Not the Usual Fare

[Herf N Turf]

Bums,

I apologize in advance, since this is not my usual review, nor is it to be considered usual fare for a review on our site, but I just have to share this cigar with you.

The subject is a Caesar Habano Torpedo. The presentation is absolutely beautiful and reminds one of an Opus X, complete with cedar sleeve and elaborate band. I am generally not a fan of Habano-wrapped cigars, but this is an exception that precludes the rule. It's not to say that Habano is naturally a bad wrapper, it's just that, in my experience, it's rare when a blender gets the other components together in the precise balance in order to accentuate what a Habano wrapper can do.

Habano is a rather strange bird. It has a lot of diverse flavors, but is easily screwed up by binder and filler selection, which can tend to mute it, or otherwise render it annoying. For example, there's a good amount of spice to a good Habano wrapper, but if you use a lot of ligero, you'll dumb it down and end up with something rather acrid and unpleasant. There's also a lot of nutty flavor to it, but it's easily lost in translation, if the filler is overly heavy.

In the case of this Caesar example, they've truly nailed the perfect compromise in order to accentuate the nuance of this leaf. The flavors are full and present, creating an extraordinary Habano finish, which is rare, in my experience. The quality of the leaf used in this Dominican Habano is impeccable and explodes with pronounced notes of walnut and almond. It's been blended in such a way as to allow the "truth" of fine Habano to step forward, yet check some of it's less-pleasant attributes.

The cigar initially presents as a bit visually "flat", but the moment you gather a little heat into it, the wrapper comes alive. Almost immediately, the oils start to migrate to the surface of the wrapper and start to deliver an incredible thickness and joyful body that bathes the palate in a cascade of flavors, which evolve into increasing interest and pleasure.

If you're looking for candy store sweetness, or some other confectionary experience, this isn't for you. However, if you really want to know what Habano can do when rendered in perfect blending excellence, this is one you have to investigate.

So, give the Caesar Habano a shot. You won't be disappointed.

[Jordan23]

Thanks for the nuanced explanation about Habano wrappers.

The cigar sound great. I'll have to see if I can hunt down a 5 pack to sample them.

[Herf N Turf]

Thanks, Troy. If I were going to spend money on these on the back of the brand, I'd go for the maduro, but for the education in Habano, I think these are very good.

[Jordan23]

Maduros are my favorite wrapper type, so that's good to hear.

People like you are what makes this place great. What I mean is you have the experience to know what a habano or sumatra SHOULD ideally taste like. I have no idea, I just know if I like something.

So it's great to learn.