Tag Archives: The Bewitched

Mi Querida Black and Muestra de Saka The Bewitched Cigars

At the PCA show I smoked both of these with Steve, but one really can’t get a good sense of a cigar in that environment.  Neither was the first cigar of the day, and both were smoked while chatting.  Of course, both cigar left me intrigued, and wanting to smoke them again under better circumstances.  When Steve sent me the  Liga Privada Pequeńos for the recent giveaway, he included a couple of each for me to sample.  So, a few nights ago I sat down with another Mi Querida Black SakaKhan.  This cigar is 7¼” x 54, which, if I’m not mistaken, is the same size as the classic Excalibur No.1. I could go look it up to verify, but I’m fairly confident. Like the Firecracker spawned the Mi Querida Triqui Traca, this cigar is based off the Dunbarton JR Cigars 50th Anniversary cigar. The SakaKhan moniker is one Steve got in the Navy, ironic in that his middle name is Genghis Khan’s birth name. The cigar has a beautiful Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, San Andrés binder and Nicaraguan, Honduran and Dominican fillers.  I smoked a couple, and had similar experiences.  I’m not sure if it’s the blend, or the size, but I found this milder than I probably should, or at least it takes a while to build.  It was most certainly a Mi Querida, with the great Cocoa/Espresso flavors I love, with some spice. It just seemed a little dialed back, I think I’m more in the camp of the Blue and Red. I actually bought a few more the other night (I went to the Wooden Indian to hang out with Pedro Gomez from Drew Estate, where I smoked an Undercrown Dogma). I’ll smoke them, don’t worry. 

 

I kinda wish I had gotten some more of this cigar instead of (or in addition to) the SakaKhan.  The Muestra de Saka The Bewitched was originally an exclusive for the Owl Shop in Massachusetts.  It’s 6 5/8″ x 48, which is a wonderful size.  It is box pressed with a pigtail.  Like the five Muestra de Sakas before it, it’s presented in a coffin with a yellow ribbon on the foot.  It has a Habano wrapper, San Andrés binder (which is the same leaf that’s used as a wrapper on the Sin Compromiso), and Nicaraguan and USA fillers. US grown fillers, is it PA or Connecticut broadleaf? They grow some tobacco in Massachusetts, perhaps it’s something grown there? So, here’s the thing: I’ve smoked most of the cigars in Dunbarton‘s regular production range, I haven’t smoked any of the shop exclusive stuff, including the Red Meat Lovers Club stuff (Oh yeah, I have some of the Famous 80th cigars, but that’s it). You might think that knowing Steve for 25+ years I would hunt down every cigar he makes, but I don’t chase cigars. This cigar was simply amazing tasting.  It started with a gentle spice which was more apparent on the retrohale.  About an inch in I got some cinnamon, which I’ve tasted hints of a few times in cigars, but this one was quite obvious. This cinnamon, or canela, if you prefer, came and went throughout the smoke, which was a good two hours. Actually, it was a great two hours!) The burn strayed a couple times and I touched it up, but otherwise the experience was perfect. The only thing that would have made it better was if it was 75 degrees instead of 50 (porch temp). At least I’m not in Buffalo.  So, I’m going to grab a few more of these next time I visit the Wooden Indian, they aren’t a cheap date, but well worth it! 

 

That’s all for today, if I don’t get another post out before, Happy Thanksgiving to my USA based readers, smoked some great cigars after your feast, let me know if you want to stop by for one!  Also, in two weeks time I’ll be going to the Cigar Heritage Festival in Tampa, so if you’re there, look for me!  Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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News: Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust Announces Muestra de Saka “The Bewitched” Release

Here’s some news from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust.  The Muestra de Saka line is always interesting, I like to try them when I can get my hands on a few.  US grown fillers is interesting, it’s not defined, but one might guess that it’s tobacco from Massachusetts, based on the Owl Shop’s location? Just a guess. 


Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust® (DTT) is currently taking pre-orders for “The Bewitched”, its newest addition to it much heralded Muestra de Saka line. The deadline for pre-orders is April 8th, 2022.


“Muestra is the humble, common word for “sample” in Spanish, however it takes on much more important, sometimes reverential, meaning when used in a handmade cigar factory. A muestra is the vision of the ligador and torcedor realized, it is the promise of a new experience and possibly the key to financial success for the fabrica. Muestras are hoarded and coveted by not only their makers, but by the cigar smokers who seek to catch a glimpse into the cigarmaker’s soul within their smoke” states Founder and Master Ligador, Steve Saka.


“The Bewitched” is an intoxicating liga of choice Nicaraguan and US Grown fillers with our exclusive Cultivo Tonto San Andreas Negro binder swaddled in a Grade 1 Ecuador Habano Seed capa. Presented in a beautiful 6 5/8 x 50 prensado vitola with a spiral colita, this cigar rewards the smoker with a beguiling smoking experience with notes of cafe, caramel, cedar, and tempered spice. It is truly an entrancing medium-plus bodied smoke, so hard to describe, yet so perfect in balance and nuance, from the moment I finished it I was mesmerized with it,” states Saka.


He continues to share, “Originally this was a liga I created to celebrate the Owl Shop of Worcester’s 75th Anniversary. For those of you who know Zach and his shop, please know we do so with his blessing. In fact, he is the one who said this cigar was too good to not share it with our other accounts, so please thank him on my behalf. I was ecstatic that Zach blessed my crafting more because from the moment I finished this liga I was spellbound by it, so much so I decided we would call the release “The Bewitched” because of how it so captivated my own palate: So intricate, so harmonious, so refined, so difficult to define, yet so difficult to ignore. Everyone I smoked made me want to smoke another.”


“But I wanted to honor the Owl Shop and Zach’s family legacy, so I decided to pay homage by keeping the Owl as the icon since that is where it all began, but here is where the story gets peculiar. It turns out totally unknown to me that there is a superstition among Nicaraguans that Owls are the physical manifestation of witches who cast their spells upon the people in the dark of the night. My understanding is that some consider black owls to be evil witches, while brown owls are regarded as good witches.”


“So I make a cigar I find mesmerizing for the Owl Shop, am encouraged by Zach to make more, decide to call it the “The Bewitched” because of how it makes me feel, then decide to keep the Owl as the icon to pay honor to ultimately learn that in Nicaragua Owls are regarded as witches… wow, that is just too much of a coincidence for even me to ignore. Fate is a fickle thing, but I am wise enough to not fight it. This was a project that simply was meant to be. Now whether it is the spell of a black owl or a brown owl, I don’t care because I love this cigar’s magic!” concludes Saka.

 

Like all Muestra de Saka ligas except the Unicorn they are packed in individual cedar coffins in a 7-ct box and will be $138.25 per box. Current anticipate delivery to Select Purveyors is Summer of 2022.


About Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, LLC


Founded in 2015, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (DTT) has quickly become the premier craft manufacturer of ultra- premium handmade cigars. Founded by cigar and industry expert Steve Saka, a former Executive Consultant to JR Cigar and President and CEO of Drew Estate, with the singular focus to create only “Puros Sin Compromiso” – Cigars Without Compromise. Included within their portfolio are Sobremesa, Mi Querida, Todos Las Dias, Sin Compromiso, StillWell Star, Umbagog and Muestra de Saka. DTT is the only company ever to be named the “Company of the Year” for four consecutive years by Halfwheel. For more information, please visit: www.dunbartoncigars.com.
®Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust and their brands are registered trademarks of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust and/or affiliated companies.

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