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Blind Review: Nat Sherman Epoca Limited Edition 2019

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This past fall, the cigar industry mourned the loss of a historic staple.  Not only did the famed Nat Sherman Townhouse in NYC close, but the entire Nat Sherman wholesale business was shut down.  Luckily, the vigilant ones were able to score some serious deals on the remaining stock of practically the entire portfolio, including this delicious cigar I’m reviewing here – the Nat Sherman Epoca Limited Edition 2019 which is made for Nat Sherman by Plasencia.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Nat Sherman Epoca Limited Edition 2019
  • Wrapper: Nicaragua
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: Toro (6 x 52)

Appearance & Construction

This cigar presents a slightly mottled dark chocolate brown wrapper with a very nice oily sheen to it. The overall construction is virtually flawless: a large double cap, very minimal veins, no visible seams whatsoever and delicious floral aromas that made my mouth water.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The toro vitola might be one of my favorite formats – especially if entubado rolled, which typically reduces any draw issues.  For this cigar, I pulled out my favorite Xikar xi3 wood collection cutter that quickly scored the cap right off.  On the prelight draw, I got some chocolate with a hint of citrus. It reminded me of one of those chocolate oranges.

After carefully toasting the foot, I must say the foot smoke was quite pleasant with a very slight floral hint.  As I settled into this cigar, the initial flavors were a very noticeable woody/cedar.  This was met about 10 minutes in with some slight chocolate and coffee notes, although muted, I could tell it was there.

Flawless construction as we enter the second third, which had a great transition of flavors – the cedar died down a bit and introduced a nuttiness.  This is another cigar that produces thick, oily smoke with an extremely long finish.

As we enter the final third on this cigar, it comes to its full glory – all the flavors are firing on all cylinders. Lots of cedar, nuts, now some pepper and very nice fleeting moments of spices (cinnamon perhaps?).  This is a delicious full-body cigar that was a tough one to put down.

Conclusion

As with any Nat Sherman cigar that I’ve had, the second half of the cigar is stellar – it’s almost as if the first half has the show that’s slowly building then you hit that crescendo and all hell breaks loose from there. 

I’m so glad that Michael Herklots and Brendon Scott were able to strike a deal with Altria (Nat Sherman’s former owner) to acquire the Timeless, Epoca  Metropolitan, Host and Ancora brands under their new company, Ferio Tego. This is a classic brand of cigars that everyone should have in their humidor.

Final Rating: 94

Blind Review: Nat Sherman Timeless TAA 2020

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As of 2020, Nat Sherman is no more after more than 90 years in business. It’s a shame for many reasons, not least of which is that the company was completely reimagined in the past several years, first with new blends and then with top spots in major cigar magazines. I’ve enjoyed several of the newer lines and always look forward to the Tobacconists Association of America (TAA) special release cigars. These cigars are created specifically for Tobacconists who are members of the TAA and are sold in those participating shops. Smoking this blind was a pleasant surprise as it was certainly a cigar I would have sought out on my own.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Nat Sherman Timeless TAA 2020
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Size: 6” x 50 (Toro)

Appearance & Construction

The cigar wears a silky dark wrapper with a sleek small vein on one side.  As I give a feel to assess this smokes construction I can see it is solidly packed with tobacco.  The foot has an inviting aroma of currant, plum and earth.  So far based on the look and feel, I am more than ready to light up.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

With my Palio’ cutter I make a straight slice and take a cold draw.  The cigar seems airy, and I pick up earth, cedar and black pepper on the lips. I take a long match courtesy of Club Macanudo and strike a flame. Gently toasting the cigar I take a puff and graham cracker and vanilla are on the forefront.  Another draw brings  cedar, fruits and some floral notes. With a quick retrohale, I get a blast of black pepper that hits my sinus in a big way.  The transitions at this point are moving rather quickly and the cigar is in the medium to full range.

By midway into this smoke, the burn line is a bit wavy with an intense white ash. I’m now getting milk chocolate with a creaminess that lingers on my palate. The retrohale I take is bringing cashews, coffee and hay as I blow it out. Thus far the flavors have been very specific which makes smoking this cigar effortless. Another puff and cocoa powder, espresso with more nuttiness comes through along with a short bitter finish. The smoke seems to be billowing from the cigar and I take puff outward to try and quell it. It seems to be settling down and I’m getting the return of graham cracker with hay that coats around my mouth.  The cigar is in the more fuller body of style at this point.

