Wrapper: Costa Rican Pelo de Oro
Binder: Costa Rican Vuelta Abajo 1941
Filler: Peruvian Pelo de Oro
Size: 5.5 x 54 Laguito #5
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $16.00
Date Released: Originally 2014
Quantity Released: Undisclosed
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Ben at Luxury Cigar Club sent me a couple of these cigars. When I tried to find background, it was clear that the last time anyone put quill to parchment was 11 years ago. And nothing since. Ben’s current supply sold out quickly.
In 2015, HW rated this cigar 70. In 2015, BMP gave it 89. And that’s it. I couldn’t find another review.
Is this a secret cigar? I sought out info from Felipe Gregorio’s website, and it says nothing other than its leaf stats. No history or background, just these words: “A truly satisfying combination of almond, sea salt and butterscotch deliver a sweet and salty sensation, The Ancestral Cuban Seed tobacco used in it its blend brings back the aromas of Cuban cigars of years past.”
So why am I reviewing the Pelo de Oro? Mood swings. Manopause. Fear of Darwinian principles. I have no real system in place. While I spent 45 years in business, and always planned to the nth degree, in my retirement I enjoy wandering through the house, chains jangling, saying, “We’re suppose to get rain today.”, complaining to my wife that my bones ache, wondering why the kids don’t call, and finding any excuse to chain smoke cigars. No excuse is needed. It’s the only thing I control.
When was this latest iteration of Pelo de Oro released? Dunno, but it must have been recently. I have a 300-count humidor dedicated to relevant cigars waiting to be critiqued. I stare at them. I’m overwhelmed. And I quietly reassure myself that at 76, I’ve slowed down.
With cigar in the hand, and eyes on the prize, I pronounce that this is a beautifully creamy, caramel wrapper. The cap has a tiny fantail that is very cute. And the gold cigar band says old school Cuban to me. Aromas start with gorgeous floral, warm caramel syrup, mocha java, and candy-coated almonds.
For fun, I grab my PerfecPunch to bypass the fantail and dig a soul patch into the cap. Bazinga! It’s as purty as a nude photo of Dr. Rod in his brand-new, gold encrusted Aston Martin DB5.
The cold draw is extremely woody. Like placing your tongue on a caramel coated tongue depressor. Spicy notes of almonds and dried apricots.
I’ve blown 428 words and I have not torched the foot. Oy.
I watched “Cheech and Chong’s Last Movie.” So much fun because I’ve been around long enough to remember their beginning. I had a friend who would team up, and we would do their routines at parties. We memorized every word. It didn’t hurt that the ashtrays were full of roaches.
Torch finally meets foot and we’re off to the races. A tasty start. Woody, sweet, nutty, creamy, and mildly spicy. Maybe not a Kahuna burger, but better than Sprite in a cup.
Just the other day, I reviewed the Felipe Gregorio Octopussy Sepia Nera. The best cigar I’ve smoked this year. Rated it 100. A must have. You can still get these because 13,000 were released. In addition to the flavorful complexity of the Octopussy, its construction was top notch, and the Pelo de Oro is following suit. I highly recommend you snag a couple or three of the Octopussy while still available. Non-sponsor Luxury Cigar Club has them and Ben has been very kind by giving you a 15% off promo code KATMAN15.
Black cherries, café au lait, walnuts, smoky cedar, and an upping of the creaminess. So far, the flavor notes remind me of an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper with Peruvian and Dominican filler. Since things went south for me with IGM, a Costa Rican cigar manufacturer, I’ve been gun shy of smoking cigars with anything from this country. My relationship began well, but devolved into a huge morass of disrespect from the company. Sending me blends for my approval that were awful and rolled by street urchins. Apparently, they were hoping I was just your average dumb ass blogger instead of recognizing that I’m a deeply flawed blogger…with a huge bully pulpit.
Construction is done so perfectly that it takes 18 minutes to burn half an inch. Strength is medium and the blend is smooth as my tushy on Easter morning caught stuffing plastic eggs up my bum. Want pics?
Every man, in his youth, thinks an earring would make him look cool. Guilty as charged. Worse yet, some men think as they age out in their 50’s, that an earring will bring back their dashing good looks. Fortunately, Charlotte filled my earlobe hole with Gorilla Glue shortly after I met her. Her Majesty the Pope allowed my one and only tattoo instead.
This is a yummy cigar. The first inch passes into history and the blend continues to morph pleasantly. A great morning cigar if not for the advertised strength as medium/full. I chose to review it after a lunch of gefilte fish, red horseradish, and half a kishka. If a cigar’s flavor can bulldoze through that, it’s hunky dory with me.
The burn is glacial in its speed. I’m up to 978 words and only an inch and half has been surrendered to the void. But since no one ever reads the body of a cigar review, I could write about the etymology of the red ant, and someone would still comment, “Great review.”
And then as the second third begins, the profile shifts to very Cubanesque. The creaminess is mixed with a sweet lemony taste and mild black pepper. It is almost off putting because I didn’t expect it. The two 11-year-old reviews of this cigar almost don’t count. Everyone was new at this. And I’m betting that Philip Godfrey Wynne tweaked the blend over the years. Farms get better. Blenders get better. Better choices are made to accommodate more sophisticated palates. Cigars get better. I wasn’t a Connecticut Broadleaf fan for years until the leaves’ excellence reached new levels. Now, I can’t get enough.
One reviewer complained that the first and second third had zero complexity. That’s not what I’m smoking at this moment in time. There are lovely transitional qualities to the Pelo de Oro. It continues to become more sophisticated with every puff. I wish I knew where to get more. But then I’m ahead of myself. 3-1/2” to go.
The ash is delicate. This is beautiful cigar. The wrapper glistens with oil.
This is a cigar that will age well. You can just tell things, can’t you. Nod your head.
This blend is wonderfully subtle. Very sophisticated. Transitionally perfect. Layers of depth. I don’t think that the old reviews were wrong. Wynne has had a decade to improve this blend. The cigar must be a secret as I’ve found no promotional information. So, guys with good taste, keep an eye out.
With more home detention, the first third will become more impactful. The first half disintegrates and I have the entire second half to enjoy. I’ll speed it up.
Strength is medium/full. I can now hear things that tilt a dog’s head.
I was going to bring you an extra special, exclusive to katman peeps on Alec Bradley Fine and Rare through the good graces of Smoking Hub. But it turned out that the retailer has a glitch in their checkout process that I fortunately caught before posting the sale. 30% off. I’ve been in contact with them and they are working on it. The last thing I want is hordes of unhappy readers storming the castle with pitchforks, blazing torches, and PerfecDraws.
Creaminess, sweet lemon curd, walnuts, Ranier cherries, caramel, mild black pepper, and earthy goodness. And it’s kicking my ass. No nicotine, just raw power. I do believe I read that the early gestations of this cigar were mild in nature. Smart move to up the strength. I’m McLovin this cigar.
The last third is syrupy. Lawdy, lawdy. $16 ain’t no joke. The woods are full of cigars in this price range. Do you remember when the $11 cigar was outrageous? Me neither.
A cigar can change your mood. More often than not, your vibe sours if you make the wrong choice.
The last third if just fucking phenomenal. I really wish I knew where to send you to get you some. I would love it if someone could do the legwork to find these cigars.
This is an excellent cigar. Its blonde appearance belies the power beneath. Not a morning cigar.
I loved it.
RATING: 95
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