Nat Sherman has been in the tobacco business for quite some time. Since 1930, to be exact. This brand is known for its cigars and other luxury tobacco products. Nat Sherman continues to operate a retail location in New York City, where the company originated and gained their fame 86 years ago. I’ve never tried anything from Nat Sherman, so I figured today would be the day I’d check out the Nat Sherman Timeless Nicaragua.
What am I smoking?
- Cigar Review: Nat Sherman Timeless Nicaragua 652T
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A.
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Length: 6 Inches
- Ring Gauge: 52
- Vitola: Box-Pressed Torpedo
- Strength: Medium Plus
Packaging & Design
For whatever reason, I’ve found myself becoming a fan of prohibition-era design. It could possibly be from my recent “Boardwalk Empire” binge on HBO. The styling of the box and bands have that familiar art-deco design, using a combination of thick and thin lines with hand styled text.
The Nat Sherman Timeless Nicaragua’s bands appear to resemble an old watch face. The brand name wraps around the edges, and the “straps” feature an outlined image of the Empire State Building. I like the way this looks, and it’s a clever design that has a classy touch.
The box is matte black with “Nat Sherman” written in aged yellow colored paint on the top and inside lid. On the front side are size designations under the name of the blend, “Timeless”. They make sure you don’t forget that the company was established in 1930 New York City, as it is also printed on the box and bands.
First Impressions
This Nat Sherman appears and feels slightly oily with a velvety smooth wrapper. It is dark chocolate in color with minimal seems and veins. The edges of this box-pressed cigar are somewhat sharp, but nothing out of this world. Construction looks solid, but I did notice that it is a bit spongy when squeezed.
The foot gives off aromas of chocolate, earth and tobacco. On the cold draw, I was able to pick up notes of leather and molasses. I’d like to point out that there is hardly any pepper to talk about, so I have a feeling this is going to be a smooth smoke.
The Smoke
After I toasted the foot of the Nat Sherman Timeless Nicaragua, I was pleased to be greeted with many of the same flavors from the cold draw. Leather and chocolate dominated up front, and there was a very soft spice lingering in the background. So far, this is lining up to be a smooth and easygoing smoke.
Just over two inches in, the flavors have started to get a bit deeper. The chocolate has turned into bakers-style cocoa with a backbone of earth and sweetness. The burn at this point is a touch wavy, but corrects itself as I take more pulls. The draw is exceptionally easy, which is allowing plenty of air through the tobacco. The oils on this wrapper give off a slick mouthfeel, a nice touch for a full flavored cigar.
Down into the final third, notes of raisins and roasted almonds hang around for a while during the finish of each puff. Red and black pepper spices have now made an appearance, but still remain a lingering sensation on the retrohale. The burn needed a few touch-ups here and there to keep it even, but never impacted the flavor. The Nat Sherman Timeless Nicaragua has many of the qualities you’d expect from Nicaraguan tobacco.
Final Thoughts
I’ll be smoking a few more of these for sure. They are a good example of a medium bodied blend using a darker colored wrapper. Other than a wavy burn at times, it was a well constructed smoke that gave me no problems. I’d recommend this cigar to people who want to dabble in the world of habano wrapped smokes without the strength that usually accompanies them.
This was a nice, easygoing smoke that had pleasingly soft flavors that never got harsh. These are available in six different sizes, and I will be trying the robusto and Churchill next. The Nat Sherman Timeless Nicaragua should be up to bat the next time you light up.
Score Breakdown
-Appearance: 19
-Flavor: 18
-Balance: 18
-Burn: 17
-Quality: 18
Rating: 90
Price: $8.99 / $166.99 (Box of 21)
Nat Sherman Timeless Nicaragua Burn
Nat Sherman Timeless Nicaragua Finish
