1-13-2015
Tierra Volcán Classico (5.5 x 50)
Wrapper: Sungrown Habano Jalapa, Nicaraguan
Binder: Criollo Condega Nicaraguan
Filler: Jalapa Nicaraguan and Condega Nicaragua
Blender: Claudio Sgroi
Tierra Volcán is a brand that many of the US based readers have probably never heard of. This is unsurprising, because until recently, the cigars were only able to be found in Canada, China and Italy. They are now seen in the US due to a deal with RomaCraft Tobacco for their distribution.
Tierra Volcán is made by Mombacho Cigars in Granada, Nicaragua. Granada is not the usual location for a boutique cigar brand. It is said that the climate is both too hot and too humid to produce quality cigars. Thanks to some serious attention to detail, and some climate control, this obstacle is overcome. They now strive to produce the “world’s most memorable boutique cigar, ” using a combination of tradition and technology. All cigars are made 100% by hand.
The parent company, Mombacho, takes its name from the Volcano near Granada. The name Mombacho means “Mother of our Lands” and “Tierra Volcán” ranslates to “volcano land,” paying homage to the town where their factory is located.
The Tierra Volcán is a good looking cigar with a chocolate brown wrapper and a few pronounced veins. The wrapper seems more delicate than many other sungrown wrappers, though the color feels right. The cap is even all around and looks solidly constructed. The two bands fou nd on the cigar are the same color scheme of just a deep rich yellow and brown; the brown being only slightly darker than the wrapper. The standard band displays the brand and the foot reads the name of the vitola, in this case, Classico. The foot, though bearing a footband, is unfinished and then folded over, closing it off.
The cigar feels very firm in the hand and it has some heft to it. The wrapper’s surface is silky but bumpy due to the veins. Each of the bands are extremely difficult to get off, but fortunately they are not glued to to wrapper. The foot band in particular is a struggle, and it needs to come off before the light. With great care, and some surprise, it is finally removed with no damage to the wrapper. The pre-light smell is much lighter than expected with only mild earth notes. A lick on the cap is initially sour but that quickly fades to a deep mineral/earth note that leans to calcium. After a clip of the cap there is a firm draw that, again, has earth notes, but it also has a sweeter licorice impression.
Light with a soft flame.
The closed foot makes the light slightly more difficult but only because it is difficult to see if the filler is lit evenly.
the initial impressions are a deep rich earth with round woody notes. There is zero spice at any point on the palate, but it does show up through the nose. The retrohale also includes a bit of a vegetable note. All the flavors seem to be on the “low end” of the spectrum. It is also fairly sweet. The texture is a fairly classic Nicaraguan texture with a light pulpy feel.
As Tierra Volcán settles in, a more wood impression develops. The vegetable like sweetness is heavy. All of the flavors are deep. Without the light spice on the retrohale, this cigar would feel a bit flat, or lacking. The spice is the perfect balancing point.
The middle third is smoother than the initial third, probably due to a bit too much flame at the light. A nice cedar aftertaste has developed. It is quite pronounced and leans a bit to the citrus side. The earthy undertones and general wood notes define the main flavors. These flavors fade to the previously mentioned finish. The retrohale keeps the complexity going with the added spice. The complexity of each puff and total lack of harshness sets it apart from many other Nicaraguans. This finish is long, but at the mid point does not seem oppressive.
The final third starts pretty much the same as the rest of the cigar has been. The only notable difference is that there is more of the Nicaraguan pulpy texture showing up just as the flavors transition into the finish. The cedar flavors start to wind down as the middle third progresses but never really dies. There have been zero burn issues; no relights, no touch ups, no problems and the burn is cool and slow. The cigar ends on the full side of medium.
if you like my reviews please see my blog. If you want to see what im up to between reviews and get micro reviews of cigars and beer then follow me on twitter (@KuzisCigar) or Facebook
the best part really is that it isnt just anothger nicaraguan clone. yes there are nicaraguan elements to it but Tierra Volcán has its own personality.
the best part really is that it isnt just anothger nicaraguan clone. yes there are nicaraguan elements to it but Tierra Volcán has its own personality.
That's the vibe I got. Little spice and smooth Nicaraguan sounds like it's worth a try. The vegetal sweetness you mention is one of my favorite notes to find in a cigar.
