The latest drop for the Cigar Clowns is coming this weekend and it is unlike any other Clown cigar to date. I was recently gifted one of these from Clown Extraordinaire – Nick Marzigliano – while attending the Drew Estate Connecticut Barn Smoker this past weekend.
The cigar is named “The Recession” and is expressed in a single (5 x 54) Robusto vitola. It has a blend described as:
- Wrapper – Habano
- Binder – Nicaraguan
- Filler – Nicaraguan
The cigar will be available at Barclay Rex Pipe Shop in NYC this weekend and carry a price of $75.00/five pack ($15.00/cigar). Of course this price is due to the high taxes in NYC area.
Pre-Light Examination
The Recession by the Cigar Clowns is a nicely constructed robusto that sports a medium to dark brown wrapper that has some noticeable veins and not much oily sheen. The cigar is solid to the touch and smooth to the feel. It is finished with a simple cap.
A single band adorns the cigar that uses a bright yellow and red motif and has the look of a circus poster. The name “Cigar Clowns” is printed in the center on top and bottom using a circus font and an image of a clown is presented in the center. The sides of the band identify that it is a product made for the shop using the name “Rex NY”.
Running the cigar across the nose, I detected a sweet baking spice aroma along the barrel while the foot exudes notes of earth and tangy fruit.
I opened the cap using “The Baller” cutter form CigarMedics and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I fond to be perfect in restriction and offered notes of mild pepper, fruit, and chocolate.
Using my double flame torch I warmed the foot gently to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of peppery smoke to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this clown to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Pepper shot to nose off the first light
- Light grey ash forms on top of a medium thick wavy char line
- Cream notes enter and sooth the profile after an inch of burn
- Mild spice notes add to the profile
- Woody notes form in the second third
- Ash drops revealing an off center burn cone
- Dry fruit notes join the mix
- Off burn develops deep in the second third and requires a touch up
- Spice and woody notes continue into final third
- A touch of milk chocolate appears deep in the final third
- Mild to medium in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 25 minutes
Final Analysis
If you are fan of the Cigar Clowns cigars be prepared for a different experience with The Recession. Unlike the many other Clown cigars that are bold in flavor and strength, this one is more mild to medium in strength and more nuanced in flavors. It does hit the nose early on with pepper notes but then pulls back into a creamy and mild spice profile. An added woody note picks up and moves through the second third. I really like the milk chocolate notes in the final third but would have like that note to have been present earlier in the burn. The price point is high on this one and with the off burn and touchup required, I have to say it is hard to suggest picking up a five pack. I rate this a 88.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Off Burn; (-1) Touchup Required; (-1) Off centered Burn Cone; (-2) Price to Experience
