Wrapper: USA Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Size: 6 x 52 Robusto Extra
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $17.00
Date Released: April 2025
Factory: Mi Havana in Estelí, Nicaragua

My cigars received 4 months of naked humidor time.

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
The cigar is firm without soft spots. The wrapper doesn’t smell like much except for very mild aromas of the usual suspects: barnyard, baking spices, leather, and earth.

I choose the 11mm on my PerfecPunch. I like choices, and in this case, the middle-sized punch snags a lifetime achievement award from OMERTA or Official Makers of Endoscopic Rod Tools for the Addicted. Dr. Rod smiles as he lounges in the casket that Liberace found too gauche.

The cold draw is full of cinnamon, raisins, dark chocolate, espresso, and black pepper.

I bought these cigars because as a fan of the Umbagog Bronzeback, I like to try other blends using the Connie Broadleaf with Nic guts. Of course, the BB is only $10 which is a high, or low, bar for the competition. I gently stab the cigar with my Humidimeter and it reads 66%.

When I casually smoke a cigar, the cigar band means nothing. But when I write a review, and it’s a cool looking ad, I try to carefully remove it in case the mood strikes me to take a stunning ashtray photo. The artsy fartsy footer band comes off easily and in once piece.

I put torch to foot, and there it is, the Connie Broadleaf and Nic guts flavor I like so much. A hearty tale of sporty pirates taking bounty and wooing wenches. Doo dah, doo dah.

The start of the ChiMolly differs in that it has a richer underpinning than the Bronzeback. Based upon price points, the Pioneer should be 42% more refined. You can never have enough slide rules when the call is there.

The cigar plumps. My chair swivels. The chifforobe stands tall, And my understanding of all things about life is miniscule. The last few sentences were brought to you by ATYHCA or the American Turn Your Head and Cough Association. I still have nightmares from middle school.

Tasty with notes of cinnamon, leather, dark chocolate, espresso, pretzel, black pepper, and smooth earthiness. This describes the left side of the menu on most retailers’ websites. But the difference is ChiMolly seems to have gotten it right. I smoked one stick prior to this review after only a month of home aging; it did not sing to me like this 3-month-old. Before you ask, there is no magic twanger to determine how long a cigar needs to rest. Some cigars don’t reach peak until a year and some take years. But a cigar, upon receipt, well, you’re shortchanging the experience because of impatience. A Let’s See cigar is a good gauge that should tell you the hang time your cigar will need. After that, it’s all guess work. I’ve asked iconic cigar sommeliers this question and they respond with what I’ve outlined. A shrug and fingers crossed. Or botany psychobabble.

Strength wastes no time. Out of the chute, it’s medium/full but without nicotine. This comes later. I have girded my attractive loins.

The burn goes from rigidity to slightly askew every couple of minutes. This will signal rolling issues. But then I am distracted and pleasantly surprised just how good this cigar tastes. I’ve smoked a couple of different blends from ChiMolly and reviewed one (Pangu rated 89). The blends are hit or miss. Still, the cigars seem to be wildly popular.

The Stulac/Katman cigars are delayed once again. Paul is flapping his arms in the air with a what, me worry, state of consciousness. Nicaragua works on its own timetable. It seems that it will be another 3 weeks but we’ve been hearing that for two months.

I will be having a minor, mild, minor procedure done on Monday the 6th. I won’t be able to smoke cigars for a week or two. I will post Rekaps for a bit. But the good news? A Grand Giveaway! That’s right. Cigars and swag. Worth over $350.00. The contest will begin October 6, 2025.

The halfway point is nearly upon me after 40 minutes. The standout feature is the well thought out depth and complexity. Transitions are minimal but the elegant highlights win me over. Strength is upped to full with nicotine still in abeyance. The Pioneer is very much like the Bronzeback. With just a touch more sophistication. It is worth the extra $7 per stick? Maybe. The second half will tell all.

New flavors: black grapes, sweet beef jerky, cumin, spiced apples, and creamy cashews. This is a monumental indication that the second half is where the sweet spot lay.

Here is where the Bronzeback and the Pioneer intertwine. While the ChiMolly showed giant steps in its early stages, the BB is merely tame. Now, the difference is slim. Both shine in the second half with a delicious, sweet spot and hearty flavors.

The Bronzeback has a reasonable amount of nicotine in the second half, and currently, so does the Pioneer. Even steven. I save the kick ass blends for after dinner.

The last third begins. The cigar has taken its time with 70 minutes under my belt. I may have gotten some extended time from it, but I am a shmo when it comes to not taking my best advice by huffing and puffing because it is a delicious blend.

Neither the BB nor the Pioneer are smooth in the second half. They both have rougher edges. This is typical of the Connie Broadleaf. It’s not a bad thing, only the byproduct of this style of blending.

The last third ain’t for sissies. Between the full strength and the intensified nicotine, I’ve got my swoon on. Again, this is an after-dinner smoke and not my first choice for breakfast.

ChiMolly did good. Is it something unique and out of the box? No. But the blend had passion and strong character.

It is always fun to try new cigar blends. It is the sickness that all cigar smokers share. While the ChiMolly Pioneer is $7 more than the Umbagog Bronzeback, it is something that should be tried and tested. Even if for only a fiver. Meanwhile, I always keep a tenner of the BB in my humidor for when I want a reliable smoke.

You can purchase the ChiMolly Pioneer from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN.
You can also purchase the Dunbarton Umbagog Bronzeback from Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN.

RATING: 95

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: chimolly cigars, ChiMolly Pioneer | Cigar Reviews by the Katman, cigar reviews, cigar reviews by the katman, cigars, katman, phil kohn