The Swinger Cigar Company is a new boutique company based out Michigan.
Their current line of cigars are primarily targeted to golfers, but that does not mean you have to hit the links to enjoy a Swinger cigar. They currently have two blends available, the Front 9 and the Back 9. Each blend comes in three vitolas:
- Par 3 – 5 1/2 x 52
- Par 4 – 6 x 60
- Par 5 – 7 x 54
Today I sit in the Gar Cave on a rainy Florida day to review the Swinger Cigar Co. Back 9 – Par 3 vitola. This cigar was provided to me by Swinger Cigar and in total transparency, the owner of the Swinger Cigar Company is a friend of mine.
Swinger Cigar Back 9
Swinger Cigars are packaged in a beautiful green lacquered box emblazoned with the Swinger Logo and blend. These can’t be missed on a humidor shelf. The Back 9 is blended from a Cubra wrapper which is a Brazilian Corojo Habano hybrid and contains a Dominican binder with a Dominican-Nicaraguan filler. Swinger cigars are manufactured in the Las Lavas factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Examining the Back 9, it is a well constructed cigar, firm to the touch with minimal veins. The wrapper has light oily feel and has a russet brown color to it. The cap is perfectly applied. The cigar is adorned with a bold red and silver band with the words “BACK 9” prominently displayed.
So far this cigar shapes up to be a smoke I would enjoy on the golf course. So lets take it for a spin. I clip the head and light it up. Immediately, I get some black pepper on the retro-hale. Think of just finishing lunch after the front nine and starting to tee off on the 10th hole. The pepper awakens the palate and the nostrils and you are ready for the next nine. As you get to the 11th hole the pepper fades to the background and there is a hint of citrus peel bitterness that comes though, much like that of a lemon peel.
Hopefully your game is progressing as well as the burn on this stogie. The burn line is especially fine. There was a mild wave at the start, perhaps it was how I ignited it, but without any touch up the burn fixes itself.
The ash is medium grey and toothy but tight as you will see. The smoke is full with plenty to exhale and retro-hale. The early bitter note gives way to hints of citrus with a back note of pepper.
As you approach the 2nd third, there is a nice balance of oak, earth, and spice that develops. I would think this would be near the 13th hole of your game and you too should be balanced and as focused as the BACK 9 is. The ash is still hanging strong – unwavering and still tight.
Walking down the fairway there is a gentle sweetness developing and near the middle of the second third the oak is turning more nutty in flavor. The pepper is receding nicely though it still lingers on my lips.
I remove the band which was easy to do, which is good, since I did not want to disturb the long straight ash. I would be curious to see how long I could hold the ash during a round of golf. The ash does fall deep into the final third as the nutty flavor reveals itself as a sweet almond flavor for the finish.
Swinger Cigar – Back 9
The Swinger Cigars Par 3 lasted a little over an hour. I would think the Par 5 would last most of the 9 holes. I would love to see Swinger come out with a “19th hole” so you could relax after golf with an even bolder stick and a glass of single malt, but that would be another story.
