Wrapper: Dominican (Cotuí)
Binder: Dominican Monte Plata Kelner Farm
Filler: Dominican San Vicente, Dominican Monte Plata Kelner Farm, Nicaraguan Condega, Dominican Corojo
Size: 6 x 51 Toro
Strength: Medium
Price: $15.00
My cigars received 4 months of naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
From Smoking Jacket Cigars:
“Hendrik set out to make a splash with his inaugural line, and the Favoritos was his launching pad. The vitola uses a Dominican Cotuí wrapper, a leaf Kelner describes as a “family reserve tobacco” that is being grown by his sister, Monika Kelner, at her family farm and for use exclusively at Kelner’s factory.
“The filler is 60% Dominican, 20% Nicaraguan, and 20% USA Broad Leaf. The wrapper is 9-year-old Dominican Cotuí. The binder is Bonao, which adds a little spice. This is a medium body smoke, very balanced with pleasant sweet notes.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
The draw could be better. I will throw it away and grab another stick. I feel a burning sting on my cheek. My PerfecDraw stands 6 feet tall. It’s lips purse and a roar comes out: “Son, don’t be a fool. Stick my pointy end, with the barbs, into your cigar…wiggle it around some…and yank it out. Same method you used in college in 1968.” I do as Dr. PD instructs…and the draw is now bonzo perfect!
Jeremy Casdagli and the Kelner family have played nicely together for years. This blend feels like an extension of the Casdagli line.
Henkie is Hendrik Kelner’s nickname. Could be worse…katman.
A slightly sweet smelling and floral wrapper. Devoid of barnyard.
A heavy cigar.
Nice start. Sweet. With rich background notes. Lots of fattitude. I have smoked several. All good. But the first cigar of the day is pure cocaine.
I saw my neurologist as a 16 month follow up to having mild strokes early last year. He told me to stop smoking cigars. And then seem miffed that he could not find a single thing wrong with my bloodwork, lungs, brain, or blood pressure. He told me to lose weight. I said sure. I’ll get right on that. Old guys have only two body shapes…either skinny as rails or possess the old man gut. That’s it. Only two. We don’t get to choose. When the doc can pry the cigars from my cold dead hands, that’s when I’ll quit.
Strength begins at medium. Easy as she goes. My palate is changing. This last year, I’ve found I like the less brazen blends. I steer towards much more sophisticated smokes. Thankfully, the entire cigar world is hopping on the Casdagli Eurostar of blending techniques and is producing some fine blends. Lucky us. The Nic puro bandwagon is seeing end of days as a sustainable blending method.
I like the bright end of the spiciness. Mostly red pepper as it rests on the tip of my tongue with a citric acid flare. Creaminess, lemon peel twang, peppery, caramel, pistachio nuts, boutique coffee, tiny bit of brown sugar, and some green tea. OK. So, the flavors aren’t exotic. But the extensive aging of the tobacco is apparent. Nothing replaces time in the can. Super rich. Complexity kicks in at 1” burned. Spread out.
If I squinched my eyes, this could be a Casdagli or a Byron or a Davidoff or a Lampert. All good examples of blenders with passion in their hearts. Rocky, Gurkha, CAO, and Macanudo don’t have passion. It’s about net sales.
Today, all us bloggers got our expected shipment of review cigars from General Cigar: CAO Fasa ($7.00), Cohiba Riviera Lancero ($15.00), Macanudo Emissary ($16.00), and Sancho Panza Extra Chido ($10). Expect to see a lot of reviews in the next week or two. Not from me. Others. These are regular production cigars…to review them fairly, they are going to need a lot of humidor time. A lot.
I tend not to review on the weekend to give my palate a chance to catch up. There is forethought of foreskin as to the reason I’m reviewing this fine Smoking Jacket on a Saturday morning ‘playin’ solitaire ’til dawn with a deck of 51. Smokin’ cigarettes and watchin’ Captain Kangaroo…Now don’t tell me, I’ve nothin’ to do.’
Liqueur would be a very nice accompaniment to this cigar. Smoking Jacket suggests “Pair with an aged scotch or cream soda.” I like it.
There are so many cigars in the wild in this price neighborhood. What do we choose? Which cigar is worth $75 for a five pack? Do we really need enough cigars for five lifetimes? Yes. We do.
This is a serious cigar blend.
Back in the day, our cars had bench seats. Would the chick sit next to me? Or would she choose to sit next to the window? These were the things that caused anxiety.
Flavors are locked in during the first inch of consumption. Therefore, making this cigar a bit linear. But the second half sees that needed surge. Sweet spot aplenty. I think the pink ones are better.
The second half makes up for a linear first half. Now we’re talking.
How do you describe a lovely experience.
The strength maintains medium throughout. Nice. No sudden jerks. Not a lick of nicotine. Perfect for sophisticates and newbies alike.
There is a Mini Henkie sized at 4 x 46 going for $8. It is a slightly different blend: Binder: Dominican Cotuí. Filler: Dominican San Vicente, Dominican Criollo 98, and Ecuadorian HVC. Wrapper: Dominican Yamasa. Worth looking into for that quick break.
There is also a very interesting blend called Smoking Jacket Limited Edition II Gran Toro that goes for $20. Binder: Nicaraguan Estelï. Filler: Dominican Monte Plata Kelner farm, Dominican Piloto, USA Broadleaf, and Dominican HVA. Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo. I ordered a four pack as I do love everything Kelner.
You can purchase Smoking Jacket blends from sponsors Small Batch Cigar (10% off with promo code ‘katman’) and Luxury Cigar Club (15% off with promo code ‘katman’).
RATING: 94 Go for it…let ‘em sleep. Don’t rush them.
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS