Editors Note: I’m nursing a bit of sore throat today, so I am opting not to light up a cigar until tomorrow. With today being opening day for the Red Sox, I decided to run this review of the Big Papi cigar again. We should return tomorrow with a fresh review.
The Big Papi first hit the shelves when I was on my honeymoon and Derek was running the website. At the time he wrote in his review that he was “very impressed with this cigar” and that it was a “home run”.
As a fan of the New York Yankees, I hesitated long and hard about giving this cigar a try. However, with news coming out today that the Boston Red Sox were going to retire the number of David Ortiz I had to grab one. Despite my allegiance to a team with 27 World Championships, I can’t argue the numbers of Ortiz. For me he would be a second ballot hall of famer, his career batting average of .286 keeps him off my first ballot if I was voting.
That’s about as nice of a statement, that a Yankee fan can give. It’s time to put on my navy blue baseball cap with the interlocking NY, a symbol synonymous with greatness.
Cigar: Big Papi by David Ortiz
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Claro
Binder: Dominican Criollo ’98
Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Size: Toro
The Look: Packaged in white and red lacquered boxes featuring the silhouette of Big Papi himself, David Ortiz; the box appeal on these is high. Inside, the cigars feature a band with the aforementioned silhouette, and red pinstripes. On the back of the band there is the flag of the Dominican Republic and the shield of Tabacalera El Artista, the producers of this stick. The wrapper of this cigar isn’t very attractive with its mottled color. There is also an abundance of veins including a rather large one on the back side of the cigar. However, the cigar is loaded with oils and beneath the red foot ribbon, the foot does seem to be well packed.
The Notes: Having been to the Dominican Republic so many times, I can only describe the cold draw and nose of this cigar as bringing me back to the cigar factory floors. The factories in the Dominican Republic smell different to me, then their counterparts in Nicaragua. It’s sweet, it’s raw, it’s passion. If you haven’t been there, I am sure this might be lost on you, but it’s an awesome memory of mine just like Bucky Dent.
The cigar starts off with an abundance of spice, and as the spice subsides notes of coffee and leather begin to emerge.
In the second third of the cigar, the leather notes are dominant, but there is also some coffee and nuts with a slightly sweet finish.
As the cigar reaches its conclusion, the leather notes begin to fade as nuts and coffee become the dominant flavor with a touch of sunflower seeds and a taste that reminds me of hard pretzels.
The Finish: For me the Big Papi leaves a sour taste in my mouth, much like the fake bloody sock of Curt Schilling in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS. It’s time to get the taste out of my mouth and go watch some replays of the Babe, Bucky & Boone. For now, I’ll give the cigar the same score as the amount of years that Red Sox fans had to endure their drought. It’s also happens to be the same number as the year Bill Buckner made the biggest error in World Series history.
Score: 86
Price: $11.69 / $206.99
Disclaimer: On a side note, this was the most fun I had reviewing a cigar. In actuality the cigar is probably closer to the 93 Derek “Acey” Stewart gave it back in November. I would however highly recommend dry boxing these a day or two before smoking as the thick wrapper is quite oily.
Big Papi by David Ortiz
Big Papi by David Ortiz Foot
Big Papi by David Ortiz Burn
