In 2005 Davidoff released what is now the original Davidoff Robusto Intenso in a limited run. That cigar was touted as providing intense flavor while maintaining balance and complexity. What I recall from smoking a few was that the power was indeed evident and stronger than most Davidoff releases, though at times I felt it overshadowed the flavors.
This year, one of Davidoff’s numerous limited re-releases is Davidoff Robusto Intenso Limited Edition 2020. Built on the same premise of providing a fuller bodied cigar balanced by nuanced flavors, this blend is intended to deliver the experience of the original Robusto Intenso.
When inspected, the David Robusto Intenso wears an attractive chocolate wrapper with few veins and is silky and smooth. A squeeze shows it is filled solid with tobacco and has a nice weighty feel to it. The foot smells of hay, a bit of mushroom and mustiness like an old wine cellar.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
Using my Lamborghini guillotine cutter I draw a quick straight cut. The dry draw gives off raisins, mushroom and mustiness. Using a short taper, the first dry puff starts off chary which quickly transitions into graham cracker and nutmeg on the tongue. Once lit, the Robusto Intenso comes off full bodied with earth, almond paste and baking spices in large amounts. On the retrohale I get more mushroom, truffle and oak which then coats the palate with an unexpected creaminess.
At midway, the Robusto Intenso becomes slightly sweeter on the lips with cedar and a blast of oak. The burn line wavers slightly, but it doesn’t burn hot and sports a beautiful white ash. Lots more spice comes through almost touching on Asian spices with some pepper and cedar on the retrohale. The profile settles in to a more medium-full style with some dusty cocoa, oak and forest floor on the long finish. Some nuttiness returns but is overshadowed by peppery notes.
As the final third approachs, the Robusto Intenso’s sweetness and some tropical fruit push forward in an unexpected fashion. Another retrohale sorts out truffle, oak and a hit of pepper which offers additional power, with pepper and oak interplaying into a long finish. Much like its beginning, the final stages of the Davidoff Intenso bring back some raisins and mushroom along with cream and wood. An easy smoking robusto.
Conclusion
It goes almost without saying that with Davidoff you can count on the quality of the cigar. The Robusto Intenso lives up to its moniker as it starts off fuller flavored and even when it dipped into a medium body it always bordered on some intensity. Although the flavors were easy to note and the finish was long I do think it could use a bit more complexity. Overall, I enjoyed the Robusto Intenso throughout and would certainly recommend picking up a few to keep in the humidor. Just do it quick because with only a few thousand boxes produced, these won’t be around long.
From General Cigars—the makers of the non-Cuban Cohiba brand and others like Macanudo—comes another high end premium cigar in the Cohiba Royale Gran Royale. This Cohiba is covered in a wonderful Nicaraguan Broadleaf wrapper and is said to have extra-aged filler tobaccos. I’ve smoked some of the more ultra-premium lines lines such as the Comador, Macassar and both Spectre blends with some of the blends being better than others, though all enjoyable smokes. I’m a fan of quality broadleaf—when it is done right it can bring great flavor and balance to a cigar.
As you’ll ready below, with this being a blind review I was pleasantly surprised with the results.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Cohiba Royale Gran Royale
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Broadleaf
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Honduara, Nicaraguan
Size: 4.5 x 52 robusto
Price: ~$24
Appearance and Construction
The Cohiba Royale is draped in a dark, reddish, veiny wrapper with a nice oily sheen to it. The cigar is rolled solidly full of tobacco and dense to the touch. From the foot there are aromas of cocoa and earth. A fine looking robusto at first sight.
Flavor and Smoke Characteristics
Utilizing my Xikar cutter, I clip a straight cut. The dry draw has just the right amount of resistance, with espresso and balsa wood coming through. As I draw with flame the first few puffs deliver rich tobacco notes along with cherries and leather. The additional spice that comes through is balanced by a creaminess left on the palate. The cigar transitions from spice to leather while remaining nuanced and composed, and the ash that develops with the straight burn is light gray and rather firm attesting to the packed tobacco in the filler.