I’m enjoying this smoke, and now in the last third earth and cocoa are intermixing quite nicely. Giving it a retrohale, there’s espresso and some spice resonating. As I blow out cashews are lingering on my palate. The burn line is looking straight and taking another puff produces leather, nuts and cocoa reside on the finish. This is a fast smoking stick which is making it a tad bitter and with that I’m getting bakers chocolate with espresso bean.  While I take a final puff to finish this cigar there’s some vanilla bean and more nuts at its end. Quite satisfying.

Conclusion

The Nat Sherman Timeless TAA 2020 delivered a lot of easily identifiable flavors which made it a smooth smoking experience. The graham cracker was evident from the first puff as chocolate, cedar, cashews and espresso carried through the cigar. The full body came on quick with the last third settling into a more relaxed medium to full range.  Finding out this was what will now be the last Nat Sherman Timeless TAA cigar, my feelings are mixed. It was sad to see the company dissolved and at the same time they’ve sent the brand off well with a smoke they can be proud of.  I think these will age nicely so grab a box at a TAA retailer if you can.

Final Rating: 90

Saying Goodbye to the Nat Sherman Townhouse

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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. The people 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.

Nat Sherman Bench 2018 No. 1 Review

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Nat Sherman Bench 2018 No 1

Well folks I’m back. I had quite the January, with a long lingering cough that’s now thankfully subsided. I knew I wanted to make my first review of 2019 count, so I pulled out this smoke I picked up at Nat Sherman in December that is now, sadly, sold out. This cigar is the Nat Sherman Bench 2018 No. 1.

The Bench Series is available only at Nat Sherman stores, in extremely limited quantities, and with very limited information on the blends or even manufacturer. I buy it whenever a new release comes out, because they’re all so interesting. All I know about this cigar in particular is that it is 100% Dominican, rolled in 2008. That means this cigar has been aging for at least ten years, which is an insane amount of time to be sitting around.

Product Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Nat Sherman Bench 2018 No. 1
  • Wrapper: Dominican
  • Binder: Dominican
  • Filler: Dominican
  • Size: unclear, but I’d guess 6″ x 48

Appearance & Construction

The Nat Sherman Bench 2018 No. 1 sports a brown sugar colored wrapper with minimal veins. The cigar is slightly springy when squeezed and is packed consistently the length of the cigar. As you can see from the photo above, the wrapper is just beautiful.

The aroma off of the foot is tantalizing, with a mixture of sweet hay, light woodsiness, sweet coffee, and light spices. The cold draw summons brighter flavors of citrus, coffee beans (like the large open coffee bags you find sometimes at the market), and some light, woody spice. The draw itself is about an 8/10 in terms of restrictiveness, just a touch more than I typically like.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Nat Sherman Bench 2018 kicks off with remarkably sweet, creamy, medium bodied smoke. Overall, it’s quite complex and balanced, hitting sweet, savory, salty, and bitter portions of the flavor wheel all at once, with some spice on the palate. Smoke production is just above average.

About 10 minutes later, less than a half an inch in, the flavors shift toward tangy Apricot jam, toast, creamy chocolate and light baking spices. If that sounds good, it’s because it REALLY is. Just delicious.

By an inch in, the thick salt and pepper ash is still holding on. The balance of the smoke, though, has fallen a bit out of whack, with a cedar note coming in just a little too heavy. Still, the complexity and harmony of flavors like apricot, chocolate, spice and cream make for an intense and enjoyable flavor experience.

As the Nat Sherman Bench 2018 burns past the second third, body remains at medium, though the retrohale is strong and spicy. Flavors remain mostly the same, though the cream on the finish gives way to a drier, woodier core. No constructing issues as of yet, though there is some waviness to the burn.

Near the halfway mark, both body and strength creep up to medium full, with bitter wood, cream, coffee, and salty smoked meats making up the core of the profile. It adds a nice chapter to the story of the Bench 2018, keeping things interesting. The final third of the Nat Sherman Bench 2018 lands this cigar near full body, with spices and toasted bread on the retrohale, and a woody, coffee-forward palate. Even in the final few minutes of the cigar, the smoke refuses to heat up, a testament perhaps to the extreme aging on this cigar.

