Wrapper: Meerapfel Cameroon
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano and Criollo ’98 (Double Binder)
Filler: Nicaraguan Condega Seco, Nicaraguan Estelí Viso, Nicaraguan Ligero from Jalapa and Condega
Size: 6 x 52 Toro Box Pressed
Strength: Medium
Price: $20.00
Released: January 2025
Quantity Released: Regular Production
Factory: Casa Carrillo
My cigars received 4 months of naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
From Cigar Aficionado (11-27-2024):
“The Cameroon wrapper is grown by the Meerapfel family, which has been involved in the trading and cultivation of premium tobacco since 1610, and a company that has a longstanding history of growing world-class wrapper in Africa.
“The Meerapfels saved Cameroon from extinction. In the 1990s, Rick Meerapfel was instrumental in keeping the leaf alive in the difficult environment of Western Africa. Unlike most tobacco-growing countries, Cameroon has enormous challenges: the tobacco is farmed in the middle of a rain forest, with panthers, lions, elephants and snakes.
“The announcement of this release was timed to honor the passing of Rick Meerapfel, who died on November 28, 2003. He prevented Cameroon tobacco from vanishing by rebuilding the industry after the French, who subsidized the majority of Cameroon crops, pulled out of the country.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
I was dismayed when I saw an esteemed colleague give this blend, in the 5 x 50 vitola, a resounding thumbs down. Combustion issues, flavor issues, and dramatically undersized.
I was also amused to see such a wide array of opinions by other reviewers as well. Some loved it and others hated it. Sure, the palate is a mysterious thing but a cigar that garners both love and hate is unusual. The wide assortment of opinions is not a good thing. It falls back to the blender and manufacturer to create consistency; not dissolve it. This is a regular production cigar.
I’m a fan of Meerapfel. The company has a decent track record. In 2023, I reviewed the Meerapfel Cigar Meir Master Blend Churchill and gave it a perfect 100.
The wrapper is nearly all floral with subtler notes of chocolate fudge, coffee, nuts, barnyard, and baking spices.
My PerfecPunch finds its prey. The draw is how daddy likes it. Into my lungs, there is the sound of screeching as I taste baking spices, chocolate, coffee, nuts, and vanilla cloves.
My first impression upon lighting up is pretzels and meatloaf. Maybe I should suggest this to Dr. Pepper.
I disliked my first stick. I loved my second cigar. This is the third stab. No idea how it will develop.
Most reviewers eviscerated this blend. As none of them state how long they allowed their cigars to rest after purchase, it is impossible to compare notes. It’s as if they refuse to advise their readership out of spite. Do they think it is unimportant?
The blend follows up with a nice caramel toastiness. There is a slight saltiness which was probably the basis for my pretzel allegory. A few moments later, a rich earthiness finds itself as a delightful baseline for the mild flavor profile. HW saw scorched earth in the first third with the only flavors being industrial cleaners. It taints the way I look at this cigar because it is impossible to know fully if one’s palate is in decline…or maybe it’s just me. I don’t taste floor mop.
Inch two begins and the cigar borders the thin line between ‘very pleasant’ and ‘very good.’ No house cleaner or copy paper taste. (This is a terrible way to start a review).
Strength is an easy going medium. The body is the same. So far, an excellent accompaniment to my morning coffee. Even when I was a slave to making a living, I would smoke a cigar before starting my day. The nice thing about working in construction, albeit management, is there are no hoity toity secretaries giving you the sniff test.
As this cigar seems to be following on the coattails of my previous stick, all I can think of is the terrible critique it received from most reviewers. What were they smoking that I’m not…or is it what am I smoking that they were not? How can a blend be so radically different?
The blend morphs into a sweet creaminess.
On the underbelly side is that for a $20 cigar, it’s just OK. Reviewing a cigar not knowing what your smoking is only there for the entertainment of the critic. No cigar smoker cares or gives a shit. We are all strange creatures. Is it worth the dough? That’s all we hunger for.
The immersive quality of my second stick was the incredible richness that kicked in during the second half. It had my attention.
Inch three begins with a bananarama creaminess that supplants the generic Soupy Sales quality. Nuttiness that includes cashew and Brazil nuts enters. Still no floor cleaner taste. Aged oak finds a new place on the list. And with it, hints of smoky whiskey. Maple candy appears without a sudden jerk. Improvement is at hand.
After Curved Air, I played in an Australian jazz/funk band that made their home in London. No one gave me the side eye when I asked, “What did you just play? Can you do it slowly for me?” When I asked that question of Darryl Way, he didn’t hide his disgust. Which in turn only intimidated me even more making me that much less of a player. The bassist that followed me was exactly the level of player that Mr. Way wanted all along.
The first half went well. Much better than my first cigar. Fingers crossed that I’m on track to follow in the footsteps of cigar number two.
Construction is excellent. Know how I can tell? The cigar stays lit while I pound away at the keyboard.
The entire time I was in Curved Air, we never just jammed. We were there to learn songs. And be given our parts. It was hell, except for the dough, the women, the fame, and the drugs.
As the second half begins, we have a winner. The switch has been levied in the wake. Complexity finds a home. Refinement of riches is in play. Transitions begin. What were those other guys smoking?
As if a light switch was flipped. The cigar goes from pretty decent to splendiferous. What were those other guys smoking?
Man oh Manischewitz. My mouth fills as if I’m on a date in Quentin.
It’s not that the first half was a different cigar, but close. Could it be that this cigar needs serious home time? I’m thinking that it might be the case. Without the other guys seeing it as important to divulge, I can’t make an educated guess…so, I’m making a katman guess and saying yes, the cigar needs extended humidor time. If the second half tastes this good after 4 months, then maybe with a few more months, the first half will become impactful.
One reviewer, Pat Chamberlain, doled out a 95. You should read his review here.
I understand that I provide a dog whistle when I rate a cigar with 96. It tells you that all guns are firing and you should get you some. But a 95 is good too, obviously. But there are so many choices when you are asked to spend $20 on a single cigar. Lucky for you, the Katman/Stulac cigar, to be released soon, is only half that.
In the early 80’s, I spent a lot of time recording at Sunset Gower Studios. It was the only time that I would experience the giantudeness of Abbey Road. You could have parked a 737 in the place. It was there during a break when drummer Hal Blaine told me nonchalantly, “Maybe I should start doing cocaine.”
There is a spirited sweet melonesque flavor. Creamy caramel and smoky oak headline. Café au lait is new. Ranier cherries make an appearance. This is so nice. But the richness is the star.
The strength never exceeds medium. Meanwhile, the body is full tilt.
Right down to the nub. I had a good time. What were those other guys smoking?
You can purchase the Perez-Carrillo Endure from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN.
RATING: 93 Let ‘em sleep.
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