These cigars are winners!
“Life is short, eat dessert first!” This famous quote has unknown origins, but its meaning is certain: let’s enjoy life while we can. And part of enjoying life is through the ritual known as celebration. Society celebrates in many ways; we take days off from work for holidays, families celebrate birthdays, and anniversaries honor events from our past. A celebration gives us a break from the daily grind, and reminds us that life is good. It’s also an excuse to do something special, something out of the ordinary. In the cigar world, manufacturers celebrate anniversaries by creating special blends. These anniversary blends are usually made from extra fine tobaccos, and tend to be outstanding cigars. By smoking these cigars, we celebrate along with the cigar maker. We may also choose to save such cigars for our own special occasions. They can sometimes be expensive cigars, not conducive for everyday smoking, and are usually limited in quantity. Recently, two commemorative cigars have hit the market, and both are worth mentioning…the San Lotano Pigskin Supers Smoke and the Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco. And best of all, they are priced so everyone can join in the celebration.
The Cuatro Cinco wrapper feels like suede.
The Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco.
Joya de Nicaragua is the oldest cigar manufacturer in Nicaragua, and has made some terrific blends (Antaño is a stand out). So when I read about a limited production run (4,500 boxes) to commemorate their 45th anniversary, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a box. When the Cuatro Cinco arrived I was excited to see how beautiful the presentation was, and how delicious the cigars smelled. With large double bands, bold graphics, and a sturdy box, these cigars nicely represent a proud cigar-making legacy. The 6×54 sticks are box pressed into a single row of ten, bound together by a silk ribbon. The pre-lit taste has strong raisin and cola tones, coupled with a hefty dose of black pepper. The whole package is mouth-watering.
Smoking the Cuatro Cinco is a cigar smoker’s dream. With an easy draw, dead-on burn, and a wrapper that feels like suede, it delivers copious amounts of rich tobacco goodness. Being box pressed, the sticks are a bit under filled, but the cigars are well constructed and the ash is tight with a good grip. The Cuatro Cinco is a great cigar with tons of creamy richness. With tones of molasses, nuts, and dried fruit, the Cuatro Cinco has nice complexity. It’s a medium strength cigar, and can be smoked in its entirety at one sitting. I love that this cigar has all the flavor of a Nic puro, but without the overpowering nicotine hit. I’m on my second box.
Football like shape of the Pigskin Super Smoke.
The San Lotano Oval Pigskin Super Smoke.
AJ Fernandez is no stranger to cigar aficionados. Among the many great brands he makes (La Herencia, Man 0’ War, Diesel, 5 Vegas, to name a few), his San Lotano line may be his tour de force. And his newest addition to this line is a limited edition (500 boxes) to coincide with the Super Bowl. But what makes the Pigskin Super Smoke unique is its football like shape. It’s a figurado with exaggerated dimensions…extra narrow at the ends, and very fat in the middle. Of course it’s got that tremendous richness for which AJ is know, but what makes this stick really special is how much the taste evolves as you smoke through the blend. It starts out spicy but mellow, and as you approach the fat middle, the flavor turns to dark chocolate and burnt almonds. It’s a profound difference, making this cigar not only unique in shape, but also unique in taste. Most impressive is its construction. This cannot be an easy cigar to roll, and the cap is tight and spun like a turban. Although the burn needs some touching up, the extra work is well worth the effort. Its draw is easy, the Ecuadorian Habano 2000 wrapper is sumptuous and herbal, and the blend contains enough ligero to give it a nice kick. AJ has created a cigar that is fun to smoke, and one that can cut through all the beer and hot wings of any Super Bowl party. The Pigskin Super Smoke takes it into the end zone and makes the extra point.
Commemorative cigars can add good variety to a cigar collection, and these new entries are true standouts. The one drawback is that they only come ten to a box. But that’s a simple problem to overcome…buy two boxes of each!
The specs:
Joya de Nicaragua, Cuatro Cinco
Vitola: Toro (6×54) box pressed.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo.
Binder: Nicaraguan.
Filler: Nicaraguan.
Flavors: Raisin, cola, black pepper.
Manufacturer: Joya de Nicaragua.
Blender: Dr. Alejandro Martinez Cuenca.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua.
X Factor: 9.5
Finish: Short and sweet.
Strength: Medium.
Price: $11.50
San Lotano Oval Pigskin Super Smoke
Vitola: Figurado (6×60).
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano 2000.
Binder: Nicaraguan.
Filler: Nicaraguan/Honduran.
Flavors: Dark chocolate, toasted almonds.
Manufacturer: Tabacalera Fernandez.
Blender: AJ Fernandez.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua.
X Factor: 9.0
Finish: Pleasant.
Strength: Medium.
Price: $8.00
