As I was enjoying the Easter and Passover weekend with my family, I looking for some cigars I have not smoked lately and decided to pick out a Hiram & Solomon Veiled Prophet Monarch. As I was smoking this I realized this is a cigar I have not reviewed yet on Stogie Press and decided it was time. Heck they have been resting long enough in my humidor and have been shouting out; ‘Me, Me, please review me!!’
If you recall, I reviewed the larger 7 x 60 Veiled Prophet, back in March of last year. That big mama of a cigar was released in 2016. Hiram & Solomon decided in 2018, that they should release a toro line extension and introduced, what would be known as, the Veiled Prophet Monarch at the 2018 IPCPR.
Unlike the original which came packaged in Individual coffins, the Veiled Prophet Monarch comes packaged in 20-count, split top boxes, similar to the rest the of the Hiram & Solomon portfolio.
The Veiled Prophet Monarch weighs in at 6 x 54, a significant reduction from the original, but not in flavor.
The blend was tweaked slightly and is described as:
- Wrapper– Aged Brazilian Arapiraca Colorado
- Binder– Indonesia
- Filler– Habano Esteli, Paraguay, Habano Jalapa Ligero
A bold blend indeed! Like all Hiram & Solomon cigars, the Veiled Prophet Monarch is hand crafted at Plasencia Cigars S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua. The company has set the MSRP at $10.50/cigar.
I’ll be honest, as I am in all reviews I do, I smoked 5 of these since coming back from the show last year and I can say they have gotten better with age. So today’s review is based on a cigar that has been resting in my humidor for 9 months.
Pre-Light Examination
The Hiram & Solomon Veiled Prophet Monarch presents itself with a dark brown and marbled wrapper that has a high oil sheen. There are a few noticeable veins but it has been well packed and pressed giving it a smooth feel to the touch.
As is the case with all Hiram & Solomon cigars, there is a single band that adorns the cigar using the same same masonic logo. The only difference is the color and in this case it is red, black, and silver.
Hiram and Solomon Veiled Prophet Monarch 
Hiram and Solomon Veiled Prophet Monarch
The barrel had a pungent fermented leaf aroma and the foot exuded a fragrant cedar note.
I did a straight cut, as I do with all cigars I review now, and took in some cold draw puffs. The draw was spot on as my lips warmed to the pepper notes that eventually made it to the back of my throat. My tongue was brightened with a natural tobacco sweetness.
Having smoked a few prior to the review, I wanted to get right into the official note taking and enjoy the journey, which I was about to go on with the Prophet. i fired it with a low flame triple torch lighter and took in the first palate awaking pepper shots.
Cigar Review Notes
- Pepper smack on the first light
- Light grey ash evolves on a thick, slightly wavy, char line
- Some early oils begin to ooze on the wrapper, just above the burn line
- A buttery note is trying to break through the early pepper
- The draw is just fine with a full volume of smoke
- As the pepper pulls back cocoa-butter finds its way in
- The ash fell revealing a slightly off centered burn cone
- Floral aroma develops
- Butter brightens with an added cinnamon spice
- Wrapper is getting a little sticky from the oils (this is amazing)
- Dry fruit enters to round out the introductory profile
- The burn begins to correct and the ash grows solidly
- Sweetness begins to enter in the second third along with a pleasant nut aroma
- Strength hit a solid full midway into the burn
- Earthy notes join the mix just south of the band
- Sweetness continues to evolve in the background
- Nut aroma morphs into almond sensation near the final third
- This is a strong cigar at this point
- Savory notes blend with the earth down tot he final with back ground of sweetness and a spicy meat aroma (think BBQ cooking)
- Full Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 20 minutes
Overall, the Hiram & Solomon Veiled Prophet Monarch is a cigar designed for experienced cigar enthusiasts. The strength picks up near the half way point and does not pull back through the finish. The flavors were complex in the first half but settled in a more of a blend of spice and sweetness in the second half with bold and fragrant aromas. The were some burn issue s until it got to the midway point where things started to be trouble free. I rate this a 94.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn Line; (-1) Off centered Burn Cone (-1); Mild Off Burn
Bonus Points: (+1) Extreme Oiling
Thanks for the great review! It was a pleasure blending this cigar for my friends at Hiram & Solomon Cigars!
Wonderful summary. I live near me an Arbor Michigan area which is the suburb of Detroit. I have not seen this at any of the tobacconists anywhere. Do you know where I can get them? Thank you.
Respectfully,
Russ Brown
The closest shops are Tobacco Town in Riverview and La Casa Cigars in Detroit – if you go the company’s site https://www.hiramandsolomoncigars.com/ there is a retailers page that has the ability to type in a zip code and it will show you the shops. Thanks for reading Stogie Press.