New cigar companies were few and far between at the 2019 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) trade show. This we can attribute, for the most part. to the forthcoming FDA regulations that make entering the premium cigar market difficult and expensive. So when I see a new brand like Platinum Nova Cigars, taking the shot, I applaud them.
Platinum Nova Cigars was founded by company CEO, Leonor “Leo” Abzaradel, who many of you know as @cigarblondie on Instagram. Leo has tobacco in her blood. Her Grandfather was a master blender and entrepreneur in the cigar industry. The company website notes:
“Our love for cigars started with our Grandfather… For many years we traveled around the vast regions of tobacco fields on a mission to try, test and blend in a manner to uncover what a truly Ultra-premium cigar should smoke like. We shared many adventures with our Grandfather, met countless amazing people and established numerous relations with the best growers in the industry. Our Grandfather passed away at 91 years old in 2017.
His spirit remains with us and we will continue the legacy bestowed upon us to create the best cigars, the cigars we smoked together.”
The company added Aurelio “Ari” Riego, a man with over ten years of experience, most recently working with Casa de Montecristo and Nat Sherman before joining Premium Nova Cigars in February of this year.
Additionally, the company also has its own factory, Nova Cigars S.A., in the Dominican Republic.
So, here is a new company, with cigar industry veteran leadership, its own cigar factory, and started shipping its first limited production portfolio of cigars in February of 2019 and showcased its regular production line at the trade show and started shipping them in August.
The regular production line includes 9 blends, each available in a single vitola:
- Nova Club Edition Toro (6 x 50) MSRP $18.00
- Platinum Nova Classic (5.5 x 50) MSRP $13.75
- Platinum Nova Congress (7 x 43) MSRP $18.00
- Platinum Nova Mirage (6 x 60) MSRP $18.00
- Platinum Nova Sultan (6.25 x 55) MSRP $16.95
- Personal Reserve Leo X (5.75 x 50) MSRP $21.70
- Platinum Batch Robusto (5 x 54) MSRP $11.99
- Platinum Batch Toro (6 x 54) MSRP $12.99
- Platinum Batch Torpedo (6 x 54) MSRP $13.99
For this review, I sampled the Platinum Batch Torpedo which was gifted to me by a great BOTL, Juan Nunez, owner of Coyoba Cigars. Juan and I were hanging out at the Drew Estate X Art Basel event last Friday – December 6, 2019. Thanks Juan!
The Platinum Batch Torpedo
The Platinum Batch Torpedo from Platinum Nova Cigars has a blend described as:
- Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano 2000)
- Binder: Dominican Republic
- Filler: Dominican Republic
It is expressed in a single, 6 x 54 Torpedo vitola and comes packaged in 20-count bundles. This is only one of two Platinum Nova Cigars blends that come in bundles vs boxes. MSRP is set at $279.80/bundle or $13.99/cigar.
Pre-Light Examination
To start with, make no bones about it, the Platinum Nova Cigars – Platinum Batch Torpedo is a beautifully constructed cigar in booth looks and feel. It starts with a light sheen, medium brown wrapper, with a slight reddish-orange tinge to it. The wrapper is smooth to the touch with just a a few veins in the barrel. The cigar is finished with a perfectly wrapped and completed torpedo cap.
The cigar is adorned with two bands. Both bands use a light aqua, black, and silver motif. The primary band proudly displays the Platinum Nova Cigars logo that is in of itself a classy band. Directly below, the secondary band defines this as the Platinum Batch.
Running the Platinum Batch Torpedo across the nose I noted a very mild earth aroma off the foot. There was not much aroma on the barrel.
I proceeded to slice the cap on a 45 degree angle, as I do on all torpedo vitolas I smoke, and took in some cold draw puffs. The restriction was spot on, with the cap cut back about an 1/4 inch. The cold draw graced my palate with a refined peppery spice that lingered gently on the lips after each puff.
Using a double flame torch lighter, I warmed the foot to a bright orange glow and drew on the first puffs of pepper and lightly bitter cocoa notes. Follow along as I break down the Platinum Nova Cigars – Platinum Batch Torpedo.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initially light bitter cocoa notes with a peppery background
- Settles in quick as the cocoa smooths out and becomes more prominent
- Pleasant floral aromas waft off the foot early in the burn
- A solid white ash develops with a slightly wavy and medium char line
- Cedar notes join the profile
- Ash fell in a solid chunk with a perfect burn cone
- The cocoa notes morph into vanilla
- Fruit notes brighten the profile moving into the second third
- Aroma shifts to a hint of sweet nut
- Mild spice enters midway
- Bitter notes enter deep in the second third
- Spice ratchets up end of second third
- As the burn enters the final third it burns a burns a tad hot to the touch
- Mild to Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Overall, the Platinum Nova Cigars – Platinum Batch Torpedo was a very pleasant smoking experience. It has exquisite transitions and morphing of flavors and aromas starting from the first puff down to the final, so good pleasant that I forgot to take some extra photos but you see how it ended. It did have a slightly wavy burn and burned a tad hot to the touch in the final, but in the end this is one that I say buy a bundle. I rate this a solid 94.
Point Deductions: (-1) Slightly Wavy Burn; (-1) burned hot to the touch in the final; (-1) Bitter Notes end of second third
Bonus Point: (+1) Buy a Bundle
