At this years Tobacco Plus Expo (TPE) in Las Vegas Hiram & Solomon Cigars and Cigars for Warriors (CFW) showcased a special collaboration cigar known as Live2Serve. Officially released in May of this year, this Limited Release was made available exclusively to CFW donation center retailers, and 100% of the cigar’s profits will benefit Operation: Cigars for Warriors.
Storm Boen, Chairman and CEO of Operation: Cigars for Warriors said in the official press release:
“It’s my great pleasure to say that Hiram & Solomon have crafted a great cigar, which I have enjoyed tremendously. We’re very proud of the strong partnership we have with Hiram & Solomon in developing this new CFW program to benefit our Donation Centers and deployed troops.”
The Live2Serve cigar’s blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Mexican San Andrés
- Binder – Mexico
- Filler – Dominican Corojo (Ligero and Seco), Criollo 98 Ligero, Panama Broadleaf
The cigars are rolled at the PDR factory in the Dominican Republic under strict supervision of Abe Flores.
Fouad Kashouty, founder and owner of Hiram & Solomon Cigars said:
“As Freemasons one of our core teachings is Charity. At Hiram & Solomon Cigars we take pride in being highly acknowledged for our philanthropic orientation. So it comes as no surprise that our aim is to reciprocate with our humble gesture the priceless sacrifices that our soldiers endure in order to secure our freedom.”
Expressed in a single (6 x 52) toro, the Live2Serve had a limited production of just 500 boxes of 20. MSRP is set at $10.00/cigar with the agreement that 100% of the proceeds go to Cigars For Warriors.
For this review I sampled 2 of these cigars.
Pre-Light Examination
The Live2Serve is cloaked in a marbled and oily, medium brown wrapper, that has a light tooth to it. The cigar is packed tight and heavy in the hand. There are just a few veins running through the wrapper and no discernable soft spots along the barrel. A simple cap completes the presentation.
Two bands adorns the cigar that each uses a red, white, and blue motif with the same hues as the CFW logo. There are also bright gold foil adornments around the each band along with the eagle on top and the Hiram & Solomon logo.
Running the cigar along the nose, I picked up a pleasant baking spice note along the barrel conjoined with notes of earth, citrus, and cinnamon off the foot. This is beginning to have the makings of a a fine smoking experience.
I used my double blade cutter to slice that simple cap straight across the shoulder and proceeded to give the cigar some cold draw puffs. The draw was excellent, spot on with proper restriction and offered equally pleasant notes of natural tobacco sweetness and a unique spice I am not able to identify.
With the pre-light much to my liking, it was time to set the flame to the foot and begin the journey. The foot took well to the heat of of double flame torch and the first puffs opened my nasals with a burst of black peppery notes. Follow along as I burn the Live2Serve to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Black pepper shot to the nasals right off first puffs
- Cinnamon notes begin to develop
- Solid white ash forms on top of a wavy thin char line
- Chocolate notes evolve in the background
- Grilled meat aroma wafts off the foot
- Off burn begins to show
- Long ash has grown from the initial light
- Sweet butter notes enter the mix
- Aroma shifts to a fruit note deep in the second third
- Ash finally fell after a long run and revealed an off centered burn cone
- Honey sweetness fills in the background
- Spice notes form deep in the second third
- Aroma morphs once again to a maple syrup note
- Spice builds down to final
- Pleasant lingering nut lays on the palate
- Medium Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 25 minutes
Final Analysis
The Hiram & Solomon/CFW/PDR Live2Serve is more than just a philanthropic cigar to support our brave service women and men. It is a fine cigar with or without that band which would and should be enjoyed by any cigar enthusiast. It offered quite a pleasantly complex profile with well balanced flavors and aromas from foot to nub. I especially enjoyed the shifting and morphing aromas including the grilled meat note. This is a cigar that you should buy a box for both enjoyment and support of our military that put their lives on the line to keep you safe. I rate this a 94.
Point Deductions: (-1) Slight Off Burn; (-1) Off Centered Burn Cone; (-1) Wavy Burn
Bonus Points: (+1) Buy a Box; (+1) Extreme Solid Ash; (+1) Complex Profile
