Today on The Cigar Authority we smoked the Hermitage No. 1 as we remembered our friend Eric Hanson. As has become customary, we share a more in depth review of one of the cigars we smoked. Today that sicker is the Hammer + Sickle Hermitage that was part of the June Care Package.
Cigar: Hermitage No.1
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Honduran Criollo
Filler: Honduras, Germany
Length: 6″
Ring: 54
Size: Churchill
The Look: As a traditionalist the size name bothers me but I digress. The caramel color wrapper has a nice amount of oils and it looks awesome in the leather box.. The cigar is rolled and boxed flawlessly and the band has a nice old world style about it. In the hand there are no soft sports with a slightly porous foo and the wrapper is silky smooth.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Hermitage No. 1 has a hickory note it with and abundance of sweetness. The foot of the cigar has a leather like aroma, much like a high-end leather coat, I kid you not. I’ve tasted leather before but I have never smelled it off of the foot.
Once the cigar is lit I am rather impressed by how incredibly smooth it is on first light. There is almost no pepper through the nose either. There are subtle notes of leather and wood with a hint of nuts that develop further at the 1st third comes to a close.
The second third of the cigar saw the development of nuts and sweet notes that border on cocoa. The leather has left the building and the smoke continues to be incredibly smooth with some hints of cedar.
The last third of the cigar of the cigar develops some notes of leather once again with a continued base of nuts and wood on the incredibly smooth finish.
Overall: The Hermitage for me is a line that slips under the radar from Hammer + Sickle. The cigar smokes like velvet in the sense that is incredibly smooth and flavorful. Subtle complexities and an enjoyable flavor profile the cigar is definitely worthy of space in your humidor.
Score: 91
Price: $9.69 / $169.99
Hermitage Foot
Hermitage Burn