1/26/2015
Caldwell Selección Junior Varsity Murcias Corona (5.75 x 41)
Wrapper: San Andres Mexico
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed Dominican
Blenders: Henderson and William Ventura, Robert Caldwell
Robert Caldwell is back. Formerly from Wynwood cigars, Caldwell is now Making cigars under his own name in the Dominican Republic at Tabacalera Ventura. This re-entry into the cigar world is not marked by a single line of cigars to test the water. This return is marked by Two lines of cigars each consisting of three blends. Apparently, its "go big or go home" at Caldwell cigars.
The Premium line is known as the Caldwell Collection. The budget line is called Selección Junior Varsity. The latter has goals of being a bit less expensive and maybe not as refines while still encompassing the quality and spirit of their premium line. Each of the JV blends has a name inspired by Spain. The Murcias is named for a city in Southeastern Spain.
The Murcia was originally designed and created as factory blend for Tabacalera Ventura. It is now released to the public wherever Caldwell Cigars are found at a price that is easy on the wallet.
The Murcias looks a little rough. The wrapper has a mildly wrinkled look and feel to it. The heavy tooth does not help the tactile impression. The Color is a rich brown, but it is not exceedingly dark. It has a pigtail cap that looks as if it has been smashed flat while in the box. The band is black and gold and red, featuring two crossed cannons both firing.
There is a slight give to this cigar but it it is not seem soft enough to be an issue. The lick on the cap is oily with a light spice. A clip with a double guillotine is quick and easy. The draw that is revealed is licorice ans spice. The draws is on the firm side, a bit too firm actually.
Light with a soft flame
the first few puffs are rich earth with a bit of a cedar undertone. The retrohale is almost all of the cedar comes through. The finish is a cedar note as well but its much flatter and lingers on a bit longer than expected.
As the cigar settles in, a bit of a mesquite flavor comes out. It is very mild but it seems to work well with the earth notes. The finish does continue to linger an exceptionally long time with a bit of spice working its way in.
the middle third does not seem to have much more development. The flavors just seem a little sweeter than the first third and maybe hint at citrus. The touch of spice late in the finish is still there and it seems that it is picking up a texture, meaning that if the spice picks up more it may become harsh. Beyond that the cigar is enjoyable, relatively not complex, but enjoyable.
The final third is similar, but the elements that edge it to a touch of harsh are increasing. The burn has been decent the entire way. No touch up lights are needed but the burn is hardly perfect. The good news is that when the burn strays, even greatly, it tends to correct itself.
if you like my reviews please see my blog. If you want to see what im up to between reviews and get micro reviews of cigars and beer then follow me on twitter (@KuzisCigar) or Facebook
3-15-2015 been in humidor since 12-18-14
Nat Sherman Timeless Collection Nicaragua #452 (4 x 52)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Blender: Plasencia, Herklots
The Nat Sherman Brand has two distinct blends in the Timeless Collection. One is a multi-country blend constructed in the Dominican Republic (at the MATASA factory) that took the number 10 spot for CA's best 25 of the year. This is that cigars partner in crime. Made at the Plasencia Factory, this Nicaraguan puro debuted in 2012. The blend is supposed to retain the feel of the original Timeless Collection but take on qualities that both market trends and research show people want, namely a Nicaraguan profile. The bands of this cigar and the MATASA version are the same and one must rely on wrapper leaf color to determine what blend the cigar is.
The concept of this blend started well over a year before their initial offering, during the 2011 IPCPR. The story goes that brand owner Michael Herklots was handing out cigars at the 2011 IPCPR with little cards so people would beable to give notes on what they thought of the blends. The concept of a Nicaraguan Timeless were always a part of the plan, but the focus was to get the Dominican version out first.
The Nicaraguan timeless has a dark brown wrapper with veins that have been smoothed into submission. They seem to shine in the light more than the rest of the wrapper. There is a decent press to this cigar. It seems to be done more in the style of a traditional press that creates soft corners rather than a heavy press creating sharp edges. The cream and gold band is designed to look like a watch with the hands pointing up to twelve, but instead of numbers around the dial, there are the words Nat Sherman. It is a very simple, yet good looking band.
the wrapper has a slightly fuzzy feel to it, but somehow maintains an oily quality. There is a light earth smell to this cigar that does not really throw out many dominant notes. It is over all lighter than expected given that this is a dark colored Nicaraguan puro. The lick on the cap has somewhat of a citrus note to it with the slightest hint of spice if held too long. Clip with a double guillotine. The cold draw is full of various chocolate notes that lean slightly to the dark chocolate side. The resistance on the draw is very good, leaning to the firm side.
light with a soft flame.
The first draw once lit has more spice than expected given the relatively mild cold draw. Beyond that, the opening flavors are a slight coffee, a decent chocolate, and the classic Nicaraguan woody spice. The Nicaraguan woody spice seems to be the dominant flavor early on. As the cigar settles in and evens out from the light, a slightly rounder earthy note comes into play. The other flavors are there still as well but they all seem to stem from the umami middle. The spice levels off and maintains. Its a nice level of spice if you enjoy spicy cigars, and if you dont then it is not enough to get in your way. The retrohale brings more spice with a slight burn, and a wood undertone.
The middle third brings more smokey chocolate to the table. The spice has declined to more of a pulpy feel than a flavor. Some peppercorn flavors accompany that pulpy feel. The cigar has smoothed out and homogenized to the point where flavors melt together but are not lost. None of the flavors have been a “wow” moment but all of them are solid and make sense. This cigar is a very good example of a Nicaraguan Puro.
The final third amps up the Classic nicaraguan flavors but there is a little surprise in the form of a light sweetness. This sweetness is shot and mild and only on the initial moment the smoke reaches the palate, but it adds a level of complexity that the cigar was lacking through the rest of the journey. The smoke warms ever so slightly as the end nears.
if you like my reviews please see my blog. If you want to see what im up to between reviews and get micro reviews of cigars and beer then follow me on twitter (@KuzisCigar) or Facebook
Nice to see that the hiatus has ended, Kuzi. Good review. I had the pleasure of smoking the Nat Sherman Timeless Nicaraguan (thanks again, Jsherman). I'm eager to try the Dominican version as well.
Comments
Tierra Volcán Classico (5.5 x 50)
Wrapper: Sungrown Habano Jalapa, Nicaraguan
Binder: Criollo Condega Nicaraguan
Filler: Jalapa Nicaraguan and Condega Nicaragua
Blender: Claudio Sgroi
Tierra Volcán is a brand that many of the US based readers have probably never heard of. This is unsurprising, because until recently, the cigars were only able to be found in Canada, China and Italy. They are now seen in the US due to a deal with RomaCraft Tobacco for their distribution.
Tierra Volcán is made by Mombacho Cigars in Granada, Nicaragua. Granada is not the usual location for a boutique cigar brand. It is said that the climate is both too hot and too humid to produce quality cigars. Thanks to some serious attention to detail, and some climate control, this obstacle is overcome. They now strive to produce the “world’s most memorable boutique cigar, ” using a combination of tradition and technology. All cigars are made 100% by hand.
The parent company, Mombacho, takes its name from the Volcano near Granada. The name Mombacho means “Mother of our Lands” and “Tierra Volcán” ranslates to “volcano land,” paying homage to the town where their factory is located.
The Tierra Volcán is a good looking cigar with a chocolate brown wrapper and a few pronounced veins. The wrapper seems more delicate than many other sungrown wrappers, though the color feels right. The cap is even all around and looks solidly constructed. The two bands fou nd on the cigar are the same color scheme of just a deep rich yellow and brown; the brown being only slightly darker than the wrapper. The standard band displays the brand and the foot reads the name of the vitola, in this case, Classico. The foot, though bearing a footband, is unfinished and then folded over, closing it off.
The cigar feels very firm in the hand and it has some heft to it. The wrapper’s surface is silky but bumpy due to the veins. Each of the bands are extremely difficult to get off, but fortunately they are not glued to to wrapper. The foot band in particular is a struggle, and it needs to come off before the light. With great care, and some surprise, it is finally removed with no damage to the wrapper. The pre-light smell is much lighter than expected with only mild earth notes. A lick on the cap is initially sour but that quickly fades to a deep mineral/earth note that leans to calcium. After a clip of the cap there is a firm draw that, again, has earth notes, but it also has a sweeter licorice impression.