Through the Cohiba Royale’s progression into the second third, the espresso returns along with dried fruits on the retrohale. Additional notes of graphite and almond emerge while the smoke delivers a long creamy finish. The Cohiba Royale continues with a medium to full flavor without overwhelming and hitting just the right amounts of strength and flavor.
As the Cohiba Royale reaches its last third, there is a swath of chocolate and cream in the smoke with some citrus hitting the tip of the tongue. The Cohiba Royale’s complexities continue, with coffee coming through on the sides of the mouth while floral notes play on the retrohale. These are intriguing sensory flavors that round out the cigars profile well. A thoroughly enjoyable robusto.
Conclusion
This cigar in no way compares to the flavors of a Cuban Cohiba. They are, after all, completely different tobaccos and taste, and I do not believe that was ever General Cigars intention.
In General’s ultra-premium lines the Cohiba Royale Gran Royale easily justifies the high price point for me. The wrapper and filler blend work together in generating a fuller flavored smoke without overpowering the palate. The combination of rich tobacco, earth, cherries, spice and a creamy finish gives this cigar a complexity I enjoyed throughout the entire smoking experience.
I believe that when you pay a higher price for a cigar—especially when it’s highly touted—you should walk away satisfied. In the case of the Cohiba Royale Gran Royale, it delivered that level of flavor for me and I would absolutely recommend picking a few up.
Southern Draw is a brand of cigar makers based out of Texas. In addition they are military veterans that formed a cigar company and have achieved success with various lines they’ve put forth. The ones I’ve smoked have been impressive with their different flavor profiles in each brand. The Rose of Sharon line is a tribute to Robert Holt who is the founder of Southern Draw’s wife. This particular cigar in its perfecto form takes a skilled hand to work and the vitola is a limited edition created for certain retailers. The most gracious part of this release is that Southern Draw is taking a percentage of the profits and donating them to aid veterans in need. Not knowing what I was smoking save for it being a perfecto vitola I was surprised with the outcome.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed : Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Perfecto
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
Size: 6 x 56 Perfecto
Appearance and Construction
The Rose of Sharon is a well rolled shapely perfecto and as such has tapered pointed ends on both the head and foot. I notice there are minimal veins on the café au lait colored wrapper. I also observe that there is a slightly lighter shade of tobacco leaf at the foot where the cigar tapers off. I’m not sure if this is intentional to the vitola or not. With the exception of a soft spot at the foot the Rose of Sharon is packed full of tobacco.
Flavor and Smoke Characteristics
After a swift straight clip with my Lamborghini guillotine cutter, I take a dry draw that is airy and delivers wood and raisinated flavors. Using my single flame lighter I gently torch the foot and the draw catches immediately with toast and soggy graham cracker coming through. As the cigar burns past the taper, some grittiness and earth hit my lips and the smoke comes off rather mild in these notes. As the ember progresses, the burn runs slightly off which doesn’t seem to affect the flavors as floral accents of rose petal emerge with an underlying woodiness on the finish. The Rose of Sharon continues with an overall mild profile with all these flavors more subtle than pronounced.
The ash on the Rose of Sharon Perfecto at midway is a lovely dark/gray and the burn line straightens out rather nicely. The cigar produces ample smoke which brings forth some sweetness intermixed with oak in a seamless balance. The retrohale is of pencil lead and oak notes which linger in the nose. Then, on a surprising turn, the cigar picks up a bit with a medium body and in your face graphite and cedar. The Rose of Sharon shifts between mild and medium with a nuttiness hitting my palate on the finish. Overall the blend still maintains an average mildness to the smoke.
Towards the final third, the mild profile offers toasted almond and butterscotch and a steady stream of smoke with a continuously easy draw. The body once again dances around a medium profile with some black pepper and an oaky finish. But that doesn’t not last long as the mildness and floral notes enter with wood in the background. At its end, nuttiness along with clotted cream wafted through the cigar in a delicate fashion that needs to be concentrated on in order to appreciate.
