It was the best of cigars it was the worst of cigars. For full disclosure, I do not own any stock or receive free product from the “Exclusive Cigars” (except for the instance below and the rep has no idea who I was). So rewind to the November 2008, it was a frigid cold night and I was looking for a good stogie. I went to my usual confidant and he suggested a new product (I always try new stuff, rarely did I go back to an old stand by) a Kristoff Maduro. I went to our usual pub and had a couple Jack and gingers and headed out side with my buddies for a smoke to try out the bar’s new outdoor heater. We light up the Maduro and start immediately digging it. Then all of the sudden, the kiss of death, the cigar went out, for all of us. Shivering, struggling to hold the butane lighter while it was shaking and simultaneously relighting the cigar we finally get them going, and struggle to pull on the stogie, further and further down the cigar went the harder the pull then faster the cigar goes out, and the more we have to relight. It was awful, probably equal to the third or fourth circle of hell. Something like listening to Ashley Simpson and Paris Hilton discuss the rise and fall of western civilization. But in Kristoff’s defense no one wanted to toss the cigar no matter how cold our asses were. Three weeks later there was a Kristoff tasting at our local shop where we are the only ones to show up. I chatted up the rep and told him how I tried the product and the horrible experience we all had, and like the cigar fairy from our dreams he hands over a fistful of Kristoff Maduro to replace the ones I purchased and to make up for it our hellish experience he handed over a couple of Vengence Maduro 98’s, more on that on that in the next letter. The rep made good and as I immediately tried the Kristoff the hard pull was gone and nothing but Maduro goodness replaced it. For 7-8 bucks a stick there is nothing better. Comacho Maduro’s come close for the 5-7 dollar range, but I’ll pay the extra 2 bucks. For 2 reasons:
- The rep and the company stand behind their product. Any company in this day and age that will go out and replace $50 worth of product site unseen is rare, if not unheard of.
- The product is really, really good. Jack D really brings out the flavor of both the cigar and the booze. The cigar is full flavor, and full body. Brings out the strength in whatever you just ate or drank. It is like smoking a Guinness.
Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro
Binder: Orlor Dominican and Cuban Seed
Filler: Orlor Dominican, Cuban Seed, Nicaraguan
First smoke time: to cold to keep count it was so cold
Average time since: 1-1.5 hours
Sizes: length ring size
Maduro Churchill 7 50
Maduro Torpedo 6.125 52
Maduro Robusto 5.5 54
Maduro Matador 6.5 60
Looks:
Makes you look like:
A Man/Girl/Old Man
A man, it looks and feels good in your hands. The wrapper is cool and looks like some craftsmanship went into it. The cigar looks dark and oily. Like a Maduro should.
Tasty?:
Yes/No
Hell ya!
Like I said it really does resemble a Guinness, a hint of coffee and Carmel. It is like smoking an Extra Guinness Cold actually. (I envy the people that can get the Extra Guinness Cold) Full bodied and will fill you up. If you are adverse to Maduro, this may be not the best cigar to try at first.
Burn: as I said first it was dreadful but now they are nice even burn. It is a bit tight shaking off the ash. It could make you look like a little white trash if you let it go, it will hang in as long as you want.
Will I buy again:
Yes/No/Only as to give to dopes
Hell ya, it is a staple in my stable. I love this cigar and its brethren, the Kristoff and the Vengence Maduro 98. I only hand it out to people I know, and people who know what a good stick it. They appreciate it. I could go on gushing like a little girl about the cigar, the only thing better is the Vengence Maduro.
Also as a side note the Kristoff’s come in tobacco filled box. I don’t know how good the fill is to smoke but I love the presentation.
