Crimson Lords Short Fuse Cigar
Today I review the Crimson Lord Cigars Short Fuse – one of the cigars you wish was at IPCPR 2014.
This time my travels have taken me to Tokyo Japan and like every city around the world I always look for a comfortable place to enjoy my sticks. This time it was a quaint pub on the 10th floor of a building in Shinjuku Japan known as the Hermit Bar. Walking in, I was greeted with personal warmth and a cool oshibori (cool wet towel to wipe your face.) Sitting at the small bar I glance at the many bottles of brown elixir from the Isle of Scot and decide it was a good time to enjoy some Oban, and then followed with some Macallan, and finished with some Japanese Hakashu (Heavily Peated) – one of the best Japanese Single Malts. Of course another nice thing about Japan, is getting whisky on the rock. They take a single block of ice and chop it away to make a nice ball that they pour the fine brown elixir over, so it cools the drink but the ice doesn’t really melt; at least not that fast.
I reached into my cigar caddy and pulled out the Short Fuse from Crimson Lord Cigar Co. This stick is as unique as this bar I am in. One of the special features of this stogie is the “fuse ” at the end. It is a long stem, that runs down the middle of the cigar and as explained to me by Craig, from Crimson Lord, is intended to be pulled out like the pin of a grenade to open the draw. So I clip the head as my new bartender friend Yoshi-san looks on and hands me a crystal cigar ashtray, which sealed the deal, this is my new stogie place the rest of the week. I pull out the stem and take a nice pre-light draw. Yep the draw is open, and there was some woody flavor coming through.
I fired it up and drew in a nice cheek-full of rich smoke. The head was sweet and the smoke was medium in character. The foot of this 5×54 Corona Figurado developed into a nice pointy white ash as cool John Coltrane jazz played in the background, courteous bartenders wiped each glass clean before serving and always polishing the bottles before returning them to the shelf. I was examining my stick twirling it in my hand as the perfect pyramid ash point developed. and burned white. The wafts of smoke from the short fuse burning leaf fills the air with sweetness to the compliments of those around me. Fruity notes with a hint of roasted almonds. This could easily pair with some aged rum, bourbon, or even Disaronno Amaretto.
The first 3rd has been a delight. A medium body so far that is not lacking in flavor or smoke. The retro hale was clean without a bite. The silky brown wrapper was starting to oil up. The bartender now shaves the ice into the perfect ball that was once a rock of frozen water. The jet lag and sleep deprivation starts to kick in a bit, but the friendly and tasty short fuse keeps me going. The ash fell just at the wrapper line. A good soldier it was, but just couldn’t hold on longer. Removing the wrapper I continue the journey as the profile shifts to some coffee and light spice and a rich creamy smoke. The burn is still perfect and the draw solid.
The stick had no soft spots, it is obviously well constructed. The finish was as good as the start but with a hint of spice that kicked in. I was sad to let it go, I wanted another. Yoshi-san presented me the tab and after settling up, he escorted me to the elevator and wished my goodnight (Kanbanwa) and hoped I would drop in again. I gave a gentle bow and a verbal Arigatou gozaimasu (thank you), and head back to my hotel with the flavor of the short fuse still coating my palate and the scent still fixed in my nostrils.
The Crimson Lord Cigar Company site describe the Short Fuse as:
It’s not often a cigar is introduced with such unique flavor and character that it literally “Blows you away.” Crimson Lord Cigars introduces our inaugural premium cigar, The Short Fuse. Born in the mountains of Esteli, Nicaragua, standing 5.5 x 54, this dynamite cigar is wrapped in carefully cured Brazilian Samba with a choice one leaf proprietary blend of Nicaraguan filler and a select quality Ecuador binder. The result is a true full bodied cigar with a kick of spice and flavor that will knock your socks off.
Thanks Crimson Lord Cigars, this is a great stick, I highly recommend this to all my Brothers and Sisters of the Leaf.