NUB LIMITED EDITION 2009
First a little background in this cigar. I received this cigar on June 25th, 2009 at the NUB event in Monona, WI. From what the “Josh the rep” told me, this is a Limited Edition cigar; only 3000 were made and are in circulation. It came in a plastic tube and was not humidified for however long they had been distributing them. So, after a month and ten days or so, I decided that she was back to “smoke-able status” and deserved a death by fire. Here’s how it went:
Pre-Light
Appearance: The doubled wrapper is thin in both the maduro and Connecticut shades. The maduro has some medium sized veins running through it and the cap is a bit rough. This could be due to the drying out and re-humidification process. After cutting, I found the draw to be free with some slight resistance and the pre-light flavor to be of tobacco and caramel.
1st Third
Initial puffs: Got a nice creamy coffee flavor with a hint of spice. The spice mellowed out and as I continued through the first third, the roller coaster began…
First, this cigar tasted exactly like the NUB Maduro, with strong coffee and cream notes; shortly thereafter there was a transition where the cigar had muted coffee and cream notes while flavors of wood took over with a dry finish. This was pushed back again by earthy notes along with more dry-ness. Remember, this is only halfway through the first third. Not two puffs later and the creaminess returned along with his friends; cocoa, caramel and a woody finish.
I’m simply exhausted from all these twists and turns. This is one of the most complex cigars I’ve ever smoked!
At this point in time I made note of the burn: wavy, and running along one side. I touched it up with my torch, and moved along into the end of the First third. Here the predominant flavor was the wood notes with a finish of cream, sweet earth, and slight bitterness that some smokers get from Connecticut shade wrappers. The body is firmly in the mild range.
Whew. On to the 2nd third.
2nd Third
It was here that I really noticed the aroma of the cigar: sweet tobacco with a caramel topping! The flavors are starting to blend together a bit with a predominant wood and earth flavor. At this point the cigar was running again (hmmm… a re-occurring theme maybe?) so I touched her up.
About halfway into the 2nd third a maduro “earthiness” mixed with wood and slight bitterness on the finish. Two puffs later the bitterness was gone. (I think I was smoking too fast…) By the end of the second third there was a well balanced mix of wood and earth with creamy finish and MORE bitterness. (By now I’m slightly confused.)
Last Third
I decided to begin the last third with a purge (hoping it would clear out the bitterness). Well it certainly cleared it out… along with everything else. There was a slight “sugary cream” flavor I could detect, but the cigar had flat-lined and was very bland. I decided it was time to let her go.
Final Thoughts: Although it took a while for this cigar to get her bearings, it developed beautifully into a well balanced cigar. Had it not been for “user error” with the purge, I think this cigar could have been a real knockout! Best barber pole cigar I’ve ever smoked!
Worth a try: Yes
Buy Again: If I could ever find another one…
Enjoyability: High
Comparable cigars: NUB Maduro, NUB Connecticut