Nomad Martial Law:
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan (Jalapa)
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 6 x 50 Toro
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $12.00 in 2018

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
The oily stick has hues of chocolate and pecan on its semi-toothy wrapper.
I smell sweet floral notes, honeysuckle, chocolate, cedar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and horseradish.

Growing up, I was forced to eat Gefilte fish. The worst. A fish cake stored in a bottle in its own jelly and refrigerated. It looked like a giant fish dumpling. The only way I could eat it was dumping mounds of horseradish on it. Then…all I tasted was the hot stuff.

The cold draw presents flavors of milk chocolate with red pepper overtones. Creaminess, cinnamon, gingerbread, floral notes, cedar, baking spices, rye, and malt.

Flavors jump out at me on the very first puffs. Chocolate, coffee, malt, creaminess, red pepper, cedar, gingerbread, and sweetness.

The red pepper accelerates through the curve. It does half a dozen doughnuts on my palate leaving my nose and sinuses flowing with human lava. I do three quick sneezerinos in a row. Now my nose is back to its usual stuffiness. Kleenex to the aid! (If I had a dime for every time I said that growing up…I’d be a rich man).

The creaminess kicks in with the mighty thunderbolt of a pearl necklace. The early potential of this blend has me balls all a’ twitterin’, mate.

Graham cracker replaces the ginger bread but that gingery taste still lingers on my tongue.

A gentle smoothness appears tapping down the strength of the cigar.

Fruits make an appearance: Black cherry, raisin, and dried apricots (for some tang) and dried mango (for intense sweetness).

The flavor profile becomes an out of control Ferris wheel with folks riding it screaming with laughter and some of them puking.

Holy crap! The plutonium has landed. For a moment, I go blind. My forehead sweats. My tush feels a sharp pain. Feels like 8th grade gym all over again.

The spiciness has taken a break. In its place, the sweetness of the dried fruit, creaminess, chocolate, malts, and candied coffee influences the direction of this blend.

“Woman: “I have 14 children, Groucho”.
“Groucho: “You have 14 children? Why do you have so many kids?”
“Woman: “Because I love my husband”.
“Groucho: “I love my cigar too, but I take it out of my mouth every once in a while.”

The entire blend has been one big sweet spot. But now…the sweet spot has left the planet for an elliptical orbit around the cosmos.

Another manufacturer that made the same deal as Robert Johnson at the crossroads.

Nirvana…without Cobain. Bliss…without genuflecting. Warmth…without the heating pad. Oozing character. (I get a mop).

The finish is so long that I take naps between puffs.

The significance of this blend is staggering. Explodes from the starting gate and increases in pure persona and disposition til your ‘nads hurt.
On that poetic note, the Martial Law by Nomad Cigar Co. expires.

Through the aegis of sponsor Cigar Deal Hunters by Smoking Hub, I found a deal with non-sponsor Cigars N Cigars. A box of 12 goes for $69.95. That’s $5.83 per stick.

RATING: 96

Southern Draw Cedrus “The Hogan”:
Wrapper: Indonesia (Sumatra Besuki TBN)
Binder: Nicaragua (Habano 2000 Estelï)
Filler: Dominican Republic (Piloto Cubano Viso) & Nicaragua (Criollo 98 Viso Estelí, Nicaraguan Habano 92 Quilali and Nicaraguan Corojo 99 Ligero Jalapa)
Size: 5.5 x 52 Belicoso
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $12.00 in 2018

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
A beautiful presentation with a crisp box press and oily wrapper that feels as smooth as a baby’s bottom.

The wrapper aromas are light notes of chocolate, malt, cedar, salted peanuts, black pepper, generic sweetness, lavender, creamy, caramel, molasses, and lemon zest.

The cold draw doles out big notes of cedar, chocolate, peanuts, malt, citrus, creaminess, black pepper, and salted caramel.

Black pepper and cedar dominate at this early point. Creamy, malty, sweet notes of molasses, and a very earthy element adds to the mix.

Strength starts out a tad above medium.

Complexity enters almost immediately. A nice even brush stroke of flavors alongside finely aged tobacco shows signs of the Cedrus being an impressive smoke.

The cigar is super creamy with a strong element of the cedar prevailing. The blend is becoming very spicy. I’m gargling with black pepper.

The finish is filled to the brim with cedar and creaminess. The citrus and chocolate are a real treat; especially with a new hint of mint.

The Cedrus is fat. Balance is becoming a shining example of laser focused intent. I haven’t had this much fun since my Bar Mitzvah when I discovered that Jews give money, not ball point pens.

As I near the halfway point, the blend changes gears. The cohesiveness of the “whole” is now very impressive and puts a big smile on my puss. The character and complexity are in high gear.

Here they are: Creaminess, cedar, black pepper, chocolate, malt, citrus, molasses, mineral, dried fig, cinnamon, along with a deep richness that is so pervasive that it coats my teeth like toothpaste.

I’ve had my cigars for about two months. I can only imagine the growth of the blend given it receives a few more months of humi time. Some cigars just scream leave me alone so I can develop into a knee slapping event.

The second half is just Bozo crazy. The first half was such a tease and now the Cedrus is roiling with complexity and expectations. I love this cigar.
True cigar aficionados are going to dig the this blend. It is a perfect blend for newbies due to its constrained strength…making it a real learning experience about the art of blending.

I betcha’ the Holts are very proud of this accomplishment. They should be.
Strength is medium/full with only the slightest hint of nicotine.

A clear winner for me is when the cigar is so smooth you want to plotz. And at the same time so intense that it stops time and puts you in the moment so as to create focus and acceptance. You are smoking a one of a kind blend.
The Cedrus is a perfect example of high premium blending. The whole exceeds its parts making it a fierce competitor for your hard earned dough.

The perfect cigar with your morning coffee or the perfect stick at cocktail hour.

Through my bail bond and sponsor Cigar Deal Hunters by Smoking Hub, I found a deal with non-sponsor Cigars N Cigars. A box of 10 goes for $69.95. That’s $7.00 per stick.

RATING: 98

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS