-Tony

Last year, Nomad release the Therapy line of cigars consisting of three different wrappers – Connecticut, Habano, and Maduro – each in two sizes, a 4 ½ x 50 robusto and 6 x 50 toro.  Unlike previous lines, these are not boxed, but come in retailer display cases that are refilled in bundles.  Also different are the bands, which are rather plain – white with different colored printing to differentiate the wrappers.  Although this might seem to indicate a “budget stick”, I don’t believe that is really the case, rather, just a couple of post-production cost cutting moves to lower the price for the consumer.  Blended by brand owner Fred Rewey, they are manufactured at AJ Fernandez’ Tabacalera Fernandez in Nicaragua.  The price for the cigars runs at $6.95 for the robusto and $7.49 for the toro.

As has been mentioned at other sites and Nomad’s web page, the Maduro is the first of its kind for the company, with this one utilizing a Broadleaf from Pennsylvania.

Since I didn’t feel like making the 120 mile round trip to the nearest Nomad retailer in my area, I purchased a couple of these for review from the Cigar Federation online store.

I have previously very positively reviewed several of Nomad’s lines here, so let’s see how this one goes.

The basics:

Wrapper:  Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro
Binder:  Nicaraguan Habano Jalapa
Filler:  Nicaragua
Size:  Robusto 4 ½ x 50
Price:  $6.95
Smoking time:  One hour, ten minutes
Pairing:  North Coast Brewing Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout (ABV 9%)

Pre-light:

The Nomad Therapy Maduro presents itself well in a very dark brown wrapper with a good amount of nearly black variegation, a couple of fine veins and a stretch mark or two.  The wrapper is rather dry looking and sports a fair amount of tooth to it, while the roll is very firm with just a bit of a softer feel above the band.  The band, as mentioned above, is a plain white background with a simple silhouette of the Nomad wings and the word “Nomad” printed below in black, and black top and bottom borders.  On the back is “Nomad Cigar Company” and Fred’s @godfadr Twitter handle.

The wrapper gives off a tart barnyard scent, while the foot shows rich tobacco and a slight unsweetened cocoa.  A slight clip of the cap reveals an optimal draw that doesn’t give up a lot of flavors other than light tobacco and some saltiness.

First third:

The Nomad Therapy Maduro starts with a surprising blast of red pepper on the tongue, along with deep, sweet oak and earth in an already medium-full body.  The retrohale leaves a sharp, hot mustard-like sting that reaches to the top of my head.  After a few minutes, the pepper dials down on the tongue, but persists on the retrohale.  Despite having once again picked the breeziest, gustiest day of the week for a review, the Therapy is burning great, with just a bit of waviness, a sharp burn line, and a solid ash.  Dark coffee notes lurk in the background, along with some leather, as the ash taps off at ¾”.  By the 1 ½” mark, the pepper has receded significantly on the entry, but continues to make itself felt through the sinuses and the woodiness has turned toasty.

Middle third:

Into the second portion of the Nomad Therapy Maduro, things have continued to get smoother.  The toasty oak and earthiness continue to lead the way and black pepper pungency has moved forward.  There is some bitterness as well, and light bready notes have also emerged.  It has been burning sharp and even with just an odd flake here and there.  There is not much change to report on for the remainder of this section.

Final third:

The Therapy Maduro enters the final third without much change, save for a spicy tingle on the lips and an elevation in strength.  The rest of the cigar pretty much follows the pattern of the previous third.  It smokes cool down to the final inch, with just a small amount of harshness and a slight, but noticeable, nicotine hit and at a not quite full body.

Overview:

I have smoked nearly all of Fred’s lines, and have been highly impressed by all of them, but the Therapy Maduro just fell a bit short.  It’s a solid, nearly full bodied smoke, but the lack of sweetness for balance and shortfall of complexity and transitions added up to a smoke that wasn’t quite up my alley.  I will certainly check out the other wrappers in the Therapy line, and am inclined to think that I will enjoy them more than this one, but I think that expectations for greatness that has been, for me, a touchstone with Nomad, may have gotten the better of me on the Therapy Maduro.  That just speaks to how good I feel the brand has been.