As I take my last few puffs, the wood and nuts became the main flavor that accent the profile. A mild easy-smoking perfecto.
Conclusion
I’ve smoked several Southern Draw lines and I give the company a lot of credit, especially for bringing so many different flavor profiles to their lines. This was my first Rose of Sharon I’ve smoked and now knowing they were going for a milder profile I’d say they certainly achieved it. I enjoyed the wood, pencil lead, nuttiness and the floral notes that came through and the craftsmanship was top notch. It can be a challenge to create a mild cigar that delivers nuanced flavors and although I wish the Rose of Sharon had more of it, for the novice and aficionado its worth picking up a stick especially to support a great cause.
I’m sure all are familiar with the rap sensation Eminem so there is no need to school you on those particulars. However in case you don’t know, Paul Rosenberg is the president of Shady Records which is Eminem’s record label. Rosenberg is a cigar enthusiast who collaborated on two projects with well known Jonathan Drew of Drew Eastate. The first project was a 15th anniversary cigar for the record label with a tweaked blend of the Undercrown brand. Once again these two giants of their respective industries came together for a 20th anniversary cigar which is the same size and blend as their initial release. Not knowing any of this prior to smoking I was I extremely satisfied to see how well the project went.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Drew Estate Undercrown ShadyXX
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Stalk Cut Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan, Brazilian
Size: 5” x 50 Belicoso
Appearance & Construction
The ShadyXX is a box pressed cigar that wears a dark toothy wrapper with minimal veins. It’s an impressively rolled belicoso with an excellent capped pointed head. As I squeeze the cigar, it is packed with tobacco with no soft spots to be found. The overall size and appearance is inviting to smoke.
Flavor and Smoke Characteristics
Using my Palio cutter I clip a small cut on the head of the cigar and take a few dry puffs. Flavors of dried fruit and earth resonate on the draw. As I light the ShadyXX, the resistance is just right and delivers black pepper quickly followed by cocoa powder. Shortly into the cigar, a creaminess emerges along with espresso and a minty finish. On the retrohale there is wood, earth and anise. The ShadyXX produces a nice amount of smoke and the interplay of oak and cocoa play strong at this point.
About halfway through the ShadyXX the creaminess returns with espresso echoing on the palate. Another retrohale gives a blast of pepper with citrus that is surprising considering the taste and mouthfeel at first. At this point there are some interesting complexities to the cigar. The white and gray ash is not too firm but it holds on. As the smoke progresses, more coffee notes along with cream and vanilla resonate to a long finish.
In the final third of the ShadyXX, flavors of maple, nutmeg and creamy espresso begin to develop. Unfortunately even with the nuances picked up the Undercown yields a short finish which becomes almost bitter. And despite smoking the cigar slow the bitterness persists. The black pepper returns, albeit in not as intense a fashion as in the beginning of the smoke.
As the ShadyXX reaches its end some oakwood and vanilla finish it up on a fine note. A pleasant little cigar with a medium to full profile all the way through.
Conclusion
After finding out what the cigar was it’s exciting to hear it was a project that went so well. Having had the pleasure of meeting Jonathan Drew on many occasions for near two decades I can say he is a generous soul and an innovator, so I can see why people would want to collaborate and create a cigar with him. Many collaborations from persons outside the cigar industry can come off as more of a status symbol than a quality undertaking. This is not the case with the Undercrown ShadyXX as the blend is well crafted and the tobaccos top notch. They are sold out most places but if you can get your hands on some you will be fortunate and pleased with the experience.
Davidoff has always represented an understated elegance and refinement in the cigar industry. Their conservative approach to cigar releases, the subtle flavor nuances of their cigars and even the sophisticated decor in their beautiful lounges. This cigar is no different. The Davidoff Signature 2000 is one of Davidoff’s best sellers. Consistent with the Davidoff pedigree, this cigar celebrates a long lineage of Davidoff master craftsmanship and expert blending.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Signature 2000
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Domincan Republic
Size: Petit Corona 5 x 43
Appearance and Construction
As per the ancient ritual, after receiving a package of cigars in the mail, an immediate and thorough inspection was in order. Most of the time, I am well aware of which cigars to expect. However, this particular package had the original bands detached to remove some partiality from the review process. Heavy biases and crude judgments aside, by removing the band as barbaric as it may seem, lessens the distractions and focuses attention on the contents of the book and less on its cover.