Conclusion

What can I say? The Nat Sherman Bench 2018 No. 1 offers a true gourmet experience, much like so many other new Nat Sherman blends. This one though is just stellar, with excellent complexity and complementary of flavors. In particular, I really enjoyed the first two thirds, which delivered creamy but very textured smoke, and a great bouquet of complementary flavors like apricot jam, toast, coffee, cream and cocoa.

The first Bench Series I reviewed was way back in 2012, and I can say I’m even more excited about the future of the Bench Series than I’ve ever been.

Final Rating : 92

Nat Sherman Panamericana Rubstico Review

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Nat Sherman Panamericana Robustico Review

The Nat Sherman Panamericana was originally a cigar line only available at the Nat Sherman Townhouse in NYC. Years later, the Panamericana blend became available to TAA retailers as an exclusive offering.  As the line grew, I was able to smoke several sizes (including the Secretos, reviewed here) and I’ve been looking forward to the Rubustico to complete smoking all the vitolas.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Nat Sherman Panamericana Robustico
  • Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Costa Rica, Nicaraguan
  • Size: 4 x 54 Short Robusto

Appearance & Construction

Stout, dark and veiny, the Nat Sherman Panamericana Robustico is a solid squat smoke full of tobacco with no soft spots to speak of. The band is lime green, red, browns and gold which I do not find particularly appealing, and the “Nat Sherman New York” logo is clearly present on the front. The design does not seem to strive to impress in my opinion with the somewhat off putting color scheme. I’m thinking 70’s leisure suits when I see it. Nevertheless the proof is in the smoking.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

Lighting up the Nat Sherman Panamericana Robustico, you are greeted to pencil lead and cedar. There is an earthy presence as the cigar picks up with a touch of sweetness that starts to develop. The ring gauge aides in surrounding the palate with bready notes and a short finish. Smoking past the second half mark, there is loads of milk chocolate coming through that lingers on. Coffee and cedar dominate, bringing the complexities of the Robustico out, and there’s more graphite and wood interplay as the cigar picks up. For a short smoke the development is impressive at this point.

On the final third, the earthiness builds up and the cigar is a bit gritty at this point. The wood notes shift to be a bit charred despite my smoking the cigar slowly. Near the end, the flavors become linear with no notable changes leading to a bitter finish. A disappointing ending to an otherwise flavorful smoke.

Conclusion

The Nat Sherman Panamericana Robustico presented a flavorful start with cedar and graphite while delivering an attractive sweetness. The milk chocolate and coffee added to its complexities midway and enhanced the blend. What hurt this cigar was the last third of it turning rather bitter and charred. Short smokes are a pleasure when they can deliver complexities and flavors in an abbreviated time frame. The robustico achieved this until its final third which hurt its score. I would advise giving it a try in the hopes the finish is a better experience for others.

Final Rating: 88

Joel Sherman 75th Celebration Cigar Review

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Nat Sherman Joel Sherman 75th Celebration Review closeup 2

Newer cigar smokers might not realize it, but Nat Sherman wasn’t always known for producing high quality premium cigars like the Nat Sherman Timeless, which has spent multiple years on the Cigar Aficionado Top 25 list. In fact, before Michael Herklots joined the Nat Sherman team in 2011, the brand was, in my estimation, subpar. That all changed when Michael Herklots came on as the Executive Director of Retail and Brand Development. He reinvigorated the 42nd St retail location by bringing on friendly and knowledgeable staff, updating the retail space, and greatly expanding the range of brands offered in the humidor. On top of that, he took the lead in blending and launching a number of successful lines, most notably the Timeless blend as well as the newer renditions of the core Nat Sherman lines.

In 2014, the company announced it would be releasing a cigar to commemorate the 75th birthday of CEO Joel Sherman. The Joel Sherman 75th Celebration scales in at 7 1/2 by 46, definitely a unique shape, and was released with a total quantity of just 25,000 cigars.

I’m a bit late to the party with this particular review, but after smoking this cigar it’s really quite impossible not to write a review and describe what an incredible blend I think it is.

Product Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Joel Sherman 75th Celebration
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
  • Binder: Dominican Republic
  • Filler: Dominican Republic
  • Size: 7 1/2 x 46

Appearance and Construction

The Joel Sherman 75th comes presented with a regal looking, textured gold double band. The gold and maroon primary colors find some additional contrast with the red hands of the clock in the center of the primary band.

The Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper is a light, peanut butter brown color with a moderate oily sheen. The wrapper has a few minor imperfections but the cigar is rolled consistently and has a slight give when squeezed.

Off of the foot there are strong aromas of wood, salt and pepper, and a nice pop of grilling spices. After clipping the cigar with a straight cut, I test the draw and it is absolutely perfect. Just enough restrictiveness. The cold draw reveals finely ground black pepper, Oak, bread, and slight granola.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

After toasting the foot, the cigar is ready to go. As I take the first few puffs, I’m greeted by dense but medium bodied, flavorful smoke. On the palate, the smoke gives strong impressions of sweet Oak, fresh bread, bitter espresso, some pepper and a buttery texture. The notes have a lot of complementarity, but that’s not where the flavor ends. The aroma is strong, and curiously offers up its own separate set of notes: cream, floral, and wood.

What’s remarkable is how strong the flavors are in the smoke, all while the smoke itself is light and creamy. It’s a special kind of complexity.

Nat Sherman Joel Sherman 75th Celebration Review

An inch and a half in, the ash is still holding on. Flavor is shifting as well, with the texture morphing into more of a toasted bread flavor. There’s also an apricot note in the mix as well that pairs nicely with the bread note. Construction is absolutely impeccable. Perfect burn, great ash.

Into the second third, the body has picked up just past medium, but the strength of the flavor is bordering on full territory. So much so that this really is a cigar you want to pace yourself on. The faster you smoke it, the stronger the flavor (and that’s not always a good thing when you have balance to consider). Flavors include toasted bread, roasted almonds, black pepper, lemon peel, and bitter chocolate.

Wow.

And just when I didn’t think this cigar could get any better, it does. The final third shifts momentously in flavor and texture. The toasted bread becomes charred Oak with a healthy side of black pepper, nuts, and touches of leather. I burn this cigar to the nub and it’s one that I am very sorry to set down.

Conclusion

The Joel Sherman 75h is a masterful cigar. Perfect construction, amazing flavor and an unbelievably complex progression throughout the course of the smoke. If you find it, buy it in whatever quantity you can. It’s a cigar to hold on to for the most special occasions, and it absolutely deserves its high rating.

Final Score: 93

Nat Sherman Panamericana Secretos Review

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Nat Sherman Panamerican Secretos Review

Nat Sherman has been putting out some wonderful premium cigars for some time now (see Metropolitan Habano, Timeless, Bench). The Panamericana brand is an exclusive only available to shops that are members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America. The Secretos is the smallest vitola in the line, but one not to be underestimated. This was my first time smoking this cigar and it truly impressed.

Blend Specifics

  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Costa Rica and Nicaragua
  • Size: 4” x 40 Secretos

Appearance & Construction

This diminutive smoke is oily with minimal veins and a chocolate colored wrapper. The cigar is expertly rolled with no soft spots and packed with tobacco. The understated red and gold band reads “Nat Sherman New York” with a gold crest in the middle.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cigar starts off with leather and a chewy smoke that envelopes the palate. A bit of white pepper comes into play with the leather dominating every puff. This is not a morning cigar for sure. Midway the Secretos develops a creamy texture with roasted nuts. The cigar once again smacks you with leather and the smoke is rich and savory on the finish. The final third delivers black and white pepper with a long sweet and toasty finish. I smoked this cigar until it burned my fingers.

Conclusion

Do not let the size full you, this is not your morning coffee cigar. The Secretos is a full bodied smoke full of complex flavors. In my experience cigars of this size seem to comprise more of a quick taste of what a larger cigar might offer and the size is more of a convenience for those short on time. The Nat Sherman Panamericana Secretos offers all the complexity and smoking enjoyment of a larger format to someone who is absent on time. I applaud the company for getting all these flavors into this vitola. I recommend picking up a box if you enjoy getting the most out of your cigar and maximizing what time you have.

