ATL Cigars continues its mission of celebrating Atlanta’s rich cultural heritage with the La Carrousel-1960, a cigar inspired by the famed La Carrousel jazz club that operated within Atlanta’s historic Paschal’s Motor Hotel during the Civil Rights era. The venue welcomed legendary musicians while serving as a gathering place for community leaders, making it an appropriate namesake for a cigar intended to deliver a memorable experience.
Paschal’s was a hub of Atlanta’s civil rights movement-an unofficial headquarters where leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis gathered – while La Carrousel became the city’s jazz heartbeat. Legends like Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Dizzy Gillespie, and Herbie Hancock performed there.
In the middle of the Jim Crow South, it stood as one of Atlanta’s rare integrated nightlife spaces, welcoming Black and White patrons alike, while also offering refuge to members of the queer community at a time when few places did. Though the original venue closed in 1996. La Carrousel remains an undeniable part of Atlanta’s story-a room full of smoke, sound, and soul, where the city found its rhythm.
The La Carrousel-1960 is handcrafted in Nicaragua using a blend described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
- Binder – Nicaraguan
- Filler – Nicaraguan (Jalapa and Estelí)
The line is offered in boxes of 20 and are expressed in 2 different vitolas:
- Robusto Extra (5½ x 50) – MSRP $13.20
- Gran Toro (6½ x 56) – MSRP $14.80
For this review, I sampled two of the Gran Toros which were provided by the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The La Carrousel-1960 Toro showcases a smooth, lightly marbled brown wrapper with little to no visible veining, giving the cigar a clean, refined appearance. The cigar is firmly packed from head to foot and finished with a well-applied triple cap.
Presentation is elegant with the cigar adorned with 2 bands. The primary band displays the company logo. While the secondary band pays tribute to the historic La Carrousel jazz and the year 1960.
Bringing the cigar to the nose reveals very little aroma from the wrapper itself, while the foot offers inviting campfire-like woodsy notes. After opening the cap with my CigarMedics Baller Cutter, the cold draw proves to be spot on, offering just the right amount of resistance. Savory spice and a healthy dose of black pepper immediately greet the palate, while a touch of natural sweetness lingers in the background, creating an enticing preview of the forthcoming smoking experience.
Smoking Experience
The first puffs after lighting the La Carrousel-1960 Toro immediately introduce a rich wave of black pepper that commands the palate. A medium-thick char line develops beneath a light gray, “stacking dimes” ash, reflecting solid combustion from the outset. Before long, a pleasant toasted caramel sweetness begins to emerge, adding balance to the initial spice.
The first ash falls in a solid chunk, revealing a nearly perfect burn cone that keeps the cigar tracking evenly. As the first third progresses, subtle fruit nuances begin to weave into the profile, adding another layer of complexity without overshadowing the pepper and caramel.
Moving into the second third, the profile shifts noticeably. The early pepper recedes into the background, making room for creamy notes that settle comfortably across the palate. Midway through the cigar, rich coffee notes join the cream, creating an enjoyable combination that becomes the focal point of the experience. Strength also begins to build, moving into the medium-plus range while maintaining balance and refinement.
The final third continues the cigar’s steady progression with another increase in strength. A natural tobacco sweetness joins the profile, complementing the richer flavors that have developed throughout the smoke. Deeper into the final third, the spice begins to build once again, adding a lively finish that carries the cigar confidently to the nub. The body finishes in the medium-full range, providing a satisfying conclusion without becoming overpowering.
Final Analysis
The ATL Cigars La Carrousel-1960 Gran Toro is a well-balanced smoking experience that rewards the smoker with a progression of complementary flavors rather than dramatic transitions. It opens with bold black pepper before settling into toasted caramel, subtle fruit, cream, and rich coffee, ultimately finishing with natural sweetness and a welcome resurgence of spice. Construction throughout the experience proved excellent, highlighted by a clean burn, attractive ash, and a nearly perfect burn cone after the first ash drop.
For smokers who appreciate cigars that balance spice with creamy and sweet nuances while steadily increasing in strength, the La Carrousel-1960 Gran Toro is an enjoyable offering worthy of seeking out. Its combination of solid construction, evolving flavor profile, and historical inspiration makes it another notable addition to the ATL Cigars portfolio.
