Wrapper: U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf Habano Hybrid
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5.125 x 52 Robusto
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $23.95
Date Released: January 2025
Quantity Released: Regular Production
Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.

My cigars received 3 months of naked humidor time.

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
This cigar was rated 93 by Cigar Aficionado.

While a bit raucous looking with bulging veins, this is a solid cigar that has heft. Seams are invisible. But the cap looks like my 8-year-old grandson applied it. I sniff and discover the usual notes of chocolate, espresso, dried fruit, and fresh rye bread.

I stare at my PerfecPunch. It sits in a slovenly manner at the base of my monitor. “Sit up straight.” It ignores me. I show it my Xikar cutter and it not only rectifies its slumped shoulders, it does an exquisite Curly Joe snapping of the fingers ending in popping of its open mouth. I taught it that. Dr. Rod. Kurthy only got as far as teaching these things how to threaten seppuku in case of a nearby guillotine.

The cold draw drips with cinnamon raisin rolls. It is a tart sweetness the delights and funkifies. Usual suspects of chocolate, espresso, salted almonds, and caramel are in play.

First off, these cigars need a lot of home detention. I tried one the day I received my fiver and I couldn’t get past the first inch. A couple months later, I tried my second La Boheme. A big improvement. Now, a month after that, I put this blend to the test.

The draw is money, honey. Flawless.

Instant creaminess with dark overtones. Raisins meet caramel meet vanilla pudding meet a scoche of black pepper. Great start. I hope the blend can maintain a boner.

I try to maintain an even keel during the morning and day. I like to smoke as many cigars as possible; within reason. Therefore, smoking Toros is out. Robustos, or smaller, are in. I save the bigger cigars for after dinner. I also believe that coronas and corona gordas deliver the best possible flavor profiles.

Savory v. Sweet is an even 50/50. My favorite.

Here’s a short story while I gather my thoughts: While in Curved Air I struck up a friendship with guitarist extraordinaire Alan Holdsworth. Our guitarist, Mick Jacques, grew up with the man. We shared the bill for a few shows with Soft Machine. The three of us bandied about, smoking us some hash, and having us some lagers pretty much most of the time. Alan made it known to us he wasn’t happy playing in Soft Machine. One day during sound check, he confided in us that he was contacted by jazz drummer Tony Williams (Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius and John McLaughlin). He would replace John McLauglin. I have a perfect mental picture of this…with his hands on each cheek, Alan said, “What do I do…should I go to New York?” Both Mick and I simultaneously yelled, “YES!!” So off he went. Sadly, Alan passed in 2017 at 70. Mick died in 2019 at 70. 5 ex-members of Curved Air have passed…gulp.

I relight the La Boheme. Doesn’t miss a beat. I love a cigar that doesn’t go poof on you when it sits for a while.

The first inch was a precursor. An introduction. I’m sent signals from beyond. When I had my physical meltdown in 2016, I remember my second day in ICU when the ER doc came by to see me. Just before he left, he said, “You know, you died twice. We brought you back.” Jesus! In 2015, I was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s. My confusion was caused by a long laundry list of organs in failure mode, and I was slowly dying. Fucking doctors. But I’m healthy as fuck now. Thank goodness. I want to be George Burns.

The balance is outstanding. Flavors are subtle. The creaminess is a leather overcoat. The rich earthiness is enchanting. Why the fuck does it take two sawbucks and some change to find cigars like this? We know that the cost of making them is only slightly higher than buying blanks from Oliva. Mayflower did this in the beginning and while they only paid a buck per cigar, they still charged over $10 while claiming that these blends were a revelation of hard work and brilliance. Ha.

Remember orange Creamsicles? The La Boheme is morphing. The raisins are gone. It’s now a sweet citric creaminess. The back of my throat tastes juicy oranges.

I asked AI why Connecticut Broadleaf has become such a popular wrapper leaf in the last two years. This is it’s reply:
“Connecticut Broadleaf has surged in popularity over the last two years because premium cigar makers and smokers have rediscovered what makes it special: big flavor, versatility, and a growing demand for richer, darker profiles.

🧨 Core reason: flavor intensity
“Connecticut Broadleaf is grown in full sun, which makes the leaves thick, oily, and full of natural sugars. When fermented, those sugars turn into the earthy, toasty, sweet, chocolate and coffee notes that define modern maduro cigars. This intense flavor profile is exactly what many smokers have been gravitating toward recently.

