If you listened to The Cigar Authority podcast this past weekend we smoked today’s cigar in the second hour of the show. It’s a cigar that debuted back in 2002 as part of the Drew Estate Subculture movement and now it returns once again as a Two Guys Smoke Shop exclusive. According to Jonathan Drew, “David and the crew at Two Guys are not just amigos of the Subculture Movement, they are friends. This is the store that I personally conducted my third cigar event ever, back in 1996. Two Guys Smoke Shop has a decorated history and is an intrinsic part of New England cigar culture. ACID Amigos is a really bad ass little subculture.”
Cigar Review: ACID Amigos
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 38
Size: Amigos (Petit Corona x 2)
The Look: Packaged in the classic flip top ACID box, the Amigos are surrounded by loose tobacco. Inside the cellophane, the cigars are held together in groups of 2 by one single band. The concept according to David Garofalo is, “Cigar enthusiasts are such friendly people, our logic was when you are walking down the street and you got two cigars, if you share one with someone you instantly have a friend, Amigos.” As far as the cigars go, they feature a pigtail cap and a fairly evenly colored Connecticut Shade grown wrapper. The cigar is slightly spongy with a well packed foot.
The Notes: How do you review an ACID cigar was my first thought when I lit one up a little over a week ago, but I found myself liking it and that I was now looking forward to the task. The cold draw of the cigar hands down taste like Juicy Fruit gum. There are no ands, ifs or buts about it, this one is as definitive as they come. The foot of the cigar has that typical ACID patchouli aroma.
After lighting the cigar the juicy fruit remains, but it is joined by a sour apple taste to it as well. There is no doubt that this is an infused cigar as you begin to smoke it down. As the first third comes to a close the juicy fruit component becomes more of an afterthought as the cigar takes on a sour apple profile. Through the nose the cigar is a bit more traditional with notes of cedar and pepper.
In the second half of the stick, the sweetness remains on my lips from the wrapper of the Amigos and while from time to time the juicy fruit sweetness still shows itself, there is an abundance of green apple and sour apple.
It is interesting to note that those in the room with me while I smoked the Amigos pointed out the cigar filled the room with the aroma of cinnamon.
The Finish: ACID are a polarizing cigar. You either love them or hate them. My first experience with the brand was sitting in a small lounge smoking a Padron when the aroma of the ACID wafted over the room overpowering my cigar. I had been on one side of the polarization until now. I really love the juicy fruit flavor profile and while this isn’t something I could see smoking all the time as a traditionalist it is something I plan to smoke with a friend (my wife) from time to time.
Score: 92*
Price: 9.99 (2 cigars) / $159.99
Editor’s Note: The 92 rating should be viewed in comparison to other cigars that are infused or use tobacco to create an flavor profile out of the realm of a traditional cigar. In comparison to those types of cigars, this receives a solid 92.
Acid Amigos
Acid Amigos Feet
Acid Amigos Burn