Light with a soft flame.
The closed foot makes the light slightly more difficult but only because it is difficult to see if the filler is lit evenly.
the initial impressions are a deep rich earth with round woody notes. There is zero spice at any point on the palate, but it does show up through the nose. The retrohale also includes a bit of a vegetable note. All the flavors seem to be on the “low end” of the spectrum. It is also fairly sweet. The texture is a fairly classic Nicaraguan texture with a light pulpy feel.
As Tierra Volcán settles in, a more wood impression develops. The vegetable like sweetness is heavy. All of the flavors are deep. Without the light spice on the retrohale, this cigar would feel a bit flat, or lacking. The spice is the perfect balancing point.
The middle third is smoother than the initial third, probably due to a bit too much flame at the light. A nice cedar aftertaste has developed. It is quite pronounced and leans a bit to the citrus side. The earthy undertones and general wood notes define the main flavors. These flavors fade to the previously mentioned finish. The retrohale keeps the complexity going with the added spice. The complexity of each puff and total lack of harshness sets it apart from many other Nicaraguans. This finish is long, but at the mid point does not seem oppressive.
The final third starts pretty much the same as the rest of the cigar has been. The only notable difference is that there is more of the Nicaraguan pulpy texture showing up just as the flavors transition into the finish. The cedar flavors start to wind down as the middle third progresses but never really dies. There have been zero burn issues; no relights, no touch ups, no problems and the burn is cool and slow. The cigar ends on the full side of medium.
Burn to the nub
Burn time: 2 hours 5 min
Burn: 10
Draw: 8
Taste: 9
Aftertaste: 10
Construction: 10
Balance: 10
Feel: 9
Overall: 9.4
if you like my reviews please see my blog. If you want to see what im up to between reviews and get micro reviews of cigars and beer then follow me on twitter (@KuzisCigar) or Facebook
Caldwell Selección Junior Varsity Murcias Corona (5.75 x 41)
Wrapper: San Andres Mexico
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed Dominican
Blenders: Henderson and William Ventura, Robert Caldwell
Robert Caldwell is back. Formerly from Wynwood cigars, Caldwell is now Making cigars under his own name in the Dominican Republic at Tabacalera Ventura. This re-entry into the cigar world is not marked by a single line of cigars to test the water. This return is marked by Two lines of cigars each consisting of three blends. Apparently, its "go big or go home" at Caldwell cigars.
The Premium line is known as the Caldwell Collection. The budget line is called Selección Junior Varsity. The latter has goals of being a bit less expensive and maybe not as refines while still encompassing the quality and spirit of their premium line. Each of the JV blends has a name inspired by Spain. The Murcias is named for a city in Southeastern Spain.
The Murcia was originally designed and created as factory blend for Tabacalera Ventura. It is now released to the public wherever Caldwell Cigars are found at a price that is easy on the wallet.
The Murcias looks a little rough. The wrapper has a mildly wrinkled look and feel to it. The heavy tooth does not help the tactile impression. The Color is a rich brown, but it is not exceedingly dark. It has a pigtail cap that looks as if it has been smashed flat while in the box. The band is black and gold and red, featuring two crossed cannons both firing.
There is a slight give to this cigar but it it is not seem soft enough to be an issue. The lick on the cap is oily with a light spice. A clip with a double guillotine is quick and easy. The draw that is revealed is licorice ans spice. The draws is on the firm side, a bit too firm actually.
Light with a soft flame
the first few puffs are rich earth with a bit of a cedar undertone. The retrohale is almost all of the cedar comes through. The finish is a cedar note as well but its much flatter and lingers on a bit longer than expected.
As the cigar settles in, a bit of a mesquite flavor comes out. It is very mild but it seems to work well with the earth notes. The finish does continue to linger an exceptionally long time with a bit of spice working its way in.
the middle third does not seem to have much more development. The flavors just seem a little sweeter than the first third and maybe hint at citrus. The touch of spice late in the finish is still there and it seems that it is picking up a texture, meaning that if the spice picks up more it may become harsh. Beyond that the cigar is enjoyable, relatively not complex, but enjoyable.