It was late in the evening, the Davidoff Signature 2000 with its graceful poise caught my eye. It’s unpretentious vitola, tight flawless bronzed Ecuadorian wrapper and triple cap flair made a great impression. The wrapper and its construction was just about perfect, with no visible veins or lumps, and a soft sandalwood luster.
Flavor and Smoke Characteristics
Taking a smell of the foot of the Davidoff Signature 2000, tantalizing aroma of walnuts, dry leaves and fresh Costa Rican coffee greet the nose. After a straight cut, a dry pull reveals vegetal and fresh grass on the palate. Soft dry hay and white pepper flavors wrapped in thick and creamy combination provide a luscious well balanced medium body. Once the heat settles, the ash starts to build and a comforting sharp burn reveals itself.
The retrohale (gateway to the next dimension of cigar appreciation) is a soft delicate floral twang reminiscent of finely aged Cuban seed tobacco takes this cigar to the next level. Careful throttling of the pull is consistent with most cigars where spice picks up with heat and a leveling off once the heart dissipates.
In the second third of the Davidoff Signature 2000, the white pepper softens up, soft velvet texture, cedar, razor sharp burn, no relights. By the middle of the cigar, the flavors have settled quite nicely. I am able to throttle the intensity of the retrohale by manipulating the frequency and strength of the draw. This wave of flavors is what takes this cigar to the next level. It’s enticing, provocative and mysterious.
As the cigar gets near the end, the heat picks up and so does the intensity of flavors, the white pepper gets stronger, the dry hay makes a sneaky return, the retrohale boldens. Noticeable white ash and no relights. If one was to ease off a bit and feather the draw, graham crackers and vegetal lingers in the background.
Conclusion
A fine example of great tobacco, years of experience and mastery to create a mild mannered masterpiece. I suspect this cigar will age gracefully, This cigar being readily available, will allow anyone to find and experience what in my opinion is a great cigar. It’s not overpowering, bold or pretentious. Instead, the Davidoff Signature 2000 is refined, balanced and well tempered (medium strength), The true magic of this cigar is behind the curtains or more accurately hidden behind the retrohale. A true gem in the Davidoff lineup.
Have you ever wondered the cigars a master blender would create for their own personal humidor? Former president of Drew Estate Cigars, Steve Saka was kind enough to share his vision of a humidor worthy cigar. In 2005, he kicked off his personal project: Liga Privada, which translates to private blend in Spanish.
It wasn’t until a year later that he began to see the project coming to fruition. With help from Johnathan Drew and Nicholas (Director of tobacco & cigar in Nicaragua), and fifty plus test blends later, they were able to pin point a specific variation of blend: #9. After lighting up around 6000 cigars between the three of them and sharing some with others, as well as being badgered for over a year to put them on market, they finally caved and released them to the public.
As for the blend itself, there are tobaccos from seven different farms. The wrappers are hand fermented for more than 18 months. To make it even more exclusive, there are only four pairs of rollers throughout the whole factory who are authorized to assemble 250 cigar per day. Afterwards, they are aged for a full year before making their way to the B&Ms.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf #1 Darks
Binder: Plantation-Grown Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: Select Honduran and Nicaraguan Cuban seed
Size: Toro (6” x 52)
Appearance & Construction
The dark oily wrapper shines under the sunlight. As my fingers travel down the slightly toothy surface of the wrapper, I can feel the density of the cigar. It is evenly packed with no visible veins or blemishes. Overall, the longer I stare at this cigar, the more I salivate.
Flavor and Smoke Characteristics
The sweet vanilla and oak bark scent from the wrapper were very captivating. On the foot of the cigar, my nose picks up vanilla, peppery spice and dry berries.
