Two More Providencia Cigars: Mixtape and G 5:22-23

Today starts my least favorite time of the year, Standard Time. I am not a fan of the winter months, and early darkness. I have gotten the back porch winterized, so that’s something, although I haven’t gotten my propane heaters working yet. They seem to be clogged on some way that I cannot seem to fix. It might be time to consider replacement. Are those kerosene heaters that were all the rage in the 70s still a thing? One of those would work well. The propane seems easier to deal with. Anyway, clocks are messed with, candy has been handed out, I still have to put the storm windows in the front door, but it’s time to come to grips with the unavoidable fact it’s not summer anymore. After the last 8 months, I think I could easily just hibernate and re-emerge next spring. I’ll have to soldier on. I will do so by enjoying fine cigars, and prattling on here about them. To that end, I smoked a few more from Providencia Cigars as promised.

The first one was the Providencia Cigars Mixtape. This is the first of what Ray teases as a series of cigars paying homage to the 80s. Ray and I are around the same age, and to my younger readers who may not know what a mixtape is, it’s a playlist recorded on a cassette tape. in the 90’s when rewritable CDs became a thing, it moved to CDs, and now it’s all online.It’s part of the evolution of music sharing. Anyway, the cigar is a round 6″ x 52 toro with a shaggy foot, or a leader in cassette tape terms. The wrapper is Habano, the binder is Nicaraguan and the fillers are Nicaraguan including Ometepe. Like the Detox and Boom, it’s made in Esteli at Tabacalera Flor de San Luis (I believe they made or make Elogio and PIO?). I will say that this was the first Providencia cigar that I found was a little too tightly packed at the head, resulting in a more snug draw than I would like. Not unworkable, but an annoyance, and surprising. The flavor was quite nice though. The Habano wrapper had a sweetness and nuttyness that I like, and there was the interesting spice from the Ometepe that is unique and tasty. I really enjoyed the flavor, I think I’d enjoy it more if the draw were looser. 

The last one was the Providencia Cigars G 5:22-23. This seems like a handful of a cigar name. Ray and Jim, the owners of Providencia Cigars, are men of faith, and this is a Biblical reference. it refers to Galatians 5:22-23, which, depending on your translation, says: “²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ” I think we can agree that this sentiment transcends religion, and can be applied no matter what your faith, or lack thereof. It can be distilled down to my personal mantra: “don’t be a d*ck”. I probably took that too far, my apologies. The cigar is a Corona Gorda, 6″ x 46, with a closed foot. I came by this revelation too late (like 20 years), but it was suggested that a closed foot cigar might be best lit with a soft flame. I wish I had heard that an hour sooner, I would have tried that with this cigar. I have to try to remember that the next time I come across a closed footed cigar. I’ll also have to try to find a soft flame lighter. This cigar has a Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Peruvian and Ometepe fillers. This cigar had the perfect burn and draw I’m accustomed to with Providencia cigars, and it provided a wondrous smoking experience. The smoking time compared favorably with a Toro, just shy of two hours, and the flavor had the sweetness of the wrapper, and the Peruvian and Ometepe tobaccos played very nicely with one another. There’s some different spiciness that each tobacco has that were complimentary, and enjoyable. Considering it was Halloween, there were some flavors that reminded me of some of the obscure candies that maybe kids don’t really like but parents end up eating and enjoying. I’ll find that damn candy one of these days…great smoke, probably not a commercially viable name, but a great smoke.

Thanks to Ray for sharing these cigars, as always. I need to pick up some more of the Detox and G 5:22-23 (and another Mixtape or two) for sure. He’ll have to point toward a retailer that has these in the comments!  That’s all for today, until the next time, 

CigarCraig