It has been a while since I reviewed a Fable Cigars craft. In fact, it was back in 2016 when I posted a review of the Fable Fourth Prime Mi. The small Fable Cigars company had just been launched by owners Sean Kremenetski and Mitul Shah. They teamed up with Fabrica de Tabacos NicaSueño S.A., (RoMa Craft) to manufacture their cigars and the company has been rolling along ever since.
As noted on the Fable Cigars website:
“Our first series, Fourth Prime, is the story of the number 7 and the significance it holds in our world. The size names of this compelling series reflect the fourth prime number. Fourth Prime contains a long-filler, medium-full bodied blend of some of the world’s most sought after tobaccos.‘
In the case of the Fourth Prime Mersenne, the name refers to the 17th century French monk Marin Mersenne, a philosopher and mathematician responsible for making leaps in prime number research and was known as “the center of the world of science and mathematics during the first half of the 1600s.”
The compnay notes that this vitola has a personal connection to Sean Kremenetski, who’s parents were mathematicians.
The blend of the Fourth Prime series is described as:
- Wrapper – Pennsylvania Broadleaf
- Binder – Ecuador Habano Ligero
- Filler – Nicaraguan and Dominican
The Fourth Prime series is expressed in 6 vitolas and comes packaged in 56-count boxes. Although 56 is not a prime number, like all numbers it has a prime factorization (2 * 2 * 2 * 7). The fun part of prime numbers is that they are the basic building blocks of all numbers!
- Doc (4 1/2 x 52) MSRP $8.50
- Mersenne (5 1/4 x 56) MSRP $9.50
- Mi (5 3/4 x 46) MSRP $9.00
- Sapta (6 1/4 x 54) MSRP $10.00
- Machu (6 1/4 x 60) MSRP $12.00
- P Versus NP – (7 1/4 x 52) MSRP $11.00
The Doc, Mersenne, Mi, and Sapta were the original 4 full production vitolas introduced in 2016, the Machu and P Versus NP are limited production line extensions. If your local brick and mortar does not carry these they are available on SmallBatchCigars.com.
Pre-Light Examination
The Fable Cigars Fourth Prime Mersenne is a crisp box pressed cigar with a smooth dark brown wrapper with a hint of red clay hue. Solid to the touch and heavy in the hand, it is light on veins and finished with a well applied double cap.
A single white and black band adorns the cigar with two symbols reflecting the brand. What looks like a triangle on the band is actually a minimalist representation of the fourth prime number – seven. The seven lines form the letter P when turned sideways. The other side of the band displays the company’s logo.
Running the cigar across the nose, I picked up a baking spice note off the foot but not much along the barrel.
I sliced the cap straight with my double blade cutter and gave it a few cold puffs that had a fine restriction and delivered a tasty mix of nut, cinnamon, and touch of fruit. This is one of those cigars you may want to cold puff a bit more before lighting it, as the pre-light taste is just scrumptious.
I took my own advice and savored the pre-light, but it was time to get the journey moving. I used my triple flame torch to warm the foot and noted that it took to the heat well and warmed quickly to an even orange glow as I drew in the first peppery puffs of smoke. Follow along as I burn the Fourth Prime Mersenne to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Pepper shot to nose opens the nasals for what’s to come
- Thick chewy smoke fills the palate as the pepper hits the throat
- Pepper tones down and a delicate natural sweetness enters
- Light grey ash forms on a wavy and medium char line
- Fruit notes
- Ash fell slight off centered burn cone
- Cocoa powder notes
- Mild spice
- Clean finish and smooth retro-hale
- Licorice notes deep in second third
- Spice builds in the final
- Touch of raisin
- Medium to Full in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Overall, the Fable Cigars Fourth Prime Mersenne was a delicious flavorful cigar with balanced transitions throughout the journey. I especially enjoyed the rare but enjoyable licorice note deep in the second third. It did demonstrate a wavy burn through the journey but never needed to be touched up. This is certainly worth picking up a fiver and I rate this a 92.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Off centered burn cone; (-1) Slight Off Burn deep in the second third;
Bonus Points: (+1) Complex yet balanced in flavor and aroma