🌱 Why it’s suddenly everywhere
“Several industry shifts explain the boom:
• Premium makers are embracing it again. Broadleaf was long used in machine made cigars, but in the last few years major brands like General Cigars and Avo have pushed new Broadleaf wrapped premium releases, and they’ve been hits globally.
• The “maduro renaissance.” Maduro cigars—almost always wrapped in Connecticut Broadleaf or Mexican San Andrés—have exploded in popularity. Smokers want darker, richer cigars, and Broadleaf delivers that rustic, bold profile better than almost any other wrapper.
• Broadleaf’s rustic look is now a feature, not a bug. Once dismissed for its veiny, rugged appearance, the market now embraces that aesthetic as a sign of authenticity and strength.
• Flavor > beauty. Even though Broadleaf can be harder to roll and less visually “perfect,” its flavor is so compelling that manufacturers are willing to work with its quirks.

🌎 Expanded growing + supply improvements
“While true Connecticut Broadleaf comes from the Connecticut River Valley, Broadleaf seed tobaccos are now grown in multiple countries. This has helped stabilize supply and allowed more brands to experiment with Broadleaf forward blends.

🔥 The trend in context
“Broadleaf’s rise fits a broader shift: smokers are increasingly choosing bold, complex cigars over milder profiles. Connecticut Shade still dominates the mild category, but Broadleaf has become the go to wrapper for anyone wanting richness, depth, and that signature maduro sweetness.”

Now we know.

It began with a caramel lusciousness. I taste peanut shells. And this is only inch number two. The cigar transitions are lovely. The complexity clocks in. There is true depth of field now. A bit of thick tamari tickles the roof of my mouth.

I found multiple errors in spelling in my Corona Cigar catalog. ‘Palette.’ For God’s sake. These guys are professionals.

The spiciness is white pepper that’s light and airy. This little robusto is taking its time which shows off its great construction.

The cigar comes in three sizes: 5.125 x 52 ($23.95), 5.75 x 54 ($24.50), and 6.25 x 60 ($25.00). The Gordo must be an all day sucker. The Toro is the perfect size for an evening cigar. My sponsor Cigar Page sells them for around $3 less. I got you a 10% off promo code to drop them another $2.50 per stick. Clearly, these are special occasion cigars for most of us. I know guys that don’t even blink when they drop $100 per cigar. Must be nice.

The first half was a dream. Not a single criticism.

Vanilla is enhanced by a smooth nuttiness.

In the middle of my Eddie Munster project, Butch told me that he put every one of his managers out of business. In the end, he did the same to me. But Butch was always able to bounce back. He left a snail trail of people who could not. But then how could I know that Rocshire Records was siphoning off the equivalent of $50 million from Hughes Aircraft. Did the FBI wait until I got my first big royalty check before they shut ‘em down? Hell, no. They did it two weeks before. Almost $200K down the toilet. It broke me.

A good cigar elevates me in a review. The pros don’t allow this. They are measured. You can’t measure me with a laser. I’m all over the place. I’m going to miss this.

This is the point in any cigar that tells the truth. The last third either excels, maintains, or goes down in flames. Everything points to outclassing the first two thirds.

While the Eddie Munster project was in force, the cops were surveilling my neighbor who turned out to be selling dime bags of heroin from their house. The big bust occurred in broad daylight. I stood on my porch and watched. Dozens of cops with a couple news helicopters hovering. Meanwhile, I had weed and cocaine. But I was a clean looking kid in my 30’s who didn’t set off their radar. After the neighbors were led off in chains, I grabbed a couple boxes of cigars and handed sticks out to the grateful police officers…shaking my head and saying “I had no idea this was happening.”

I’m streaming good thoughts here. A great cigar. Cigar Aficionado got it right with a 93. This is one of the smoothest blends I’ve smoked. How come Aging Room can’t do this all the time…and cheaper? The cigar business is like the military industrial complex. They sit back and laugh at us suckers and buffoons while sitting on their yachts in the Mediterranean. Thank God none of those guys read me or there would be a poison tipped umbrella in my future.

I’m down to the last inch. Not a lick of harshness. Zero nicotine. The medium/full strength ups the quality and strengthens the flavor profile. A beautifully designed blend.

Listen to your Uncle Katman. Do not, I repeat, do not smoke one upon receipt. They are too expensive to waste. Let them sleep for 2-3 months.

My coxswain, Alex Gougher, comes to the rescue with another 10% off with promo code BOHEME10. Go to Cigar Page HERE.

RATING: 96

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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: aging room cigars, Aging Room La Bohème | Cigar Reviews by the Katman, cigar reviews, cigar reviews by the katman, cigars, katman, phil kohn