Well folks, here is review of the latest “drop” form the CiGAR CLoWnS. This cigar is named the Payasa which translates into “Female Clown“. Payasas are a thing in the LA area. It has become a popular symbol in Chicano art and tattooing, specifically in Los Angeles.
I recently received a couple of samples of the Payasa from the CLoWnS. After a little rest in the humidor it was time to fire them up and offer my take on them.
As with all cigar from the CiGAR CLoWnS, there is a little bit of information about them. In the case of the Payasa, it is a 6 x 52 toro that has a blend described as:
- Wrapper – Habano
- Binder – Nicaragua
- Filler – Nicaragua
The factory and country of origin are undisclosed.
The CiGAR CLoWnS recently aligned with the Privada Cigar Club for exclusive distribution of their rare drops and the Payasa is the first CLoWns cigar on the site. Based on today’s date, they are still available and will run you $9.00/cigar.
Pre-Light Examination
The CiGAR CLoWnS Payasa is medium brown cigar with a moderate oily sheen. It has some noticeable veins and marbling running through the barrel. The cigar is firm to the touch and is finished with a simple cap. I also noted that the wrapper hue varied slightly between the two samples I received.
A single band adorns the Payasa that includes a black and white photo of a Payasa in center with a red button nose. The name “Cigar Clowns” is printed in red on the bottom of the band.
Running the Payas along the nose, I picked up notes of baking spice along the barrel and an interesting touch of smoked hickory off foot. I checked both cigars and validated this finding, over back to back days of sampling them.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder with a double blade cutter and proceeded to take some cold draws that had a decent restriction and offered an array of pre-light notes including; pepper, BBQ meat, and a hint of nutmeg. As usual, this Clown had me chomping on the head to light it up and see where the journey takes me.
Using my double flame torch, I warmed the foot and drew in the first puffs of peppery smoke that opened my nasals for the journey. Follow along as I burn the Payasa to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Peppery start right of the first puff
- White ash forms on a medium thick wavy char line
- Savory spice joins the pepper in a full volume of thick chewy smoke
- Even with the rich start to the cigar, the palate felt clean after each puff with no after taste
- Dry fruit notes join the mix
- The barrel started to get squishy after the 1st third of burn
- Once the ash fell, moving into the second third, it revealed a flat burn
- Hint of cocoa powder entered the profile along with a spicy sweet aroma
- Slight off burn developed that did not require a touch up
- The profile has morphed into a delicious natural sweetness in the second third
- Savory spice reenters at the end of second third down to the final
- Medium to full in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 25 minutes
Overall, the CiGAR CLoWnS Payasa was an interesting cigar that offered a pleasant journey from foot to nub. It started with pepper and savory spice and settled into a natural tobacco sweetness and fruit before finding its way back to savory spice. I would say it was not overly complex but had a fine balance of flavors and aromas that kept me interested through the experience. Pick a five pack of these before they are gone. I rate this one a 90.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Off Burn in Second third; (-1) Flat Burn Cone; (-1) Squishy Barrel