Upon taking a cold draw, the image of maple glazed barbecue beef jerky materializes in my mind with a sweet cayenne pepper tingling on my tongue and lips. As I lay back into a lounge chair and take in my surrounding in the Catskills Mountain, I can’t help but to anticipate Bigfoot sneaking up behind me just like those Jack Link beef jerky commercials.
Liga No. 9 has a very strong opening in terms of flavors. Dark leather, bitter espresso beans, and vanilla on the palate and smoke with a hint of simple syrup towards the back of my mouth. On retrohale, there are sweet hay, toffee and red pepper spices. These flavors are perfectly balanced, leaving me wanting more. The meatiness from the cold draw disappears, and the aftertaste is quite floral similar to Chinese sunflower seeds. The burn is very even, and the salt and pepper ash holds sturdily.
Arriving to the second third, the flavor of roasted peanuts replaces the dark leather flavor from the initial lighting. The smoke also produces a very creamy texture, where it changes the whole dynamic of the cigar and reminds me of a nutty toffee bar.
An hour and a half later, I finally reach the final third of Liga Privada No. 9. The luscious, maple syrup-flavored smoke shifts to a sweetness of raw sugar. The combination of barnyard, cedar, granola and sweet toffee on the palate can be best described as a decadent experience. With my final retrohale, I’m embraced with warm baking spice and toffee escorted by an alluring creamy texture.
Conclusion
The Liga Privada no. 9 is nothing short of amazing. The flavor of this cigar is very well balanced, complex and inviting. Truly a humidor worthy cigar.
I’m no stranger to Davidoff cigars as I’ve been fortunate enough to smoke nearly all of their lines including the old Cuban vitolas. With Henke Kelner at the helm of blending after Davidoff ceased making cigars in Havana, the tobaccos seem to have distinct tastes in some of the blends. A mustiness, earth, wood, forest floor and mushroom make them unique smokes. Davidoff cigars are extremely well crafted with outstanding quality control and the Davidoff Grand Cru series is no exception. With an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper and Dominican fillers these cigars can be a real treat albeit with a price tag to match.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Grand Cru Robusto
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Size: 5 1/4 x 52 Robusto
Appearance & Construction
The Davidoff Grand Cru robusto has a smooth claro wrapper that’s silky to the touch. When given a squeeze it is firmly packed with tobacco and extremely well rolled. I noticed a unique nipple on the cap which is a skillful addition to implement on a cigar. There are minimal veins and the roll is perfect in hand.
Flavor and Smoke Characteristics
Using my V-cutter, I clip the cigar and proceed to take a dry draw that brings mustiness and damp forest floor. I light up and the first few puffs are drying on the palate and portray a medium bodied experience. As the Grand Cru gets going, graham cracker hits the top of my mouth, followed but woody notes and cinnamon. I take a retrohale early on and the mustiness comes through along with slight earthy tones. The wood increases along with secondary notes of mushroom and dampness. The smoke coming from the cigar is ample at this point and the body continues on the medium level.
As the cigar progresses, the Davidoff Grand Cru robusto’s smoke billows and the foot showcases a lovely white ash. There are lots of toast and cedar notes that make their way through. The burn line is razor sharp. I detect a fleeting cherry and wine note which quickly becomes overshadowed by some white pepper, but both flavors leave as quickly as they appear. The cigar smokes rather hurriedly, although it’s not harsh with the tobacco seeming to burn uniformly while I puff at a conservative pace. Then, the Grand Cru picks up a bit more strength, teetering on the medium to full bodied side of the spectrum. At this time I detect some bitterness developing on the finish with celery and vegetal notes alongside.
In the final third, the wood becomes more like graphite and toast followed by a short mineral finish. The Davidoff recedes into the medium bodied range and with that the cedar takes hold resonating with a hearth of tobacco and wood. The burn continues to be excellent, and as the cigar develops orange peel along with floral notes interplay with a bready coating on the palate.
As the Davidoff Grand Cru reaches the last few puffs, it yields damp earth and pencil lead which I wished lastied longer on the mouthfeel. A tasty medium bodied cigar.
