I’m always open to trying new things in the world of cigars or spirits, so when Adrian Magnus Cigars reached out to ask if I’d like to review one of their blends, of course I said yes. They sent me something called the XO Cognac Special Edition…quite a mouthful of a name. I couldn’t tell from the packaging if it was a cigar meant to evoke the experience of cognac (like some early Davidoff blends did with wine) or if it was infused, so I went to their website…and found that it is indeed infused.
“The combination of premium tobacco and Hennessy XO Cognac is a match made in heaven, bringing you an unparalleled smoking experience. After 12 years of aging, the long-filler tobacco is infused with unbeatable cognac notes that dance on your taste buds, leaving a lingering and unforgettable aftertaste.”
The cigars are made in the Dominican Republic, but I didn’t see any notation of country of origin for filler/binder/wrapper or any mention of specific varietals. Of note, the cigars are available through their website and they do have a section for retailers that want to carry them in shops, but I don’t recall ever having seen them in a shop.
The wrapper leaf of the XO Cognac Special Edition was a golden color that appeared to be a Connecticut Shade. The light smell of sweet hay from it seemed to confirm that, too. The foot of the cigar had light earthiness, a little cedar, and more grassiness. Notice what I didn’t get on either wrapper or foot? Cognac! This must be the lightest infusion or barrel-aging in the history of cigars. I finally got a touch of cognac on the cold draw, and it wasn’t overwhelming by any means.
After lighting, each puff of the XO Cognac Special Edition was an interesting journey. It would start off mild and grassy, move through some light bread notes while the cognac lazily crept through, then turn more medium-bodied with earth and black pepper on the finish. The retrohale had notes of cedar and more black pepper.
I have to admit to having reservations about the concept of this cigar before lighting up my first one…it’s a super-premium (almost $20 each) cigar with cognac flavor and done poorly that would be a disaster. But Adrian Magnus has done a great job with this one…the cognac plays in and out of the flavor profile, never dominating, but letting the tobacco carry most of the flavor while the spirit just adds accents.
