CLE Signature THT-EKE 03/17 11/18 Cigar Review

The C.L.E. Signature THT-EKE 03/17 comes in 4 sizes including the 11/18 which is an exclusive for retailers who are part of the Tobacconist Association of America. The 6 x 48/54/48 vitola is synonymous with Christian Eiroa dating back to the days when he was at the helm of Camacho cigars.  The C.L.E. Signature is clouded in mystery as Christian has yet to share what the initials THT or EKE mean as well as the date 03/17. What we do know is that the wrapper is a Cameroon grown in Jamastran, Honduras. Everything else has been kept close to the vest as the company wants the cigar to speak for itself.

EDIT: Post review, one of our trusted sources revealed to us that

Cigar Review: C.L.E. Signature THT-EKE 03/17
Wrapper: Honduran Cameroon
Binder: Not Disclosed
Filler: Not Disclosed
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 46/54/46
Size: 11/18

The Look: Packaged in brown boxes with gold lettering, this cabinet style box features something I personally love for the retail shelf. Once you slide the box off, there are two grooves cut out that allow you to slide the box lid into for display. This simple feature is often overlooked by many manufactures that use a slide top box, but it makes things simple for retailers. Inside the cigars sit without cello and tissue paper over the lower half of the cigar that denotes the line (Signature THT-EKE 03/17) while the primary band of brown and gold features the initials of Christian L. Eiroa. In the hand the cigar is firm to the touch, with some subtle oils and a well packed foot.

The Notes: The cold draw of the CLE Signature features and abundance of cedar with subtle nuances of hay and vanilla creme. The foot of the cigar also sees cedar and hay, with the hay being the dominant aroma. Once the cigar is toasted and lit with a single jet flame from Veritigo the cigar offers up a nice mix of cream and spice to it. 

As we move into the first third, the creme like notes give way to a robust coffee component with a hint of nuts and cedar. The cedar is more dominant on the finish while the retrohale adds a touch of anise and citrus. 

Moving into the second third some notes of cinnamon begin to develop which at times challenges the continued coffee for dominance. Around the halfway point some sugar like sweetness develops giving this a profile that reminds me of Cuban coffee. The retrohale of the cigar adds some cedar to the mix with a short to moderate finish. 

The final third sees the coffee notes slide into the background as nuts become dominant with a touch of earth and fudge that develops on the finish in the final inch of the cigar. The retrohale continues to serve up cedar and the finish remains moderate in terms of length. 

The Finish: This cigar fires on all cylinders except for the high price point. Looking at it next to other C.L.E. cigars on the shelf makes it tough to pull the trigger. However, since grabbing a couple for review, I’ve smoked a few more which is a tell tale sign that the cigar is worth the price of admission. This isn’t the first time an Eiroa family member has publicly used a Cameroon wrapper, with the father Julio Eiroa growing the seed in Honduras. It definitely worthy of a 5 pack to start, but I think this will result in a box purchase once you try them.

Score: 94
Price: $17.99 / $399.99