Conclusion
I enjoyed the medium bodied experience the Davidoff Grand Cru Robusto portrayed with its earth, wood, toast and mushroom notes. My biggest issue is that I wished the flavors lasted longer and stood firmer on the palate. It seemed the finishes where short and the bitterness midway along with the vegetal notes hurt the score. I would surmise some more aging in the humidor could even things out and help the cigar develop where it lacked. I would suggest picking one up to smoke and perhaps buying a few more to rest to compare over time.
Forget any past tasting you had of Royal Brackla 12 and 16.
Change your mind about Aberfeldy 12, 16 and 21.
It’s all about context!
Here stands two magical cigars. But the mix of smoke and whisky creates diverse palate effects. So, be prepared for SURPRISE!!
Let’s cut to the chase. With the Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro, the Royal Brackla 12 brings out the best in both dram and stick in great harmony. Aberfeldy 16 comes close to the same rapport, but with more nuance.
When smoking the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua, these two also rise to the top. My view, in this case, gives a slight nod to the Aberfeldy 16 because of the second cigar’s spice.
Here’s a preview of a night you’ll recall. This standard of excellence is what we all assume from finetobaccoclub.com/. I hope your flavor trip will be as rewarding as mine.
Cigar: Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro – The cold draw has nice espresso flavors, almost toasted! A smooth wrapper and soft blend make it sensual. You don’t even have to smoke to enjoy it.
Note: All bottles are 40% ABV
Royal Brackla 12 – When we light up the Cigar of the Year, we expect our whisky pairs to transport us to a new level, and it does! Wow! What a surprise! The RB 12 is that outcome and more! Past samplings of this spirit showed that it was largely a good malt. It had a dusty, rocky dryness that was short lived followed by fleeting Kraft Caramel. Then it finished with a light black pepper. My first thought: Best drink this neat before dinner. Well… so much for the past. Tonight, there’s a balance between cigar and scotch; rare for such a low ABV. The RB’s hint of back palate smoke equaled the gentle spice of the AR. The stony grist of the whisky dissolved into the sweet earth of the stick. Lost in thought, I turned my head and found I emptied the glass! Lucky for me, I had more in reserve!
Royal Brackla 16 – The AR’s smooth complexity tried hard to change the powerhouse, uni-directional RB16. It was almost the classic Bugs Bunny / Daffy Duck skit: “Duck Season!” “No! Rabbit Season!” After a strained effort, the whisky’s light fade gave way to the elegance of the smoke. The result was best for those who love distinct tastes and exult in a mouth battle.
Aberfeldy 12 – As the AR approached the end of its first third, some nuttiness emerged. I hoped the AF 12 would combine its normal honeycomb taste with the cigar. Nope. These two decided that peaceful co-existence was the way to go. You’ll find a gateway malt here. If blended scotch is your basic tipple, the AF12 is a new road for you. Why not pair it with a good smoke? Just don’t expect either to change.
Aberfeldy 16 – The red-headed step-child of the product line, the 16-year has real elan. There’s a bunch of flavors that come through without the pure honey tone of the 12-year. With so much going on with the whisky, you might think you could overlook the smoke. Not a chance! Surprise again! Here’s a case where all the grace of the cigar and the whisky’s kaleidoscope of tastes combine for a rare experience. Sit back and enjoy the ride. Revel in all your senses and trust them to impress. Now THAT’s what I’m talking about!
Aberfeldy 21 – A more erudite version of the AF12, the same honeyed nature emerges with less power and more finesse. Yet, like the twelve-year, the cigar is a separate journey. But why fight the flavors? Just enjoy each of them apart. Any notion of a fight dissolves into the knowledge that you’ve got two fine samples in your hands.
Mark’s Preference: #1 Aberfeldy 16, #2 Royal Brackla 12, #3 Royal Brackla 16, #4 Aberfeldy 21, #5 Aberfeldy 12.
Cigar: Romeo y Juilieta Reserva Real Nicaragua – The cold draw has a lot of pepper and spice with some nutmeg, maybe even some cardamom. Here’s another beauty of the highest quality. But prepare yourself for a smoke of strength.
Royal Brackla 12 – Given my first experience with the AR, I had no preconceived notions with a cigar of such different character! Again, SURPRISE! The initial sweet flavor then the spicy trace of the RB 12’s finish were perfect counterpoints to the pepper of the RJ, each tempered in their ardor. One plus one now equals three. This is a big winner!
Royal Brackla 16 – The RB 16 is a sipping whisky that stands on its own. But when it meets the strength of this stogie, it’s a battle for dominance with each vying for control of your senses. If you crave a battle royale in your mouth, here’s your UFC cage match!
Aberfeldy 12 – By now the RJ, in the second third, is mellowing out. Yet the honeyed one-dimensional AF 12 overpowered the cigar! Weird! I expected the RJ to put up a fight. Yet it surrendered to the dram! All that remained was the slight tinge of pepper that showed you what lurked in the end. Interesting: the milder AR produced a more cohesive result.
Aberfeldy 16 – Ok, I didn’t know what to expect from my favorite in the AR sequence. The same complex nose of the glass jolted me and brought out hidden smooth and warm traits of the RJ. Not outdone, the cigar countered by tempering the chameleon flavors of the AF 16. What a delight! Enjoy this classic sensation where each aspect inspires the other.
Aberfeldy 21 – I wasn’t expecting much here. The AF21 is too smooth, too aged. It’s a great dessert whisky, but it’s gonna get clobbered, right? WRONG! Like the AF12, the reverse happened. The spirit overwhelmed the cigar. The honeyed sensation beat down the pepper, but the 21-year, unlike its younger sibling, let the stick’s heat return at the finish.
Mark’s Preference: #1 Royal Brackla 12, #2 Aberfeldy 16, #3 Aberfeldy 21, #4 Aberfeldy 12, #5 Royal Brackla 16.
Summary: I enjoyed an evening of surprises. I didn’t expect the Royal Brackla 12 to impress as much as it did (in both cases!) despite major differences in the cigars. That a whisky can overpower a strong smolder is also new to me. I expect the inverse. The ending surprise was how good the Aberfeldy 16 was with different smokes. Perhaps what makes it such a flavor changeling creates a true savored adventure.
There are some wonderful take-aways here: You could like a whisky and a cigar by themselves, but, perhaps, not together. On the other hand, you could discover that a fine smoke might not pair well with your preferred drink! Last, the age of a spirit does not translate to a superb smoking experience. Remember the setting. First choose the cigar flavor profile you want. Then lay out some samples from your own bar and dive in! Don’t limit yourself to Scotch! You’re bound to find true love, as finetobaccoclub.com/’s own Kelvin Batista learned with Rum.
What’s your view? Leave a comment and tell us! – Mark
News broke this week that Nat Sherman and its Nat Sherman Townhouse in Midtown Manhattan will permanently close in September. First reported by Cigar Aficionado and then a slew of other cigar blogs, the news came as a shock to many, especially those in the New York City cigar community that frequented the Townhouse on 42nd street for its incredible selection, great prices, and the knowledge and hospitality of its staff.
In the midst of a stressful and taxing global pandemic, the news was a hard blow for me personally. I worked and lived in Midtown just blocks from the Townhouse for a number of years, stopping by multiple times a week—sometimes to pick up a few cigars for a weekend get together with friends, other times for a quiet smoke during lunch hour.
Nat Sherman has been in business since 1930, and got its start during the Great Depression. Though it wasn’t always located in the Townhouse on 42nd street, the Townhouse became for many the iconic symbol not just of the Nat Sherman brand, but of the ethos of the cigar culture in New York. The store was particularly memorable in the winter. Like so many others, I remember pulling hard on the heavy front doors to escape freezing rain or snow and being greeted by a cozy atmosphere (sometimes accompanied with a jazz band playing on the second-floor balcony) and a sea of smiling faces.
