Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano HVA
Binder: Costa Rican
Filler: Nicaraguan Viso, Nicaraguan Ligero, Nicaraguan Corojo
Size: 5.5 x 54 Robusto Extra
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $24.24

My cigars received 2 months of naked humidor time.

BACKGROUND:
From Luxury Cigar Club:
“Felipe Gregorio Aphrodisiac Venus is a one-of-a-kind, medium-full bodied cigar that blends rare tradition with modern craftsmanship to create an intensely sensual smoking experience. At the core of this unique concept is Bois Bandé, the bark of the Caribbean Richeria Grandis tree, long celebrated for its reputation as a natural aphrodisiac known to promote vitality and circulation. Each cigar is aged in cedar trunks infused with Bois Bandé, enhancing both aroma and depth while creating a distinctive, immersive character.

“This 5 1/2 x 54 vitola features an Ecuadorian Habano HVA wrapper, a Costa Rican binder, and a rich filler blend of Nicaraguan Viso, Ligero, and Corojo tobaccos. Over a meticulous three-year aging process, the tobaccos are stored alongside cocoa beans, vanilla pods, allspice, nutmeg, and Bois Bandé bark, resulting in a complex profile layered with spicy, woody undertones, subtle sweetness, and a peaty finish reminiscent of fine single malt whisky.

“Every draw delivers a deeply satisfying and evolving experience, transporting the senses to the Caribbean with notes that evoke warmth, richness, and intrigue. Both mysterious and refined, Aphrodisiac Venus is more than a cigar; it is a tribute to centuries of tradition with a modern twist, presented in collector’s boxes of 24 cigars for those seeking something truly rare and unforgettable.”

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
If you read the above info from the LCC, I may have to cover my lap halfway through the review to cover my excitement. Do not stare directly at your device as an old man’s purple-headed yogurt slinger may intimidate and impress. Or not.

It’s a pretty cigar with an oily wrapper that glistens like the sweat on my brow knowing I’m about to get provoked for the third time in three years. But the aromas. Oh the aromas. The Ecuadorian Havano wrapper is what I’m talking about. Big beautiful notes of honey and fresh flowers. Wonderful baked chocolate fudge with rich and earthly walnuts, summer nectarines, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, and green tea.

I don my PerfecPunch warning banner and clear the air hole. I stare into the abyss and think of a reverse engineered hot fudge sundae.

The draw is spontaneous and direct. The cold draw is full of hot fudge and walnuts with added notes of cool wintergreen, lime zest, cinnamon and nutmeg, black pepper, and buttery earthiness.

Time to light it up. But first, I ignite my monolithic industrial fans and prod my multiple air purifiers. The kick start mechanisms always give this guy trouble.

I smoked one stick a week after receipt as my offering to the gods. Another one a few weeks later because I needed some fun in my life. Neither did a lot for me. Not bad, but definitively not great.

The chocolate underpinnings are momentous with a side salad of rich earthiness. It bangs. The mouth feel is indescribably delicious with espresso tinges and hints of Jewish rye bread. It’s buttery and crusty. Good start. I take a sip of coffee and it tastes of rich fudge. This cigar is a serious influencer.

The rye toast continues while dripping yellow matter custard from Fred Maug’s eye. Construction is excellent with a sharp char line. Oh right, this is a $24 cigar. It demands this sort of constitution.

I heard from Charlie Schink and his wife Leona. They are in Switzerland. A Quorum cigar goes for $29. A Padron 6000 goes for $65. Puts my whining in its place. We Americans make a lot of dough compared to the rest of the world and our cigars are lower priced than most countries. We’ve been trained to take this for granted. Me especially as I’ve been a cigar smoker since 1968. A buck could get you a fine Fuente. I’d buy a box of 20 for $14. In 2025 dollars, that would be $980.29.

This large Robusto takes its time. OK with me. Transitions are slow and deliberate while delivering a refined and hearty tale of good cheer. The blend has become a tasty marmot impersonator.

Using an Ecuadorian wrapper has become so de rigueur as of late that choices are dizzying. The Mexican San Andres is no longer as popular. Nic puros remain at the top of the heap. Dominican fillers have seen a resurgence. Honduran tobacco gets the side eye. The hip leaves come from Peru, Costa Rica, Africa, and Sumatra.

Inch two is raging. I want to rant but the Bois Bandé settles me into a relaxed state I’ve not seen since watching a marathon of Squirrel and Moose in the year of our lord, 1453.

The ante is upped with a sensational richness. Its depth perception is elongating.

Felipe Gregorio claims an enhanced state of arousal and relaxation. As I receive this every time I smoke a good cigar, how will I know? Maybe that’s the point.

Of all the bands and musicians I’ve played with, my all-time favorite is my late 60’s/early 70’s band Homegrown. Not a very subtle moniker but the time dictated such atrocities. At least it wasn’t Strawberry Alarm Clock. An old friend played bass in that band but claims he had nothing to do with the naming process. Homegrown could flawlessly cover Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Crosby Stills & Nash, Cream, Smokey Robinson, Three Dog Night, and The Rolling Stones. We were comrades in arms. We spent all our non-work hours together. And we played out almost every weekend. There is something about the camaraderie of young guys. We had each other’s backs. We were always there for each other. We weren’t gay. And we kept each other upright no matter the girl trouble. Excellent memories. Below photo is taken at the now defunct Marine Corps Air Station El Toro 1971:

Flavors hunker down. Complex like a natural woman. Deeply rooted in earthy behavior. Chocolate, black coffee, creamy, nutty, green tea, vanilla, cinnamon, and rich cedar.

I could smoke a million of these cigars. The first half disappears in a quick seeming 45 minutes. Doesn’t a great cigar always do this? Yeah, I rail about price points but this cigar passes in the fast lane of cigars at twice this price. Most Davidoff blends aren’t this good.

I’m hopping on one foot in anticipation of what I feel is coming. The Sweet Spot in the second half.

I get it that this simple cigar review is turning into a manifesto of thoughts, projections, and remembrances. Storytelling is not an easy process. And often gets in the way of the straightforward.

With only a couple months of humidor time, I wonder aloud how this cigar will perform with 6-9 months of rest. I’m a-flutter.

A bright woodiness appears. Could it be the ‘erect wood?’ I am in genteel mode. Which is three degrees of separation from gentile mode. I married a shiksa, so there’s that.

Remember Emerson, Lake & Palmer? We were the support act for a couple gigs in the mid-70’s. Keith Emerson let me ride his rotating piano. Keith walked me to the rest room so I could vomit. I was seasick for two days.

The second half delivers the mail. I’m hypnotized. The Bois Bandé bark infusion is doing its thing. Of all the novelties in the world of cigars, this one takes the cake. Mmm, I’m hungry.

The Felipe Gregorio Aphrodisiac is a winner. A special cigar worthy of its price.

April 18, 2026 Update: My friend, Ben Rotem at Luxury Cigar Club, is allowing 15% off with promo code KATMAN15. LCC is not a sponsor, but I don’t need to get paid to pass it forward.

RATING: 97

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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS