The Family By Loyalty GERI is named after one of the twin wolves of Odin in Norse Mythology. Its twin FREKI is also a cigar produced by Family By Loyalty. The wolves were not just the companions of Odin, they also were said to have helped the Valkyries carry chosen souls to their home in Valhalla. Symbolically, the name GERI stands for loyalty.
The Family By Loyalty GERI is expressed in 3 vitolas, each packaged in 21-count boxes except the pipe size that is packaged in 28-count boxes:
- Gran Toro (6 x 54) – MSRP $12.00
- Robusto (5×50) – MSRP $10.66
- Pipe Size (3.5×52) – MSRP $9.40
The blend is described by the company as:
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
- Binder: Criollo 98
- Filler: Criollo 98, Corojo, Nicaragua, Pennsylvania
They are hand crafted at the Blackbird Dominicana factory, in Tamboril, DR.
For this review, I sampled one of the Family X Loyalty GERI Gran Toros which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Family X Loyalty GERI is wrapped with a dark brown marbled wrapper that exhibits a slight oily sheen. The packing is firm packing except for the foot which was a tad soft – note the under fill in the center. A simple cap completes the construction.
Two bands adorn the cigar. The primary band is black, gold, and grey. It displays the company’s logo in the center with the phrase “Loyalty is Thicker Than Blood”. A secondary, blue and yellow band is placed just below the primary and declares this as the GERI Habano.
Running the Family X Loyalty GERI across the nose, I picked up a peppery note off the foot and mild barnyard notes along the barrel.
Using my Xikar double blade cutter, I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and gave it some cold draw puffs that were decent with restriction offering a fruit and black pepper array of notes.
I warmed the foot using my Xikar fan flame torch, bringing it to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of pepper and cocoa notes. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Pepper and cocoa start the journey
- Light grey to white ash forms on top of a medium thick wavy char line
- Vanilla cream notes soften the pepper
- An off-burn develops that eventually requires a touch-up
- Woody aroma develops
- Ash fell in nice chunk revealing an off centered burn cone
- Early cocoa morphs into a decadent dark chocolate in the second third
- Second off burn requires a touch-up
- Lemon peel notes enter midway through
- Burnt honey notes deep in second third
- Dry fruit notes enter in the final
- Lingering cashew notes on the palate
- Medium-Full in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Final Analysis
The Family X Loyalty GERI Gran Toro begins the journey with pepper and cocoa intertwining flavors that dance across the palate. As the journey progresses, the initial robust pepper notes gracefully yield to the emergence of subtle vanilla cream undertones, imparting a velvety smoothness to the smoking experience. Amidst wisps of smoke, a rich woody aroma envelops the senses. Transitioning into the second third, the cocoa undertones deepen into a decadent dark chocolate, indulging the palate with luxurious richness. Midway through the journey, a surprising burst of lemon peel notes adds a refreshing zest, invigorating the flavor profile. Delving deeper into the second third, nuances of burnt honey emerge, casting a warm, sweet hue over the experience. As the journey draws to a close, subtle hints of dry fruit delicately intertwine, lending a tantalizing complexity to the final moments. Lingering on the palate like a fond memory, the gentle caress of cashew notes bids farewell. Grab a fiver of these. I rate this a 90.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-2) Multiple Touch-Ups; (-1) Off Burn; (-1) Off-centered Burn Cone
Bonus Points: (+1) Balanced and pleasurable transitions