I remember the cigar launch parties that the store would throw, especially those that the Quesada family attended—perhaps the kindest family in an industry of kind families. Those events were always well attended, full of laughter and friendship, and always accompanied by a few good jokes from Michael Herklots thrown in during the evening’s festivities.
The historic brand was made immensely richer and more defined by Mr. Herklots after he joined the team at the head of brand and retail. Not only did he spearhead the release of incredible blends (Timeless, Bench Series, Joel Sherman 75th, the list goes on); he put his heart and soul into the brand, and the increased foot traffic and consecutive 90+ point cigar ratings prove it.
The industry is losing a great and storied brand. The city is losing something as well. But the price it pays for Nat Sherman’s closing won’t be in tax revenue or foot traffic on 42nd street. Thepeople of this great city will pay in all the new friendships, polite conversations, and quiet thoughtfulness that will never happen at the Townhouse again. This might sound sentimental, but in our polarized age of ceaseless noise… is it?
Someday, we might hope, another enterprising young man will open the next cigar shop that lives on another 90 or 100 years. But the city will always be poorer for the closing of the Nat Sherman Townhouse.
It all started with a fateful meeting between Al Micallef and the Gomez Sanchez brothers at a Texas lounge. By 2016, Micallef Cigars joined the fray of the cigar industry. Fast forward to IPCPR 2019, Micallef unveiled the newest toro size for their top of the line Reserva Limitada Privada. As Rob and Bryant from ‘Cigar Talk Podcast’ would boast;
“Micallef Cigar offers cigars priced from $4 to $42.”
I was lucky enough to do a blind review of the $42.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Micallef Reserva Limitada Privada
Wrapper: 8 Year Old Mexican San Andres Habano
Binder: 8 Year Old Nicaraguan
Filler: 8 Year Old Honduran, Dominican and Peruvian
Size: Toro (6 x 52)
Appearance & Construction
While not knowing the cigar I am looking at, I can tell from the construction that quality is involved. The wrapper is very smooth and the cigar evenly packed with no soft spots and no major veins visible.
The wrapper smells like candy and chrysanthemum tea leaves just from a quick whiff. As I trace my nose down to the foot of the cigar, the white pepper scent becomes more prominent. I sneeze a few times, which get me weird and concerning looks from the people in my vicinity. Once the pepper smell scattered, it leaves behind a sweet scent of lavender and green tea leaves. The cold draw is mouthwatering with the taste of dry cherries, raisins and tea leaves and an aftermath of warm red pepper spice that teases the back of my throat.
Flavor and Smoke Characteristics
Once ignited, the Reserva blasts off with a perfume of leather. There’s notes of light brown leather accompanied with roasted coffee beans, dry apricot and plentiful of red pepper spice. Retrohaling gives off a mixture of red and white pepper, and oven fresh warm bread. Overall, the Micallef Reserva is a pepper bomb at the start.
As the ash burns its way past one inch, a taste of buttery cream creeps up. While still flavorful, all the flavors turn down a notch and defined the saying “sometimes less is more”. Now there’s black coffee, dry apricot and dry rice straw which I can’t get enough of. On retrohale, the spices tone down into more of a baking spice with an aroma I can only describe as a pie crust dusted with cocoa powder.
On a side note, this cigar is packed with nicotine, even after a meal.
As we enter the second third, the flavors evolve to fresh baked bread, toasted nuts, cocoa powder and sweet hay with a lingering tingle in the mouth from the red pepper spice. These flavors are pretty consistent until the beginning of the final third. A milky texture slowly fuses itself with the present flavors, and the smoking experience slowly evolves from puffing on a cigar to sipping a cup of a mocha latte. The ending of the Reserva becomes raw sugar, sweet and creamy. I can’t think of a better way to end this smoke.
Conclusion
I nubbed this cigar to the very end of the cap. The Micallef Reserva Limitada Privada was enjoyable from the beginning until the very last puff. The only critique I have about this cigar is that, as great as the flavors are, I could have used a touch more complexity at times.
