My fellow TNCC miscreant, we usually refer to him as “Tut”, is a frequent visitor to Smokers Abbey in Cedar Park, TX. It’s a phenomenal lounge with an exceptional humidor that’s curated wonderfully by a highly knowledgable tobacconist named Ian Harvey. The way that I understand Tut’s process for buying cigars is as follows:
1. Tut wakes up, looks in his humidor, and realizes that he’s smoked all of his cigars
2. Tut drives to Smokers Abbey
3. Tut opens the door to Smokers Abbey and enters
4. Tut asks Ian what cigars he should buy
5. Ian selects some premium cigars that he believes Tut will enjoy
6. Tut enjoys the cigars
photo courtesy of Smokers Abbey website
It’s a 6 step process that has proven to successfully work for Tut time and time again. Technically, there’s a 7th step involving an embarrassing amount of pancakes but I left that out as a professional courtesy to Tut. So when he recently left his travel humidor behind after a late night bullshit session here in The Corner Of No Hope, I had a strong suspicion that the Matilde cigar contained within it was an Ian selection. Why did I open it? Well, why do I do a lot of things that I do? And I had an even stronger hunch that if I smoked it and reviewed it, Tut would never be the wiser because I don’t believe he visits our website often, if ever. So, essentially, I’m reviewing a cigar without the owner’s permission tonight. If that bothers you ethically, you’ve really come to the wrong place…
THE CIGAR – RENACER by MATILDE CIGARS
Size: 6.5 x 54 (Toro Bravo)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian habano
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Price: $9.99 (purchased, not by me, from Smokers Abbey and you can order directly from them online HERE)
The Renacer features a semi-oily, medium-brown wrapper leaf that emits a dry earthy aroma. There’s also some slightly sweet mesquite found when sniffing the foot of the cigar directly. After a quick punch of the cap, there’s equal parts must, freshly cut grass, and peanut shells on the cold draw.
Upon ignition, a gentle spice quickly develops through the nose while dark roast coffee is the primary note found via the draw here early on. Around the 1” mark, a slight graphite sensation appears underneath the retrohale’s consistently mild spice. Construction is very good so far with a smooth draw that’s producing a ton of dark grey smoke.
A well-worn leather note has now joined the dominant coffee flavor pouring through the draw. While there hasn’t been an abundance of flavors presented thus far, everything in play is clearly defined and working nicely together as a whole. A subtly touch of orange zest suddenly appears alongside the escalating graphite and the now-muted spice. The Renacer is consistently mild in strength and medium bodied here in the first half.
I thump off the Renacer’s strong ash as we approach the fifty yard line, who knows how long that sucker would’ve clung on… The spice is now almost entirely diminished and that’s a detriment to the cigar’s overall profile. The now graphite-heavy retro seems out of balance with the draw’s core flavors of coffee and leather.
As the Renacer’s burn line approaches the secondary band, a mesquite note begins to shine through on the retrohale just as a hint of cream joins the draw. That woodsy element tempers down the graphite nicely and the result is a sense of balance for the first time.
The Renacer’s overall construction has continued to impress with a smooth draw and impressive burn line. Everything continues to work better together here in the second half. Ideally that creamy component would take itself more seriously but it’s fine serving as a minor accent note to the coffee/leather. Speaking of coffee, I’d love to pair this cigar with a Caffè Americano in the morning hours or perhaps a few fingers of bourbon after 11am CST.
When I attempt to remove the Renacer’s primary band, it’s glued on tight. When I’m eventually able to tear it off, a small piece of wrapper leaf tears off with it. The final third doesn’t quite live up to the second but it still far exceeds the first. Mesquite and muted graphite and spice upstairs, steady coffee and leather downstairs. The cigar begins to smoke a bit hotter than I prefer with about two inches remaining. This results in the overall flavor profile becoming a bit muddled… I’m starting to wish it was 11am CST but, alas, no delicious brown help is coming my way.
THE NUB
TNCC Final Score = 88
The Matilde Renacer’s story is a tale of two halves. After being underwhelmed early on, the cigar’s flavor profile really came alive for me in the second half. I walked away from the 73 minute smoking experience with a mostly favorable impression. So the next time I’m at Smokers Abbey, maybe I’ll try the Matilde Serena or perhaps I’ll go all in and grab their 5-count Matilde robusto sampler. Or I could just wait for Tut to purchase these and hope he leaves them behind again.
To be continued… possibly.