Pairing:

Old Rasputin by North Coast Brewing out of Fort Bragg, CA has been one of my favorite readily available Russian Imperial Stouts for quite a while.  With deep flavors of malt, coffee, and chocolate backed by a hoppy finish, it’s a great quaff, and a perfect match for most maduro cigars.  Unfortunately, that hoppy bitterness on the finish, which can be quite deep yet unnoticeable at first, along with the inherent bitterness of the Therapy Maduro proved to be a bit much for my palate.  A sweet rum, tawny port, or strong sweetened coffee would have made for a better match in this case.

The post Nomad Therapy Maduro appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

Well, I’m back with a review of another Nomad cigar, this time the C-276. I had previously reviewed the Nomad Dominican core line in the Vagabond size. The C-276, the latest of Fred Rewey’s creations, was released at this year’s IPCPR trade show, and has been getting a good amount of positive press. It is the fifth line that Fred has produced, and the third Nicaraguan made blend, after the limited Estili Lot 1386 and the S-307. According to the Nomad website, the blend consists of a five leaf filler, including Ometepe leaf, a Nicaraguan binder, and is cloaked in an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper. In explaining the naming of the cigar, Fred says:

“I really wanted to push myself on this blend. I kept trying to add layer upon layer of complexity all the while making sure the flavors married well with each other.

The name C-276 also has a back story. The “C” is for Concepción, one of two volcanoes on Ometepe Island. “276″ is the square kilometers of the island.

Matter of fact, Ometepe was such a key ingredient at one point in the blending – I named the cigar after the mysterious island.”

The C-276, like last year’s S-307, is manufactured at AJ Fernandez’ Tobacalera AJ Fernandez factory, but Fred tells me that although AJ recommended that he look into the Ometepe leaf for his project, he was otherwise not involved in the blending. It is available in five sizes, all box pressed: Toro (6×50); Robusto (5×50); Torpedo (6 1/2 x 52); Toro Grande (6 x 58); and Corona (5.5 x 46).

This is the only Nomad C-276 I have smoked, and was gifted to me by my great Louisville buddy, Chris Tivnan aka @TheChris213, who happens to be one of the world’s biggest Nomad tramps. Just kidding… sort of. Big thanks to Chris!

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, including Ometepe and two ligeros
Size: Torpedo 6 ½ x 50 box pressed
Price: $8.75
Smoking time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Pairing: Silver City Fat Woody Scotch Ale

Pre-light:

The Nomad C-276 sports a classy looking black, red, and silver band that is nearly identical to that of the S-307, save for the small designations for each line on the side. The cigar itself is handsomely rolled in a rectangular box press culminating in a sharply pointed cap, and is firm throughout when gently squeezed. The wrapper is an oily and rich dark chocolate brown, uniform in color with a couple of minor veins. Smelling the wrapper, it exudes a sourish barnyard and tobacco aroma, while the foot shows more of a tobacco, cedar, and light white pepper character. The cold draw brings sweet spice and grassiness.

First third:

The cap cuts rather easily and leads to a slightly snug draw, but it doesn’t seem like it will be a problem. After lighting, the first draws present an oaky wood, earth, and unsweetened cocoa with a touch of leather and a very light sweetness that lingers on the tongue. The smoke texture has a nice oily slickness to it. The retrohale adds a nice peppery sting, but soon calms down to a smoother experience. The body of the C-276 is at a pretty solid medium starting out. The burn is somewhat wavy, but is not a problem at this point, while the ash is a brownish hue rather than the more usual gray or white. As I smoke further into the first third, the wood has turned towards cedar and the cocoa has morphed into more of a coffee flavor, while displaying a little more sweetness in the aftertaste. An inch in, the ash begins to show some weakness, so I easily tap it off. Some light floral notes weave in and out, adding even more complexity.

