CigarCraig's Blog

I’m never one to chase after Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust‘s store exclusives, or rare stuff, but I had a couple things fall into my lap recently, so I figured I’d dedicate a blog post to them.  The first two are thanks to Kevin at CigarProp. I asked him to purchase a couple of the Black Angus for me when he went to the launch event at Corona Cigar in Tampa, not even knowing how damn expensive they are, and he sent me two from his box.  I’m not even sure why this cigar caught my interest, I’m not really a fan of the FSG tobacco, and I certainly don’t seek out $30 cigars, but I was intrigued. Steve Saka doesn’t seem to care for the tobacco, and I needed  to see how he would come up with a Saka-worthy cigar.  This theme will repeat itself, by the way.  So Kevin sent me the cigars, even put them in a box autographed by Steve, which put me into shock until I opened to box and there were just the two cigars in there. I smoked one, and it was good.  You probably want specifics!  This is a 6¼” x 54 with a box press and a pigtail (I believe Saka calls this a “colita”) cap.  In addition to the Florida Sun Grown Corojo ’99 tobacco, it has a Ecuador Habano Viso Rosado wrapper, San Andrés binder (the “Cultivo Tonto” tobacco used for the wrapper of the Sin Compromiso) and a Nicaragua “Angelica” Criollo filler.  I took notes, and said that it started out with a twang, and this was before I read the description mentioning “twang” so it really is there.  It’s a meaty cigar, savory, delicious with that twang, maybe it’s the Black Angus branding that made me think of meat?  It’s good, I’m really fortunate to have been able to try this, because dropping that kind of coin on a cigar isn’t something I’d do. It’s a special occasion cigar, for sure. I’d wager Kevin really enjoys this as he’s an FSG fan.

Another cigar that I wouldn’t have had a chance to sample were it not for Kevin’s generosity was the Candela lancero out of the #GFY (Good For You, so Saka claims, be we know what it really means!) sampler.  I tossed around the idea of buying a box, but the thought of smoking ten lanceros that were all different, none of which were regular production and may never see the light of day again didn’t appeal to me.  Apparently someone sent Kevin a couple knowing he likes Candela and he shared one with me. This is another leaf that Saka doesn’t like, in a format he doesn’t like. I maintain that I was the one who put the candela lancero idea in his head, evidenced by this audio snippet:

He seemed to poopoo the idea he’d ever make one, then back peddle a little.  Anyway, this is a traditional 7″ x 38 lancero with the pigtail cap. This was a nice smoke, not at all mild (think RomaCraft Fomorian),  with the grassy tartness one gets from a good candela wrapper.  I had to relight a few times, but I was probably smoking it too slow, as I’m careful not to overheat lanceros by smoking too fast.  I’m sure the other nine cigars in the sampler are excellent, Steve doesn’t put crap out with his name on it.  This was special to me since I claim responsibility!  Thanks again Kevin! 

My final cigar in this week’s tribute to Dunbarton was the Stillwell Star Aromatic No. 22. This was included in a media package last month.  The Stillwell series is unique in that id incorporates pipe tobacco in the blends. We drove to South Carolina for the release event at Low Country Cigar and Pipe where I picked up a sampler of the originals.  I didn’t smoke any there because I wanted to get the right experience, not in a room full of other people smoking.  “Room Note” is an important part of the Stillwell experience, in my opinion.  Now, I don’t smoke a pipe, too much fidgeting for me, but I have, and I have pretty detailed memories of my first dentist smoking a pipe.  He was a one man show, he’d put his pipe on his desk, do whatever he had to do in your mouth, then light it up afterwards while he wrote up the bill (there was a cash price and an insurance price).  I think I went to him from the time I had teeth until I was in my 20s.  So this Aromatic No. 22 is a 6″ x 52 parejo, with a  Ecuadorian habano wrapper, Mexican San Andrés negro binder with a filler blend that includes Cavendish burley and Virginia pipe tobaccos. This was originally the Holiday 2022, just rebanded with the blue Stilwell dress.  I can’t say that I fully appreciate the pipe tobacco blends, but it’s an enjoyable cigar. It has the “pipey” flavors that my pedestrian palate can identify, and the room note is distinctly “pipey”. I almost wish this had the sweet cap, like the Aromatic No 1.  There’s a little bit of a drying sensation I get. I enjoyed this while watching hockey on the porch, hard to go wrong there.  Burn and draw were exceptional, and this is a nice change of pace.  I still have a set o the original four blends, I suspect I’ll have to resample them one of these days. 

That’s all for today. I thought about smoking a Mi Querida PataPerro, but it was a little too cold last night for a 3 hour cigar! I’ll save those for warm weather.  That’s all for today, until the next time, 

CigarCraig