Back in May of 2022, Ohana Cigars and 262 Cigars announced they have formed a business partner relationship to re-release their blends through a common factory in Nicaragua – Tabacalera Pages de Nicaragua S.A.. The new partnership is known as Ohana Nui with Madison Money and Ryan Frank Rodriguez as co-owners. Though technically the same blends, the cigars in the collective portfolios will be incorporating higher grade leaf in the construction with a mild tweak to account for the new leaf from the factory. They are planning to showcase these at the 2023 Total Product Expo (TPE) in Las Vegas NV this coming February.
The combined entity states on their website:
“It’s a name that recognizes the merging of operations between two families. Madison Money (262 Cigars) and Ryan Rodriguez (Ohana Cigars).
Like Ohana, 262 was founded by father and son, and together we wanted to pay homage to that.
We believe Ohana Nui exemplifies the spirit of camaraderie, sisterhood, brotherhood, friendship and family. Ohana Nui is the embodiment of love and passion for cigars.“
We recently interviewed the team where you can learn about the amazing new work that this team is working on.
It should be noted that both companies had kind of taken a hiatus during the Pandemic along with 262 Cigars being acquired from owner Clint Aaron by Madison Money after which the two companies forged their alliance.
Today I would like to offer my review on the new 262 Revere Box Pressed Toro, which I recently received some samples of to review on Stogie Press.
The blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Mexican San Andres
- Binder – Nicaragua (double binder)
- Filler – Nicaragua
The 262 Revere is expressed in two vitolas each packaged in 20-count bundles and boxes:
- Robusto (5 x 50) – MSRP $9.00
- Box Pressed Toro (6 X 52) – MSRP $10.00
The company notes that a Lancero and a Corona will extend the line in 2023.
For this review I sampled tow of the 262 Revere Box Pressed Toros
Pre-Light Examination
The 262 Cigars Revere is draped in a smooth dark brown and lightly oily wrapper. The box pressed cigar feels a tad light in the hand, probably from the normal underfill needed for the box pressing, which has more of rounded edge as opposed to a crisp edge. The cigar is also finished with a closed foot and a simple cap.
The cigar is adorned with a single black, silver and white band that boldly notes this is the 262 Revere using a distressed font. Below that is the phrase “smoke the revolution”. There is also some nice scroll work placed around the logo and a silver star on the left side of the band.
Running the 262 Revere barrel along the nose, my nasals were greeted with a pungent fermented leaf aroma while the closed foot exuded a slight floral note.
I used my CigarMedics Baller cutter to open the cap and drew in a few cold puffs that I found to be spot on with restriction while gracing the palate with a light peppery note along with floral and natural tobacco sweetness.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial light hits with a hefty dose of pepper on the palate and the nose
- White ash forms on top of a thin even burn line
- Full volume of smoke from the first puff
- Pepper fades back and gives way to more a floral note after a half inch of burn
- Natural sweetness fills in the profile
- Ash is solid and growing longer on every puff
- A delicate and nuanced spice note starts to evolve midway
- Currant notes
- Incredibly long solid ash fell past the midway revealing a well-formed and centered burn cone
- Dark Chocolate nuances wrap the currant offering a unique flavor note
- Mild jag in the burn once the ash fell
- Dry fruit notes and spice take you down to the end
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1hour and 35 minutes
Final Analysis
Though not the most complex cigar, the 262 Revere is still quite pleasant even with its mild to medium profile. It certainly awakens the senses early on, with a hefty dose of peppery spice before settling down to a rather tasty journey of floral and natural sweetness it could be described as rather Cubanesque through its first third. The midway spice and currant notes wrapped in dark chocolate are a pleasurable transition and creates quite an enticing flavor sensation on the palate. This construction and burn were spectacular carrying what may be the longest ash a cigar carried this year for me. This is most certainly a box worthy smoke and one that can be enjoyed any time of the day. I rate this a 95.
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild Jag in burn once the Long Ash fell
Bonus Points: (+1) Extremely Long Ash; (+1) Box Worthy
