On Monday we reviewed the Atabey Spiritus which we gave a perfect one-hundred rating. It was such an amazing cigar that we had to light up one of the other new sizes today, Atabey Duendes. What better way to come back to work after a 27″ snow storm then to light up a cigar from Nelson Alfonso’s Selected Tobacco.
The Duendes was chosen for review when a few people asked me for my thoughts, so I decided to put them down here at The Cigar Authority.
Cigar: Atabey
Wrapper Not Disclosed
Binder: Not Disclosed
Filler: Not Disclosed
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Size: Duendes (Belicoso)
The Look: Atabey has moved away from the jars the cigars were once packaged in to a gorgeous white lacquered box that can be used as a humidor. Inside the box of Spirtus sits 25 exquisite lancero cigars. The golden wrapper has a thin network of veins and fair amount of oils. The band of gold, black and white features the Tainos symbol for the goddess Atabey. If the band is reminiscent of a Cohiba it should be as according to folklore, the tribe would sit in a circle called a Cohiba and pray to their leader (Behike) before the prayers were offered to the Goddess Atabey. The design of the Cohiba and Behike bands and packaging is none other than Nelson Alfonso who is the brainchild behind this brand under the name Selected Tobacco which is represented on the foot band.
The Notes: The cold draw serves up an abundance apricots with a touch of hay, while the aroma off the foot of the Atabey Duendas has a graham like aroma with a touch of sweetness. Once the cigar is lit, the initial profile is earthy with notes of hay and wheat.
As we progress into the first third the notes remain similar to those experience on the first light. There are hints of wheat and hay, with a touch of rye in the background. As the first third comes to a close, cedar notes become dominant especially on the retrohale and aroma.
The second third sees the introduction of a subtle maple like sweetness while the cedar remains. At the half way point the Atabey Duendes sees the complexity that Atabey is known for. There are notes of rye, wheat, cedar and a molasses with a buttery richness on the short to moderate finish. The aroma of the cigar remains woodsy, while the retrohale offers up hint of pecans.
The last third sees the earthy components remain the focal point of the flavor profile with notes of hay and wheat. The sweetness that I love so much in the Atabey doesn’t exist in the last third with cedar on the finish and the aroma of the cigar.
The Finish: The bellicoso Atabey Duendes provides a different experience then other sizes I have smoked in the line. The most noticeable for me is how much less sweetness the cigar had, and it was more straight forward in its traditional notes of earth and wood. In fact this cigar was more reminiscent of a classic Cohiba cigar which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While the Spiritus is still my favorite of the line, this was a nice change while remaining true to the core notes of Atabey.
Score: 95
Price: $30.00 / $749.99
Atabey Duendes
Atabey Duendes Foot
Atabey Duendes Burn