Middle third:

Moving into the second third of the C-276, the smoke texture has become very smooth while continuing to present the same enjoyable flavors, and the intensity of the pepper has quieted down a little more, although it is still quite noticeable. The burn continues to be wavy, but every time I start to think that I need to pull out my lighter and do a correction, the cigar seems to pick up on my thoughts and begins to self-correct. By about the mid-point of the stick, the earth has dropped off, to be replaced by some slightly charred notes and fleeting glimpses of nutmeg and musk, while the cedar has come to the forefront and the coffee remains in the picture. The experience keeps getting smoother, sweeter, and richer while maintaining its medium profile. The C-276 seems to have lost its gift of telepathy at this point and I’m forced to give it its first correction – not a big deal.

Final third:

The last third of the cigar brings a ramp-up in body, getting into the full range and the pepper has stepped up, especially on the tip of the tongue, while the strength has tipped over to the plus side of medium and continues to rise. The flavors have become a little muddled by the power of the stick, or maybe my mind is being affected a bit by the escalating strength and the 9.2% ABV of the beer, and it’s finally time to put it down with just over an inch remaining.

Overview:

The Nomad C-276 is a great cigar, especially for those who are into the fuller bodied and stronger smokes. The flavors are distinct and complex, and the construction is solid. Although I did eventually have to correct the burn a few times, it was not an aggravation, and did not affect the flavors. Fred did an outstanding job in blending this stick, and the inclusion of the Ometepe leaf takes it a step beyond the S-307 that I had previously enjoyed, in terms of additional flavors and balanced complexity. The price is more than reasonable for a cigar of this quality and flavor, making this a terrific addition to the Nomad lineup. Now my problem is that my local Nomad retailer is in the process of moving to a new location, and has let his stock of cigars dwindle down to virtually nothing, with no Nomads to be had, so I will be forced to turn to other sources to procure more of these.

Pairing:

The Fat Woody Scotch Ale from Silver City Brewery in Bremerton, WA is a variant of the Fat Scotch Ale I had previously paired with the 601 Green Label. This is the same 9.2% ABV strong Scotch ale, but has been aged in American white oak, giving it a smoother character with chocolate, plum, vanilla, and a strong malty sweetness. It’s a perfect pairing for the Nomad C-276, matching up with the cigar’s flavors, and filling in the gaps with complementary flavors of its own. I think a barley wine would also be a great way to go with the C-276.

The post Nomad C-276 Torpedo Guest Cigar Review appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Nomad Cigar Company was founded by Fred Rewey and introduced itself in 2012 with the release of a single cigar, the Limited Edition Fugitive Perfecto.  While that particular cigar is no longer made, the line has expanded with the addition of six other sizes:  Fugitive II Perfecto (6×51), Vagabond Perfecto (4-5/8×54), Rambler (5×50), Renegade (5-1/4×54), Navigator Torpedo (6×52), and Drifter (6×60).  2013 saw the release of the Nicaraguan lines Esteli Lot 1386 (very limited and now difficult to find) and S-307, while the Connecticut Fuerte came onto the market this year.  Here is Fred’s philosophy on the creation of Nomad which can also be view of their website here:

Understanding my thought process behind the Nomad Cigar Company can really be boiled down to the same three things that make a great smoke…

1. Great Tobacco
2. Great Blending
3. Great Construction

Some companies, big and small, cut corners. They think you can have two out of three and hit a home run among smokers.

I don’t believe that for a minute.

Your favorite cigar, your mainstay go-to cigar, is just that. It is a blend that you like and always an enjoyable smoke.

I wanted the quality of Nomad Cigars to “run with the big dogs.” Not just as a solid stick of tobacco, but across the entire line of offerings.

If you are looking for a quality $2.00 cigar…keep looking. It can’t be done without sacrificing pretty much all of the three things I mentioned above.

But you can make a incredible cigar at a fair price…

I wanted Nomad Cigar Company to be as close as you could get to create your own cigar – an elite club indeed. It is also no secret that I modeled the business side of my cigar companies after some of the world’s best – but with my own twist, passion, and influence.

I truly hope you enjoy Nomad cigars, tell friends, and join me* on this incredible journey.

