The latest offering from Kristoff got its name from the suggestion of a customer who mentioned the company should come out with a cigar called Pissed Off Kristoff. Brand owner Glen Case loved the sound of the name but decided to change the spelling to create Pistoff Kristoff.
Today we light up the latest offering from Kristoff which comes from the Charles Fairmon factory in the Dominican Republic.
Cigar Review: Pistoff Kristoff
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: San Andres (Mexico)
Binder: Indonesia
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5.75″
Ring Gauge: 48
Vitola: Corona Gorda
Cutter: Lotus Jaws
Lighter: Vertigo Twister
The Look: Packaged in 10 count boxes the Pistoff Kristoff is laid out in two rows of 5 cigars horizontally. The cigar features a pig-tail cap and closed foot with a black band and red writing. The San Andres wrapper is veiny with a brindle like effect in the coloring. In the hand the cigar is firm with a hefty weight to it and no soft spots.
The Notes: Once the cap is clipped there are notes of plums and mineral. The mineral like quality is something I associate with San Andres. For me it is best described as the finish on a glass of San Pellegrino. The aroma off the foot and wrapper has hints of leather.
I love the simplicity of lighting a cigar with a closed foot, but I hate the fact that the ashes fly everywhere once the closed foot section is burning. As we smoke our way into the first third there are notes of plums, dark chocolate, and a touch of nutmeg. For a cigar that is billed as one of the strongest you will smoke, it is remarkably smooth.
In the second third, some notes of leather begin to develop as the cigar looses some of its sweetness with the plum and dark chocolate notes moving toward the background. Around the half way point some hints of espresso began to develop and some pepper/citrus on the retrohale.
The last third of the cigar sees the strength sneak up on you. The dominant notes are coffee and leather with increased spices on the retrohale. What started out as a medium bodied cigar is full-bodied by the time the cigar is put down.
The Burn: The Pistoff Kristoff has a very light-colored ash that holds on for about a third of the cigar. There is some flake at the foot which is to be expected on the closed format of the cigar. The draw was perfect, and it remained lit from first light to last foot.
The Finish: Smoking the Pistoff Kristoff provides and experience that won’t piss you off. The Pistoff Kristoff is big on flavor with a strength that sneaks up on you. This 10 count box is a must have for your humidor.
Score: 93
Price: $8.89 / $78.99
Pistoff Kristoff
Pistoff Kristoff Foot
Pistoff Kristoff Burn
