Approximately 6-8 weeks ago Skip Martin and Mike Rosales were in NYC for the weekend as they visited accounts in the Northeast. The day of The Cigar Authority broadcast they toyed with coming up to New Hampshire to do the show. However, with an event that evening at my old stomping grounds in NYC, the logistics just didn’t work out. It wasn’t for the lack of effort as they even looked into renting a helicopter to make the trip. So they sent up some samples of the Firecracker that have been aging in my humidor to smoke the day after Two Guys Smoke Shop put them up for sale.
So today we light up a cigar that Skip Martin says, “I’m not sure if it is the ambient humidity, size or the closed nature of the CroMagnon Firecracker, but this is probably the most raw cigar we have ever produced out of the factory. It just seems to be getting stronger instead of more balanced. It definitely lives up to the name.” He went on to say yesterday in a conversation that it might be wise to dry-box these for a little bit before smoking them.
Cigar Review: CroMagnon Firecracker
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Nica Sueno
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 3.5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Vitola: Petite Robusto aka Firecracker
The Look: Packaged in wooden boxes, the CroMagnon Firecracker is packaged vertically instead of the traditional horizontal laying of the cigars. Wrapped with flawless U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco the cap has a long pigtail cap that comes over the side of the cigar and is tucked into the band serving as a fuse on the Firecracker. To round things out the foot of the cigar is closed. The stick is glistening with oils and has a nice weight to it for the size.
The Notes: After cutting the cap with my black & yellow Jaws cutter the initial notes of the CroMagnon Firecracker remind me of a brownie with rich chocolate, subtle nuts, a touch of fudge. There is also a touch of pepper present that serves as a warning on what is to come.
Once the cigar is lit there is an abundance of pepper which was expected, and the cigar is exceptionally clean. By this I mean despite the heavy pepper notes, the cigar is smooth. The first third of the cigar is pretty much a pepper bomb though the finish is short. Through the nose on the retrohale there is eye watering notes of white pepper.
Moving on to the second part of the cigar the pepper notes begin to subside and notes of coffee beans and nuts (cashews) begin to increase. The pepper notes on the retrohale are a bit more subdued and there is a slight sweetness on the finish that grows in length.
With the band removed I found it hard to put the cigar down which has turned into a rich cigar with notes of jalapeno, dark chocolate, nuts and coffee. The way the cigar concludes really impressed me and the long finish was mouth watering.
The Burn: With the closed foot, the Firecracker was really easy to light. I tried my hardest to keep the fuse on the side of the cigar hoping it would burn, but that didn’t work out. The light color ash was strong and held for three-quarters of the stick. The draw was perfect and I never needed to relight or touch it up.
The Finish: I was talking with Bo, who is a Two Guys Smoke Shop regular and listener of The Cigar Authority. He felt the cigar wasn’t all that strong. However, when we smoke this on podcast tomorrow I fully expect David Garofalo and/or Mr. Jonathan to tap-out. Personally, I think Bo is off his rocker as my perception is, that this is one of the strongest cigars I have ever smoked, but it is oh good and I too, was close to tapping out.
Score: 92
Price: $6.99 / $119.99 (SOLD OUT)
CroMagnon Firecracker
CroMagnon Firecracker Burn
