Glen Case, the owner of Kristoff Cigars recently decided to go in-house with his sales force at least here in New England. So in honor of that move, and the fact that 2GuysCigars.com got in a shipment I decided to visit with a friend I haven’t seen in a while.
According to the Kristoff website, “Made in the spirit of an elite Cuban cigar, the Kristoff embodies the taste and richness a true aficionado is looking for. With a rich oily wrapper, pigtail and uncut foot, the Kristoff tastes as good as it looks; it offers notes of toasted almond, hints of spice and a sweet finish. Treat your palate to this incredibly smooth medium bodied cigar.”
Cigar: Kristoff Original Criollo Maduro
Size: 5.5 x 54 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Brazil
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
The Look: I personally love cigars with a closed foot and pig-tail cap which the Kristoff Original Maduro has. The Brazilian wrapper has a thin network of veins and significant oils. There is a brindle like effect as well, and the cigar features a dual band system. The primary band is brown on brown with the Kristoff branding, while the secondary brand denotes Maduro. In the hand the cigar is firm and exquisitely rolled with a slightly above average weight.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Kristoff Original Maduro has noses that remind me of eel from a high-end sushi restaurant. Now if you never had eel, it isn’t fishy, but it has that toasty taste. The foot of the draw has sweet tobacco notes. Once the cigar is lit, there is a slight sweetness that reminds me of coffee with cream.
In the first third of the cigar there are notes of wood, and coffee. Also joining the party was some notes that reminder me of cucumbers providing an interesting dynamic of complexity.
As we breach into the second third of the Kristoff Original Maduro the coffee notes become the focal point with some spice on the finish. The cigar is flavorful but pretty much straight forward at this point.
The last third of the Kristoff Original Maduro continues down the same path as the previous third. Once thing really stands out is the aroma of the cigar which begins to stand out.
The Burn: For me I have always had an issue with Kristoff and the burn. While I never need to touch it up, it always burns crooked and often has me worried that it will canoe. The ash is flaky but it hold on for a quarter at a time. The draw has a nice resistance to it, and there are no issues there.
The Finish: The cigar has some complexity on the front end, but by the time the cigar reaches the second third it is pretty much straight forward. The notes are enjoyable but by the time the cigar is completed I am looking to move on to something else. It is one of the few cigars out there that makes me realize how people with A.D.D. must feel.
Score: 87
Price: $8.39 / $149.99
Kristoff Original Maduro
Kristoff Original Maduro Foot
Kristoff Original Maduro Burn
