The fourth cigar in the Saints & Sinners 2024 pack combines one of my favorite things—Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper—with one of my least favorite—Belicoso shaped cigars. Why do I not like Belicosos? Mostly because they seem to be one of the worst shapes for having a tight draw, at least in my experience; and if you cut enough extra to relieve the tight draw, they inevitably unravel. I’m hoping for better luck with this one.
How do I know this is Broadleaf? Let’s just say that I’ve smoked enough Tatuaje Broadleaf wrapped cigars to know the color, the texture, the aroma…It was a dark chocolate or espresso bean color with a certain oiliness and gritty roughness under my fingertips, while the aroma from it was earthy and sweet, with a distinct note of unsweetened cocoa. I do love this wrapper leaf…and I have loved what Pete Johnson and his cohorts have done with it.
Cold draws indicated that the cigar wouldn’t be plugged and when I fired it up, I got plenty of the earthy chocolatiness along with underlying red pepper spice that entices me so much about Connecticut Broadleaf. Simply fantastic cigar and I take back what I said about the Tuxtla wrappers…Broadleaf is still my favorite. I enjoyed this cigar with a barrel pick of Old Scout Bourbon from a local shop…really spicy in its own right and definitely something that stands up to this full-bodied cigar.
