Cigar: Cuban Crafters Cabinet Select Chairman
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Habano 2000 (not stated but I believe to be Nicaraguan)
Filler: Sun Grown Cuban Seed Habano (not stated but I believe to also be Nicarguan)
Vitola: 6×60
Price: 118.75/box of 25
Setting: Sun Room, 4pm, about 50 degrees out, drinking a Barq’s.
Pre-light:
This is a large firmly packed cigar. The wrapper is a nice dark brown with dark streaks in it. It is a bit lumpy with prominent veins and the wrap is obvious leaving some small gaps. The cap looks to be a pigtail that someone cut off the tail. The cigar has a nice barnyard smell to it. The cap cut easily with the Cranial Screw Top method though the cold draw left me spitting out some small pieces of tobacco. There was only a light taste of tobacco on the cold draw. Draw has just a touch of resistance, which is nice for such a large cigar.
First third:
The cigar took a bit to light up, but that’s to be expected in such a large cigar. Once fully lit I took my first puff and was greeted with a somewhat unusual roasted nut flavor. Not a bad flavor, but not one I’ve tasted before. Paired with that is some leathery flavors and a touch of bitterness. The finish is light and clean though slightly bitter. As I get about an inch in the bitterness starts to fade and the leathery flavor comes to the front. The ash is holding strong with no flakiness. The burn continues to be wavy but hasn’t needed any touchups.
Second third:
While, right at about the two inch mark the ash dumped on my lap in a big lump. Sure is solid stuff. The flavors on this thing really like to change a lot. The leather has faded and now a woody/cinnammony/nutmeggy taste has come to the fore. Reminds me of Christmas. The body is in the medium plus range, but definitely not full. Smoke production is about average. The slight bitterness remains but is not a problem. The burn line has evened out for the most part. The finish has thickened up a bit but still pretty clean.
Final third:
Well, I’m hitting the final third a bit over an hour in, which seems kinda short for such a big cigar. But everything is coming along smoothly. The spice flavor has dimished with a bit of the leather and earthy tobacco taste now coming to the front. And again, the ash dumped in my lap right at the two inch mark. The body has picked up in the final third to more of the full range. Not feeling too much of vitamin nic though.
Final thoughts:
First I want to thank MarkinCA for gifting this to me last summer. Overall I thought it was a pretty good cigar. Enough flavor changes to be interesting and ended on a really nice note. Smoke time seemed a bit fast for such a large cigar at an hour and a half, most robustos take me that long. But burn and construction were great. Don’t know if I would go seeking them out, but would definitely smoke another and even pick some up at a good price. Just too much stuff I like better in this price range. But to those thinking about it they are for sure worth giving a shot.
Liked it: Yes
Buy again: Probably not, unless I saw a great deal
Recommend: Very much
on the Stogie Review Fan Forum. Ratters is also a regular commenter and review contributor here on The Stogie Review.
Cuban Crafters makes some great cigars especially the 1959 Medina Miami and the Don Kiki Brown. Most of the time they have outrageous discounts on the cigars. Cuban Crafters is by far my favorite boutique cigar maker. Check out the Stogie Guys – they have many reviews of thier line of cigars.
Thanks for the review.
Both these guys and Taboo are on my list to try some day. Thanks for the review1
didnt know they made cigars, thought they just made humidors…
I ORDERED A BOX OF THEIR CAMEROON BUT THEY SENT ME CABINET SELECTION. I AM HAPPY FOR THE MIX UP. I GOT THE ROBUSTOS. VERY NICE SMOKE. I WOULD SAY THE THE SPICIEST CIGAR I HAVE EVER SMOKED. VERY FULL FLAVORED. WHEN CHARACTERISTIC ABOUT A TOP OF THE LINE CIGARS IS THEY WILL GIVE YOU A BUZZ BUT YOU DO NOT FEEL LIKE THROWING UP UNLIKE THE OLIVIA SERIES V. IT FOR ME WAS SIMILAR TO THE CAMACHO 11/18 BUT JUST SPICIER. LIKE THE CAMACHO IT WAS A VERY CREAMY SMOKE. I WOULD RECOMMEND IT.
I have smoked hundreds of the Cuban Crafter cigars…….tried them all and find them very well made, even burn, very flavorfull with a taste profile that is unique to their tobacco blends. The Cabinet Selection Toro is one my my favorite cigars. Evening after meal, with a sturdy libation on the rocks. Always found them to have an exceptional draw with full tabacco flavors, spice, cedar notes, silky wrapper, smooth draw. Not a fan of the Pyramides……strong on the front, smokes different than the traditional shapes/sizes.
The J.L. Salazar y Hermanos is among one of the most unique blends I have ever smoked……stand alone and distinct. Complex array of cedar, exciting spice profile, rich Habano cuban seed aged tobaccos that very much a Old Cuban cigar experience. Love the curly tail finish. A cigar for the adventuresome and experienced palate.
I am very dissapointed by Cuban Crafters client service team.
I’ve bought months ago, 2 bundles of Don Quijote Robustos and the transaction went smooth and with no problems.I’ve delivered the cigars within a month and I must admit I enjoyd this Don Quijote very much.I’ve placed a new order,this time a much more expensive one and this time, after 2 whole months,my package is nowhere to be found.The CC client service didn’t respond to any of my 4 e-mails,so I’ve called them to speak directly with somebody,only to get informed that they’ve send the package by Global service,meaning they can’t track it.No “sorry”, no cigars,no refund,no compensation.Thancks for nothing CUBAN CRAFTERS.You’ve just lost my buziness…
I am very disappointed by Cuban Crafters client service team.
I’ve bought months ago, 2 bundles of Don Quijote Robustos and the transaction went smooth and with no problems. I’ve received the cigars within a month and I must admit I enjoyed this Don Quijote very much. I’ve placed a new order, this time a much more expensive one and this time, after 2 whole months, my package is nowhere to be found. The CC client service didn’t respond to any of my 4 e-mails, so I’ve called them to speak directly with somebody, only to get informed that they’ve send the package by Global service,meaning they can’t track it. No “sorry”, no cigars, no refund, no compensation. Thanks for nothing CUBAN CRAFTERS. You’ve just lost my business…
I’ve smoked a number of Cuban Crafters cigars, and they make some good ones. Lit up one of these big hummers and was disapointed when the cabbie made me put it out for a cross town ride. In short I really enjoyed it.