Marketing through mediums such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram is becoming more and more popular as each day passes by. Oftentimes, it is the only form of advertising some companies do. And for Recluse by Iconic, it has worked out for them in a huge way: from an idea all the way to the winner of The Cigar Authorities 2015 Cigar of the Year with their Recluse Amadeus Habano. Today we take a look at the Recluse Amadeus Connecticut, a personal favorite of mine in their arsenal of blends.
What am I smoking?
Cigar Review: Recluse Amadeus Connecticut
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador Shade Connecticut
Binder: MBC Proprietary
Filler: Dominican Republic Ligero, Viso, Seco, USA Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Length: 5 Inches
Ring Gauge: 50
Power: 3 / 10
Packaging & Design
The Recluse Amadeus Connecticut arrives in long 24 count boxes. On the top of the bright white box, there is a holographic image of a spider with long legs, the companies logo. The front side designates the series and size, this one happening to be the robusto. These boxes are large and in charge, a design that stands out amongst a sea of brands.
First Impressions
The cigar itself looks fantastic. It is presented in a sharply box pressed format, with two primary bands and a foot band made of silver fabric. I’m impressed with the “cleanliness” of this the Recluse Amadeus Connecticut. The wrapper is flawless and velvety smooth. Each of the caps are neatly placed one on top of the other. The cigar gives off a strong aroma of cedar when held under my nose, which is quite pleasing. After cutting with my Colibri S-Cut, I noticed prelight notes of pepper, sea salt, cedar along with a dry sweetness on the wrapper.
The Smoke
While toasting the foot with a nice triple jet Vertigo torch, aromas of black pepper begin to rise up. The first few puffs offer up a medley of cream and subtle notes of marshmallow powder. An interesting start for sure. The draw is easy and allows for a ton of smoke with every puff right off the bat.
Into the halfway point, the pepper begins to build but doesn’t overpower other nuances of the smoke. Semisweet notes of dry cocoa start to make themselves known and bright cedar coat my palate. For a mild bodied cigar, I’m enjoying the vibrant taste and complex nuances it has to offer so far. I can tell this is going to finish like a champ.
During the final third of the Recluse Amadeus Connecticut, I’ve noticed the peppery sensations I was getting though the nose have diminished. This allows the other notes to take over, bringing out a solid core of soft cedar, worn leather and toasted nuts. This blend is incredibly well done.
Final Thoughts
As I’ve said countless times before, I’m not usually one for Connecticut wrapped cigars. I typically prefer something a bit heavier. However, this is one I’ve found myself drifting towards them to have with my morning cup of coffee. The complexities of the smoke are easy to discern, and I feel the Recluse Amadeus Connecticut is very approachable for cigar enthusiasts across the spectrum. There’s a reason why they won TCA’s Cigar of the Year in 2015, and this is a solid example. Every cigar they make is worth it.
Rating: 91
Price: $7.69 / $157.99 (Box of 24)
Recluse Amadeus Connecticut
