I’ve had this cigar sitting on my desk for over a week now and I was dreading smoking it. Not because of the specific cigar but because of the specific size. I for one have not embraced the 6 x 60 madness that has taken over the cigar world.
According to the Hammer & Sickle website, “We chose the Hammer + Sickle icon to represent our brand as our story uniquely matches the history of the icon itself. Our vodka distillery resides in the north of Russia, while the winter wheat we use as the foundation of Hammer + Sickle is grown exclusively in the South. This combination of distilling knowhow and agricultural excellence is what makes Hammer + Sickle Vodka the perfect blend for any occasion.Here at Klin we believe the Hammer + Sickle icon represents cigar brands as well. While we do not produce cigars in Russia, cigar-making is also a marriage between agriculture and industrial knowhow. I think you will agree, from the farmer through the roller, Hammer + Sickle cigars are a true representation of the excellence of cigars.”
Cigar: Hammer & Sickle Tradicion
Size: 6 ½ x 60
Wrapper: Connecticut
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Distributed By: Klin Tobacco
The Look: The wrapper on the Hammer & Sickle Tradicion is a beautiful golden tan in color. There are some minimal veins present that the cigar is extremely well rolled to the point of it being virtually seamless. The band of the cigar featuring the Hammer & Sickle logo is a bit polarizing and based upon the reaction of some of my friends in Miami, I know why I never saw the cigars down there. These cigars have always seemed to be big in New England where they are carried in brick & mortars like 2 Guys Smoke Shop. The cigar has a nice weight to it, and although there appears to be a slight void in the foot there were no soft spots on the cigar.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Hammer & Sickle is very Davidoff-esque. The notes of barnyard are very Henke Kelner with notes of grass and hay the dominant taste. The foot of the cigar has more of those same notes, that are synonymous with the morning dew. Once the cigar is lit there is a nice creamy flavor profile that tastes like coffee that is both light and sweet made with cream instead of milk.
As we continue into the first third of the cigar the notes of grass and hay are center stage and the creamy note experienced on the first light fights for real estate on your palate. There is also an almond like taste that occasions shows up but doesn’t last long enough to completely enjoy.
In the second third of the cigar the almond note that teased through the first third finally begins to take hold. Also present is some continued earth notes and some Dominican spice.
In the last third the notes all come together with a creamy smoothness, hints of almond, toast and earth providing a truly complex Connecticut smoke that is incredibly balanced.
The Burn: The draw of the cigar was perfect, but I was never able to get comfortable with the size. I know many of you prefer the 6 x 60 format, but it’s a diluted version of what the cigar was meant to be. It’s like ordering a rum & coke, and telling the bartender to put the 2 ounces of rum in a larger glass and to add more coke to the mix. The flavors aren’t as potent. The ash despite falling just before I took a picture held firm the rest of the way for about a third at a time. It was light in color with some flake. The burn wasn’t as razor-sharp as I would like but the cigar never was in need of being touched up.
The Finish: The flavor profile of the cigar is delicious and is like a poor man’s Davidoff. By that I mean you get a lot of the classic Davidoff flavors in this cigar at a fraction of the price. As for me I will smoke it again and often in a more traditional size, but if you are a fan of larger ring gauges and are looking for a great mild to medium bodied cigar then this is right up your alley.
Price: $10.00 (Approximate)
Score: 90
Hammer & Sickle
Hammer & Sickle Foot
Hammer & Sickle Burn