The final third is similar, but the elements that edge it to a touch of harsh are increasing. The burn has been decent the entire way. No touch up lights are needed but the burn is hardly perfect. The good news is that when the burn strays, even greatly, it tends to correct itself.
The cigar ends with the smoke heating up.
Burn to the nub
time: 1 hour 45 min.
Burn: 8
Draw: 8
Taste: 9
Aftertaste: 8
Construction: 8
Balance: 9
Feel: 9
Overall: 8.4
if you like my reviews please see my blog. If you want to see what im up to between reviews and get micro reviews of cigars and beer then follow me on twitter (@KuzisCigar) or Facebook
Nat Sherman Timeless Collection Nicaragua #452 (4 x 52)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Blender: Plasencia, Herklots
The Nat Sherman Brand has two distinct blends in the Timeless Collection. One is a multi-country blend constructed in the Dominican Republic (at the MATASA factory) that took the number 10 spot for CA's best 25 of the year. This is that cigars partner in crime. Made at the Plasencia Factory, this Nicaraguan puro debuted in 2012. The blend is supposed to retain the feel of the original Timeless Collection but take on qualities that both market trends and research show people want, namely a Nicaraguan profile. The bands of this cigar and the MATASA version are the same and one must rely on wrapper leaf color to determine what blend the cigar is.
The concept of this blend started well over a year before their initial offering, during the 2011 IPCPR. The story goes that brand owner Michael Herklots was handing out cigars at the 2011 IPCPR with little cards so people would beable to give notes on what they thought of the blends. The concept of a Nicaraguan Timeless were always a part of the plan, but the focus was to get the Dominican version out first.
The Nicaraguan timeless has a dark brown wrapper with veins that have been smoothed into submission. They seem to shine in the light more than the rest of the wrapper. There is a decent press to this cigar. It seems to be done more in the style of a traditional press that creates soft corners rather than a heavy press creating sharp edges. The cream and gold band is designed to look like a watch with the hands pointing up to twelve, but instead of numbers around the dial, there are the words Nat Sherman. It is a very simple, yet good looking band.
the wrapper has a slightly fuzzy feel to it, but somehow maintains an oily quality. There is a light earth smell to this cigar that does not really throw out many dominant notes. It is over all lighter than expected given that this is a dark colored Nicaraguan puro. The lick on the cap has somewhat of a citrus note to it with the slightest hint of spice if held too long. Clip with a double guillotine. The cold draw is full of various chocolate notes that lean slightly to the dark chocolate side. The resistance on the draw is very good, leaning to the firm side.
light with a soft flame.
The first draw once lit has more spice than expected given the relatively mild cold draw. Beyond that, the opening flavors are a slight coffee, a decent chocolate, and the classic Nicaraguan woody spice. The Nicaraguan woody spice seems to be the dominant flavor early on. As the cigar settles in and evens out from the light, a slightly rounder earthy note comes into play. The other flavors are there still as well but they all seem to stem from the umami middle. The spice levels off and maintains. Its a nice level of spice if you enjoy spicy cigars, and if you dont then it is not enough to get in your way. The retrohale brings more spice with a slight burn, and a wood undertone.
The middle third brings more smokey chocolate to the table. The spice has declined to more of a pulpy feel than a flavor. Some peppercorn flavors accompany that pulpy feel. The cigar has smoothed out and homogenized to the point where flavors melt together but are not lost. None of the flavors have been a “wow” moment but all of them are solid and make sense. This cigar is a very good example of a Nicaraguan Puro.
The final third amps up the Classic nicaraguan flavors but there is a little surprise in the form of a light sweetness. This sweetness is shot and mild and only on the initial moment the smoke reaches the palate, but it adds a level of complexity that the cigar was lacking through the rest of the journey. The smoke warms ever so slightly as the end nears.
Burn to the burn
time 1 hour 35 minutes
Burn: 9
Draw: 9
Taste: 9
Aftertaste: 8
Construction:
Balance: 9
Feel: 8
Overall: 8.7
if you like my reviews please see my blog. If you want to see what im up to between reviews and get micro reviews of cigars and beer then follow me on twitter (@KuzisCigar) or Facebook