The
Smoking Gun Cigar Review October 13, 2016
Cigar
King – Cuban Heirloom Connecticut
Churchill
– (7 x 50)
I’m
almost through all of the Cigar King exclusive cigars. I hope you’re
enjoying reading about them and are enjoying smoking them as well.
Here’s one more to add to the list: the Cuban Heirloom Connecticut,
made by Perdomo. I think this is the first Connecticut I’ve reviewed.
It is a mild, yet tasty wrapper. If you’re looking for a great “early
morning, on the patio, with a good newspaper and a cup of coffee”
kind of smoke, this Cigar King example fits the bill!
Here’s
what I found:
A
little history:
The
Cuban Heirloom Connecticut Cigars were created exclusively for Cigar
King by Nick Perdomo, of Perdomo Cigars. These cigars are crafted by
Cuban artisan blenders and rollers to deliver great quality, flavor
and (one thing that’s important to many cigar smokers) LOW COST! They
are made at the Perdomo Factory using three-year-aged tobacco and
finished with a beautiful, honey gold-colored Connecticut wrapper. I
believe the line’s been around since 2003, but I will have to check
some sources to make sure. I do know it’s been a mainstay of Cigar
King for many years and is a favorite of many of their customers.
As
always, I’ll list the questions and give an answer for each—based
on my personal smoking experience:
What
are you smoking?
Cigar
King Cuban Heirloom – Connecticut – Churchill (7 X 50)
Who
makes it?
They
are made exclusively for Cigar King by Perdomo Cigars.
Where’s
it from?
They
are produced at Tabacalera Perdomo’s manufacturing operation based in
Estelí, Nicaragua. The facility is so big that it’s referred to as
“El Monstro” (The Monster). The main building is 88,000
square feet, and is the second-largest cigar production facility in
Nicaragua).
What
other sizes are available?
Along
with the Churchill (7 x 50), there is a 556 (5.25 x 56), Robusto
(4.88 x 50), Toro (5.55 x 54) and Torpedo (6 x 54). These cigars are
also available in four different wrappers (Connecticut, Cameroon, Sun
Grown and Maduro). Not all sizes are available in all wrappers. The
listing above is just for the Connecticut wrapper.
How
much does it cost?
Now,
this is where it gets interesting. These cigars come in Mazo (a
Spanish word meaning “a group of,” or in this case a bundle of)
20 and range in price from $71.95 to $74.95 (with on-line discounts).
That equals less than $4.00 per stick! The individual price of my
sample was $6.95. This brings me to a good point. Don’t be afraid of
buying bundled cigars. Some of them are extremely high quality
smokes. Cigar manufactures often will put premium cigars in bundles
(instead of boxes) to keep the cost lower for the consumer. Ask your
local cigar dealers if they have any good bundled cigars, and they
will lead you to some often overlooked, but great, cigars.
How
well is it constructed?
This
is a very well constructed cigar. But, would you expect anything less
coming out of the Perdomo factory? The wrapper has that lovely honey
brown color you would expect in a Connecticut, with small veins and a
traditional cap. In addition, it has a nostalgic gold band, that
harkens back to the classic pre-embargo Cuban cigars.
What’s
the blend (or, at least, the wrapper)?
As
I said earlier, this cigar is made from vintage tobaccos (aged three
years), with a Connecticut wrapper and a Nicaraguan-grown Criollo
binder and filler.
How
did it light?
The
light was very good. I always like the first draw of a Connecticut
wrapper cigar. They are so light and clean tasting.
How’s
the draw?
Perfect
and even, throughout.
How
does it burn?
It
was incredibly even, like a row of soldiers marching in formation.
Consistency and perfection!
Is
there a predominate flavor/taste?
On
my first nosing of the cigar, I got hints of light leather and spice,
but there was an underlying sweetness. It smelled a little like plum
brandy. (I think it’s called Slivovitz. It’s rich and sweet and will
definitely keep you warm on a cold night).
The
dry draw was exactly the same flavors as I had smelled. But, as I
said before, the first draw was clean and light. I did notice some
citrus notes (like a good IPA), but they weren’t strong, just
present. However, there was no noticeable sweetness. There were light
hay and grassy notes.
Did
it change as you smoked it?
Oh,
yes! That’s one of the great things about a Nicaraguan filler and a
Connecticut wrapper. You really get to experience many changes as you
smoke. The second third was very “Cubanesk” in flavor, with
hints of milder spice and pepper (not black pepper, but more like
white pepper). It was mild, but rich. The finish was much bolder,
with hints of sweet coffee and cedar.
How
would you describe its strength: mild, medium, or strong?
This
is a Connecticut wrapper (but Nicaraguan on the inside), so it’s,
certainly, not mild, but not strong either. I would put it on the
lighter side of medium.
Would
you smoke it again?
Oh,
yes! Even for someone with a preference for stronger cigars, it was a
great smoke. I like lighter cigars in the morning and this one is
going on my breakfast menu.
Should
I try it?
Yes!
If you’re looking for a quality (but less expensive) cigar to fit
into that Connecticut niche, I think you should give it a try. There
are some trendy brands trying out Connecticut wrappers on their
already well-known blends, so we know Connecticuts are becoming more
and more popular. Why spend $10+ when you can smoke a tasty example
for under $4? Now you can- with confidence!
Do
you have an extra that you’ll give me?
Sadly,
no. But, you can find them at Cigar King, in Scottsdale, or order
them online at www.cigarking.com whenever you want. Anyway, why are
you always asking me for cigars?
Conclusion:
If
you’re looking to try a Connecticut wrapped, Nicaraguan made cigar
that is a home-run in quality, taste and cost, look no further. I
think you might have found one of your new favorites. Mitchel Hirsh
and Nick Perdomo have crafted a beautifully balanced and flavorful
cigar that will excite your palate and not empty your cigar buying
fund. Although these are bundled cigars, they are of the “Calidad”
(look it up – I can’t keep telling you what everything means), that
you would expect of Cuban craftsmanship and cigar blending.
The
Cuban Heirloom Connecticut Churchill can be found at Cigar King is
located at 7830 E. Gelding Dr #100, in Scottsdale and can be found
on-line at www.cigarking.com. I’m not sure if the name “Heirloom”
refers to the crop or to something being handed down, but I’ll hand
down this information; “You should try this cigar. You won’t be
sorry.”
Well,
that’s the end of another Smoking Gun review. I hope you’ve enjoyed
the read. Maybe you’re just catching up here and asking, “Why all
the Cigar King exclusive reviews?” Because, 1) I love trying new
cigars; 2) I think Cigar King is the best cigar store in Phoenix,
and; 3) lt’s interesting to taste so many different sticks (that are
made by many different and well-known manufacturers) that have been
produced by the same person.
You
know how most cigars within the same line have similarities in flavor
profile? Well, these Mitchel Hirsh collaborations are all different.
The only similarities are quality, construction and cost. They’re all
worth a try!
If
you have any questions, please feel free to contact me through this
page. I’m always happy to answer questions or tell you about what
I’ve been smoking. Also, if you liked, appreciated or hated my
review, let me know. I want to be a resource for the everyday cigar
smoker. You don’t have to be an expert, you just need an hour or so
to enjoy a good cigar.
And,
remember: don’t let other people tell you what to smoke. If
you like it, smoke it!