Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan, Peruvian
Size: 5.5 x 48 Corona Box Pressed
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $11.00
My cigars received 3 months of naked humidor time.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
A little plugged like the day after the Banana & Cheddar Social at Piggly Wiggly. My PerfecDraw hears me whistle and it comes down the mini fire pole I installed next to the cat’s little box. Cracks me up when it misses.
A corona, a corona gorda, or a robusto? A gordo or a gran toro? What’s in a name.
This little cigar feels good with some weight and provides nice smoke output, nice mouth feel, and…wait, my script fell to the floor. I’ll wing it…uh. Mongo like.
I smoked one the day after receipt. Very chocolaty with hints of something special in the wings. Three months later, the blender is delivering on his promise. Strong dark chocolate, malt galore, creamy cinnamon frosting, perfect amount of black pepper, and green olives. Nice.
If the profile sits here and doesn’t move, it’s all good with me. There is desirable richness in play. Complex notes filter in through my cpap mask. I thought there were no more sawbuck priced cigars out there. Every damn cigar down the pike in 2024 is $15 or more. Add Peru into the equation and figure $25.
The chocolate onslaught is met head on with a sweet tart fruitiness. Wrapper to lips provides almond bark that just kills me. Amazingly, other reviews report the exact same experience. This just doesn’t happen. A very good sign that the intent of the blender was laser focused and successful. Instead of crazy bullshit ruminations ticked off from the flavor wheel, there is purpose and one minded meaning. I tire of describing flavors that most probably are unique to my palate. There is a Padronian aspect to this fusion of bushy leaves. With two and three times the naked humi time that I allowed, this cigar will find deeper talent.
OK. A BJ story…my first job was at the Los Altos Drive In in Long Beach. I worked in the snack bar. I wore a silly apron with the paper hat. One night, the guy that drove around on the white bicycle telling customers to sit up in their cars, called in sick. I stupidly volunteered because I could earn $1.70 an hour instead of $1.65. You always looked for steamed up windows. I tapped the Buick with my flashlight. It was my high school love with a big red haired dufus. I burst into tears. The next day, she phoned and convinced me to go out with her a couple nights later. And I got my first. She thought she was doing it right when she bit me hard. I sported flaming teeth marks for a week. I was very popular in gym class when we had to shower. You just can’t hide something like that.
If it wasn’t for algorithms, I would have access to better music.
The cigar takes its time. Slow roll. This is a great stick for $10. Is it a Padron? Nope. But it wants to be. I look forward to the second half.
The final rating isn’t going to be crazy love. And it sure as hell won’t be in the Twilight Zone range of 85-90. Nor will the score have decimal points attached…that cracks me up. Is 89.73 better than 89.68? It’s just an opinion. Not science.
Jeff Beck and Jean-Luc Ponty came to see us. They even jammed with us during the encore. Afterwards, I threw lead singer Sonja into her bathroom and told her to change so we could get back to the hotel and she could shoot up. I forgot about her. Broke the door down with the help of Beck and the band. She sat there unconscious bleeding from her left arm. I forgot to give Jeff my phone number. Don’t do drugs.
The second half begins. The richness doubles down. But the complexity stays at a respectable distance which is a little confusing. This is an extraordinary chocolate bar. Mostly one minded but it has picked its battle with a leading-edge attack that is super pleasing. Flavors are way out front. Nothing subtle. A very nice change. I have mass quantities of this cigar and I will enjoy them. I smoked one during yesterday’s herf and while it was my second cigar of the day, it was able to quote Thoreau and Emerson without a hitch.
The second half nails it. Worth waiting for. Sips of water enhance palate excoriation.
Construction has been dead nuts perfect. Strong cigar but with zero nicotine.
The profile shits with 2” to go and adds black cherry to the chocolatiness. Very pronounced. Floral kicks in. A bit of honey. With a liqueur aftertaste.
I could go on and on. But this is a very succinct cigar blend that would only find me belaboring the point. A good cigar. A good price. Good for a solid go-to that is a stable presence in anyone’s humidor. Fratello did good.
If you want Padrón 1926 Serie 80 Years Lite, this is the cigar for you. $25 cheaper.
You can purchase the Arlequin from sponsors Small Batch Cigar (10% off with promo code ‘katman’) and Cigar Page.
RATING: 94
June 6, 1944
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS