Catelli Cigars – Modella Habano Bombshell – Cigar Review

I took a trip down to south Florida this past weekend to visit my friend Brian’s cigar shop – The Mancave Fort Lauderdale. It has been awhile since I have been there. It is always good to make your face seen now and then and of course it was good to have had the day off from work so I could spend some extra time while there.

All the rave in the Mancave Cigar Lounge recently, has been around Catelli Cigars, which is a small boutique cigar company based out of Boca Raton, Florida and have been in business since 2013. They currently have one line of cigars known as the Modella (Italian for Model) which are available in either an Ecuadorian Sun Grown Habano or Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and filler. The Modella is manufactured in Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory in the Esteli, Nicaragua.

Before I left for the ride home, Brian gifted me one each of the Modella Bombshells to sample and review.

 

Tonight I review the Modella Bombshell Habano which  is one of 7 vitolas offered in the Modella line, 5 of which, Catelli has named with quirky names for models and then two additional:

• Girl Next Door (Robusto) – 5 x 50 
• Perfection (Lancero) – 6 ½ x 42 Available in Habano wrapper only 
• Supermodel (Churchill) -6 ⅞ x 50
• Curves (Belicoso)  -6 ¼ x 52
• Bombshell (Grand Toro) -6 x 60
• Short Robusto – 4 x 50
• Short Grand Toro – 4 x 60

The Bombshell Maduro is a slightly rustic dark habano wrapped stick with some bumps and veins along the barrel but nothing that should impact the experience. It kind of reminds me of some Cuban cigars I enjoyed while overseas this past month. The band is simple in design with the gold word Catelli proudly embossed on it on a black background with the word Modella in black on a yellow background under it. The word Catelli is bordered with the gold and yellow logo.

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Before firing it up, I ran the Modella across my nose and picked up a woody/grassy scent on foot and a fermented tobacco on the barrel. After the clipping the triple cap and giving it a few dry draw puffs, there is a mild touch of red pepper on lips and unrestricted woody draw.

I used my four flame torch lighter to warm the foot and then fired it up. The first few puffs offer a deep woody flavor with a red pepper nasal burn on the retro hale. This is a cigar that I suggest taking it easy on the early puffs as it certainly opens up the pathway to scent with the nasal burn which lasts only a short amount of puffs and then settles down into a creamy mocha coffee note that enters quickly on the top of a rich mouth filling cedar smoke,. the experience is rounded out with a sweet almond aroma.

OK, this baby is starting off amazingly well!

The smoke is thick and creamy and the burn is perfect with a thick char line but the ash holds on for only about an inch. The flavors have all blended well at the end of the first third with a pronounced cedar note and a touch of pepper on the back of the throat.

As it transitions to the second third, the cedar gives way to a citrus peel note and the strength is moving up a notch to a solid medium. Midway through the second third, a mild nut flavor enters and moves back and forth citrus through the burn.

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I would like to make an observation about the Modella, this is not a cigar to let lay as it does go out easy as quickly learned.

The flavors recede quite a bit as it enters the final third as a peppery burn returns The strength remains medium through the rest of the cigar.

Overall, I would say this is a very good smoke that can be easily enjoyed any time of the day. The flavors on the front were especially delightful.

On a side note, the Catelli Cigars Packaging is eye-catching on the shelf with a box that houses the models for your viewing pleasure.

 

Additionally Catelli Cigars have some very cool glasses for your favorite beverage that are etched with the Catelli logo and a silhouette of a  model with one of the Modella names.