The Nat Sherman Townhouse: A Temple of Tradition

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Nat Sherman Townhouse
12 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, Btwn 5th Ave and Madison

The Nat Sherman Townhouse stands as a calm safe haven of history and tradition in the perpetually fast-paced, tourist-infested, modern flurry that is Midtown Manhattan. It’s subtle and unassuming on the outside; a little two-story, three floor townhouse with a classic facade, sandwiched in between two behemoth modern skyscrapers, a bit like the Little’s house in the Stuart Little movies. However, much like the Doctor’s T.A.R.D.I.S., the Townhouse is bigger on the inside than it would seem to the passer-by. Upon entering through the double glass doors around noon, I find myself in a spacious, ornately decorated lounge, the golden ceiling high up above my head. All I can hear is “Your Song” by Elton John playing on the radio.

Cliff Gold
From left: Cliff Gold, Charlie Freeman

Before I can pick my jaw back up off the floor, a gentleman comes up to me and cheerfully greets me. He has no name tag, but he dons a tailored blazer with a US Army lapel pin and a pocket square, and sports a meticulously trimmed whitish grey beard. His name is Cliff, and he addresses me by name, remembering me from my sporadic previous visits. He gently escorts me towards the back of the Townhouse, where the walk-in humidor is.

I’m greeted inside by Barry, a humble longtime veteran of the cigar industry whose sole display of pride is a subtle lapel pin indicating his official certification in all things tobacco. He remembers me too, greeting me by name; he asks me about how Fine Tobacco NYC’s latest event with Hiram Solomon went, and mentions seeing me in some the event photos. He immediately escorts me towards the Pan Americana shelf, where he knows one of my all-time favorite Sherman cigars reside. Barry professionally stands in the corner, allowing his many customers to take all the time they need in choosing their cigars, all the while exchanging jokes and tidbits of stories with them without losing a beat. I grab my Pan Americana and purchase it with Ryan, one of the younger members of the crew. As he compliments me on my bow tie, I can’t help but notice his suit is tailored to perfection, giving me, and even the older guys a run for our money.

I initially have to stand, due to there being only about a dozen places to sit. No worries though; it gives me ample opportunity to converse with the amiable metalheads coming in from out of town for the first time to catch Black Sabbath at the Garden later tonight. Standing up also lets me admire up close the many ornately decorated humidors, signature cigar accessories, and framed pictures and autographed memorabilia by celebrities like Frank Sinatra up close while the radio plays John Lennon’s “Watching the Wheels.” The crowd is mainly a healthy mix of young and old men, with very few women to be found; not surprising, since the decor gives off more of a turn-of-the-century man cave vibe than anything else.

The Pan Americana cigar I’m smoking is what you’d get if you took the Townhouse itself and tried to make a flavor out of it based on its vibes, aesthetics, and feel. It’s thick and well-drawn, and its flavor is about as richly earthy as you can get. Brilliant, to put it in one word.

A space eventually opens up, and I take a seat in one of the four chairs centered around a grand ashtray, right next to the register. I’m immediately drawn into a conversation between a construction worker named Roland and a Romanian American gentleman about the GOP primaries. The conversation is soft-spoken and enjoyable, despite the touchy subject, and it transitions seamlessly into Roland telling us about the time he unknowingly ended up offering a puff of his cigar to Paul McCartney on the street.

I go up to Leonor, the lovely female staff member, if I’m permitted to break out a cigar I brought from home. She smiles and approves, asking me if there’s anything else I need. I ask if I can take a picture with her. She again says yes, and after a few well-placed one liners, Cliff gladly plays photographer. Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman” is playing by this point, seemingly on cue. I'm even lucky enough to catch sight of Yakub, one of the Townhouse’s managers. His wool and silk blazer, vest and bow tie combination alone, also meticulously tailored, indicate his rank; again, no need for a name tag. He greets me on his way downstairs and agrees to pose for a quick photo with Adam, another longtime staff member. It's a temporary reprieve from the great responsibility that comes with managing one of the City’s most iconic cigar lounges, but as the photo shows, Yakub joyfully carries a heavy weight on his shoulders.

Cigars are smoked, more stories are told, jokes are exchanged, wisdom is passed down, good times are had by all. Next thing I know, it’s 4:30. As I prepare to leave, the staff and my smoke mates bid me farewell one by one. It certainly wasn’t my first time smoking at the Nat Sherman Townhouse, and it certainly won’t be my last, if I have anything to say about it.

But that doesn't make it any harder to leave.

