StogieBoys.com has this to say about Thurman Thomas cigars:

NFL Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas has teamed up with StogieBoys and the highly reputable General Cigar Company to create a gem of a cigar brand. Manufactured by General Cigar (manufacturer of popular brands such as Punch, Macanudo, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterey, and more), these cigars will set the cigar world on fire.

Just the way he played football throughout his Hall of Fame career, Thurman Thomas’ cigars are silky smooth and deliver ample amounts of flavor. Smoke what the pros smoke and pick up a Thurman Thomas cigar today, only at StogieBoys.com.

The Facts

Samples Provided by StogieBoys.com
Price: $3.95 per Single/ $79.95 per Bundle/ $84.95 per Box
Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 by 52
Wrapper: Dominican (Natural)
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Pairing: Water
Smoke Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Pre-light

The natural wrapper is very light brown in color and greenish in some areas.  The tiny veins look like hundreds of cracks running down the cigar.  There are a few small tears in the wrapper, making it known that this wrapper is probably on the delicate side. The wrapper is firmly packed and I have located only one soft spot on the entire cigar.

The faint aroma off the wrapper is of wood, a light hay sweetness, and paper, while the foot gives off tobacco, light pepper, and some more woodiness. What appears to be a triple cap cuts clean with my Xikar Xi cutter revealing a beautiful, easy draw.  The cold draw is leaving a coolness in the mouth much like spearmint.  I am looking forward to lighting up this Thurman Thomas Hall of Fame Natural.

First Third

The smoke is light on the palate.  There are two dimensions to the flavor profile of the Hall of Fame Natural. On one side, there are softer flavors of sweet hay and wood.  The other side of the profile brings out the darker notes that include black coffee,  light pepper, and a toastyness. The black coffee is really brought forth on the retrohale, along with some spice.  A light grey, flaky ash is being left behind by an eyeliner burn that has a slight wave to it. An inch and a half in, a crack has formed running just short of an inch from the burn line down the wrapper. The flavors are mild moving up to medium as I put a close to the first third.

Middle Third

The milder flavors are hanging in the background and incorporate a sweet hay/woodiness that  is similar to the sweet bread flavor I picked up on in the Maduro version of the Hall of Fame. However, it is not as pronounced in the natural version.  Along with the coffee and toasty notes from the first third, there is also a unique popcorn flavor.  The smoke continues to be light on the palate.  I am really surprised by the boldness of the retrohale, while not overwhelming, it is much more than I anticipated with this natural wrapper.  The finish is short with some nuttiness and black coffee. The burn has surpassed the crack in the wrapper with no additional construction issues thus far. The flavors and strength have moved up to a solid medium.  The ash is holding firm close to an inch and half.

Final Third

Entering into the final third, I am now understanding the pace this cigar is to be smoked.  By letting it rest for a minute or two between draws has had a major impact on the flavor profile. The bitter notes fade, while the sweet wood, coffee and nuttiness are showcased.  However, the pace is way too slow for me.  Coming down to the band, I remove it with ease, but I am not sure if I will be smoking this cigar too much farther.  Bitter coffee is dominating the profile and it is time to put this Thurman Thomas cigar to rest.

Wrap-up

First off, a big thanks to the crew at StogieBoys.com for providing the samples.  The Thurman Thomas Hall of Fame Natural delivered consistent flavors (other than the bitterness in the final third) and it offered an excellent burn and a decent ash.  It was interesting to see the darker coffee and toasted notes in this Natural cigar. However, I believe a more pronounced sweetness would round out the profile and that is exactly what I found in the Maduro version. The Hall of Fame Maduro just fits my palate much more.  Also, the pace in which I smoked the Hall of Fame samples had an impact on both the Maduro and Natural versions.  So, if you have an opportunity to smoke the Thurman Thomas Hall of Fame, make sure to take your time.  With that said, you really can’t go wrong trying out this cigar.  You can pick up a single cigar or a five pack, heck even a bundle, without breaking the bank.

The post Thurman Thomas Hall of Fame Natural appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Facts
Samples Provided by StogieBoys.com
Price: $3.95 per Single/ $79.95 per Bundle/ $84.95 per Box
Format: Toro
Size: 6 by 52
Wrapper: Dominican (Maduro)
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Pairing: Water
Smoke Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Pre-light

The Dominican Maduro wrapper appears weathered with criss-crossing small and medium veins covering the length of the cigar.  To the touch, the wrapper feels like fine grain sandpaper and is firmly packed through and through.   The wrapper is inconsistent in color and has two different brown tones with one half of the wrapper being significantly darker.

There is a faint pungent aroma with a combination of earth, wood,  and pepper with a hint of sweetness.  Even though the aroma off the foot is light, it shows off welcoming honey and tea notes.  As I snip the cap of the cigar, the extremely packed tobacco underneath is revealed.  I hope I don’t have to fight a stiff draw.  As expected, the draw is on the firm side. After two more cuts, the draw is doable. I am unable to pick up much flavor on the cold draw.

First Third

After toasting the foot of the Thurman Thomas Hall of Fame Maduro, I am presented with leather, coffee, cedar and citrus undertones.  There are no dominating flavors, just a smooth, balanced profile. The smoke it light on the palate.  A mild pepper steps in about an inch into the cigar.  Also, I am noticing a nice mixture of bread dough and a hint of sweetness.  The flavor mix reminds me of sweet dinner rolls.  Very tasty.  Even though the draw has a little more resistance than preferred,  I am still able to pull a good amount of smoke with each puff. The burn line is right on, leaving a dark grey, dense ash which held on for over an inch. The flavors are in the mild to medium range, and I am feeling no nicotine.

Middle Third

The smoke has become creamy, presenting dry cedar (pencil shavings), pepper,and the same sweet dinner roll-like flavor. I could retro this Thurman Thomas Hall of Fame all day.  The creamy, woodsy smoke coats my nasal passage with each retrohale.   The sweet dough flavors continue to develop, playing a more significant role in the profile.  The finish brings forth roasted nuts, coffee, and a diesel-like flavor.  The Thurman Thomas Hall of Fame seems to be burning fast but I have not encountered any burn issues.  Once again, the ash held on over an inch.  The flavors are on the medium side and strength is on the low end.

Final Third

With about two and a half inches remaining, the smoke became warm allowing in bitter flavors.  I made a conscious effort to slow down from my normal smoking pace.   I am glad I did.  The flavors have once again meshed.  The flavor profile is similar to the first third with added roasted notes and  the smoke remains creamy.  As I make my way into the last final inch plus, I remove the band with ease.  I must be having some good luck going on because I have yet to review a cigar that put up a fight on the band removal.  Nothing to add about the burn line and ash other than they were exceptional the entire stick.  Flavors remain medium and the strength is still clocking in on the low to medium side.

Wrap-up

Taking price out of the picture, the Thurman Thomas Hall of Fame Maduro performed to par and is a great representation of a mild to medium Dominican puro.  The Maduro wrapper gives off the bread-like sweetness which fits perfectly with the woodsy filler notes.  Since I spend most of time with more full bodied, Nicaraguan cigars, it was nice to escape from by daily routine.  I  was presently surprised with the Thurman Thomas Hall of Fame Maduro.  Now putting price back into the picture, WOW! This could be a great everyday smoke for the mild/medium cigar smokers out there or a morning smoke for the more full-bodied guys.  This cigar would pair perfectly with a cup of Joe early in the morning or anytime of the day.  Grab a few sticks or a bundle from StogieBoys.com and give this Hall of Fame cigar a try.

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