Fred “GodFadr” Rewey
Founder, Nomad Cigar Company, Inc

PS> *When I say “join me,” I mean it. I respond to every email (although it takes me awhile sometimes). I also like Twitter. Send me a tweet, tell me about your latest smoke, or better yet, tell me where you are enjoying a Nomad Cigar (I may just show up and join you). Twitter: @Godfadr

I had the opportunity to meet Fred a couple of weeks ago at an informal “meet and greet” at one of my local cigar shops, J & J Cigars in Seattle, and had a great time chatting with him and listening in on some other very informative conversations.  Having previously had a couple of the classic line robusto sized Ramblers, I decided to pick up a few of the short perfecto Vagabonds while I was there. Nomad’s cigars are created at Tabacalera L & V in Tamboril in Dominican Republic.

Size:  4-5/8×54 perfecto
Wrapper:  Ecuadorian Habano
Binder:  Dominican
Filler:  Dominican
Price:  ~$7.75 (I can’t remember exactly, but I’m sure I paid more than that due to Washington state’s stupidly high tobacco taxes.)
Pairing:  Fremont The Brother Imperial IPA (Imperial IPA 8.5% ABV)

Pre-light: The Nomad Vagabond sports a faintly yellowish, medium brown wrapper with a few splotches of darker brown.  There is a fine tooth to it with a few very minor veins.  The cigar appears to be very well constructed with a firm, almost seamless, roll, although the foot is just a bit squishy.  It wears a band that appears to pay homage to Fred’s love of motorcycles, with a winged Maltese Cross in shades of red, brown, and black, with silver accents, and Fred’s “@GodFadr” Twitter handle in small print on the side.  The wrapper exudes a faint fruity sweetness accented by tobacco, while the foot aroma is of tobacco and a slightly mossy earth.  An easy clip reveals an ideal draw featuring sweet spice notes and a light woodiness.

First half: (Due to the short stature of this cigar, I will divide this review into halves, rather than thirds.) The Vagabond lights up very easily to show sweet cedar, earth, and leather with some spice in the background.  Pepper is evident on the retrohale.  Soon, a rich musty/musky tobacco joins in the fray.  The burn line is sharp, but a bit uneven, as it is pretty breezy out today.  The first ash fell onto my lap at about an inch, which I also attribute to the wind; my two previous experiences with this stick had the ash lasting a good two inches.  A sweet and tangy citrus component comes in next, while the pepper has backed off.  As the cigar nears the halfway point, the smoke texture is smooth both in the mouth and on the retrohale.

Second half: As the Vagabond begins its descent down its narrowing taper, it continues to be smooth and cedary, with some musty tobacco, light earth, and that citrus note in the background.  The pepper has transitioned into more of a smooth white pepper without the pepper bite, if that makes any sense.  The burn line has completely self-corrected and is still burning razor sharp.  Coming down the final stretch, outside of the addition of a bit of a savory flavor creeping in, the core flavors are pretty much the same, but have intensified while remaining smooth to the nub.  I felt just a little bit of a nicotine hit by the end of this 55 minute smoke, or perhaps it was the beer doing its thing.

Final thoughts: First off, I have to point out that this was my third go around with the Vagabond, and the smoke time on this one was quite a bit shorter than the previous two, which lasted in the 70-80 minute range.  I have to attribute that to the effect to the wind present today, causing a quicker burn and perhaps making me subconsciously smoke a little faster than normal.  The Nomad Vagabond is a truly enjoyable and nearly perfectly constructed stick.  While it doesn’t have a ton of different flavors, the ones it does have are great and the shape allows transitions in the way they show themselves, and I never had to even think about pulling out my lighter to do a correction or re-light.  In my mind this is easily a must try cigar, and I certainly will be buying more.

Pairing: The Brother by Seattle’s Fremont Brewing Company is an Imperial IPA carrying an ABV of 8.5%.  With flavors of citrus and other fruits (apricot, perhaps?) and malty sweetness with a good hoppy finish, it paired very nicely with the Nomad Vagabond.

The post Nomad Vagabond Guest Review appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.