Epoca Component Tasting With Michael Herklots and Nat Sherman Cigars

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Nat Sherman Component Tasting

I recently had the privilege of being invited to a component tasting with Michael Herklots at the Nat Sherman Townhouse on Feb 10th. I’m a big fan of cigar education, and I knew that the component tasting would make for a unique educational experience, so I jumped at the opportunity to attend.

I arrived at  7:15pm and made my way down into the Johnson Club Room downstairs, which was already smokey and occupied by around 30 cigar enthusiasts, mainly bloggers and friends of the Nat Sherman brand.

Nat Sherman Component Tasting 2

Herklots began the evening with a brief history of Nat Sherman, explaining that “before the brand was a place, and before the place was a man, Nat Sherman.” The first premium cigar sold by Nat Sherman, I was surprised to learn, was Epoca, which was reblended in 2014 to rave reviews.

At this point, Michael started the component tasting, with Nat Sherman staff handing out a short cigar purely made of Dominican Seco, the first component of Epoca. After lighting and comparing notes on flavor, aroma, and palate impact, we moved onto the second leaf, Dominican Ligero, and after that Nicaraguan Ligero.   The seco cigar offered light, bready notes with some nuts and a musty aroma. The Dominican ligero (my personal favorite), offered similarly musty notes but with richer notes of spice and leather. The Nicaraguan ligero offered much bigger, richer notes, with a lot more of a kick and pepper notes.

All three samples were enjoyable in their own right, but Michael illustrated the difficulty of blending cigars by asking the guests to smoke the first two cigars, then second and third, and finally the first and third at the same time. Each combination was putrid and awful. Then Herklots asked us to smoke all three cigars at once, and that’s where the magic happened: a brief glimpse into the Epoca color palate.  The cigars combined to create an experience of flavor and balance reminiscent of Epoca.

Nat Sherman Epoca
The Final Product

Throughout the tasting, Michael did an incredible job describing the intricacies of cigar construction, tasting, and blending. More than that, he did it with a New York charm that warmed the room up and invited guests to stay and smoke after the tasting concluded.

And so the evening was illustrative of the kind of Nat Sherman that Michael Herklots seeks to build: on one hand, an establishment that carries on the traditional feel and overall aesthetic of Nat Sherman. On the other, a fierce commitment to pushing the bounds of the traditional Nat Sherman flavor profile, creating new blends and experiences for the 21st century that are all at once old and new.

Nat Sherman Re-Launches Pipe Tobacco in Tins

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NAT SHERMAN INTERNATIONAL RE-LAUNCHES PIPE TOBACCOS IN TINS

NEW YORK, NY (March 3, 2014) – Nat Sherman, Tobacconist to the World since 1930, announces the re-release of their premium pipe tobaccos in tins. An industry and consumer favorite, the popular pipe tobaccos – Tabac Sherman – will now be available at authorized NatSherman retailers throughout the United States. Not since 2007 has the product been available outside the flagship Nat Sherman Townhouse in New York City.

Nat Sherman has released three signature tins, curating a collection that will inspire new pipe enthusiasts, while still satisfying veteran tastes.

  • Tabac Sherman No. 314 – a light golden Cavendish with a hint of traditional overtones.
  • Tabac Sherman No. 509 – a mild aromatic toasted Cavendish with a delightful velvety smooth flavor.
  • Tabac Sherman No. 536 – a quintessential British blend of exotic Turkish Latakia and Oriental tobaccos with a spicy, musky aroma and taste.

“There has been tremendous growth in the premium pipe category over the past few years,” said Nat Sherman Executive Vice President, LarrySherman. “At our Flagship Townhouse in New York City, we’ve seen overall pipe business nearly double since 2011. With this re-launch, we are thrilled to provide Tabac Sherman products to our fans across the country.”

Tabac Sherman comes in traditional “true two ounce” tins. Each has a suggested retail price of $12.95 per tin. Tins are available individually, and in sleeves of five, wherever premium pipe tobacco is sold.

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About Nat Sherman

Founded by Nat Sherman in 1930 and family-guided for three generations, Nat Sherman continues to define the authentic tobacco experience. Through a tradition of innovation and expertly crafted products, Nat Sherman’s timeless appeal, while quintessentially New York is embraced and enjoyed worldwide. Learn more at www.natsherman.com.

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