that were just OK. I am going to seek out his newer blends. I may have been missing out.

As predicted, the strength is upped in the final third. But it never disembarks the podium of smooth, earthy, hearty, complex, and richly refined. Unequivocally, this is a great cigar.

Hollywood types flooded the gig. They were stunned as I was the only human being allowed past security and into the band’s dressing room. A guy the size of a building stood outside the door. I slipped him a gram. He nodded. Inside the dressing room, which was a locker room with tall benches, I sat with the band and traded stories. We convened naturally and there was no rock star vibe. Down to earth guys. As of this writing, Sting has told the press that the boys were overcompensated for their claim that they were left out of the writing dough.

The creamy honeysuckle is devastatingly delicious. It takes the patience of Job not to constantly huff and puff which brings tar to the surface, not a good thing. It’s not often that a big cigar delivers the news like this cigar does. My experience tells me that only a Robusto or smaller vitola will bring the goods. Two snaps up to Felipe Gregorio.

The creamy peanut butter is killing me. For the first time, the flavor profile is changing its Depends with such accuracy and timeliness, that my palate has trouble keeping up.

The cigar honors me with its nubbing quality. I’m getting more.

You can purchase the Felipe Gregorio Maxamar 25th Anniversary from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN.

RATING: 97

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: cigar reviews, cigar reviews by the katman, cigars, felipe gregorio cigars, Felipe Gregorio Maxamar 25th Anniversary | Cigar Reviews by the Katman, katman, maxamar cigars, phil kohn