One of the newest releases from Hiram & Solomon Cigars is the Heart & Soul, a cigar crafted exclusively in the Dominican Republic for the Most Worshipful Leonard Vander Horn, Grand Master of Masons for the state of New Jersey.
The company notes:
“The Heart & Soul cigar embarks on a journey of excellence from the very first draw. It begins with a gentle, welcoming note, reminiscent of the fraternal embrace among brethren. As the narrative of taste unfolds, robust peppery nuances emerge, symbolizing the fortitude of the square. The experience then transitions to the earthy embrace of cedar, reflecting our innate bond with nature. It culminates in a finale of subtle mineral nuances. Each puff offers a complex interplay of flavors and aromas, a testament to the refined art of cigar creation.”
Expressed in a single (6 x 52) toro, the limited-edition Heart & Soul comes packaged in 10-count boxes and retails for $14.00/cigar. The blend is described as:
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
- Binder: Ecuadorian
- Filler: Dominican Seco, Dominican Ligero
Leonard Vander Horn, Grand Master of Masons for the state of New Jersey notes:
“From When He First Prepares to Be a Freemason, to When He Last Dons His Apron, A Freemason Represents the Finest of Qualities Rolled into a Man.
In the Days Between, Take Time to Breathe It All In, And Let Brotherly Love Nourish Your Heart and Soul.”
Pre-Light Examination
The first thing you notice about the Hiram & Solomon Cigars – Heart & Soul is its silky smooth medium tan wrapper that exhibits just a few veins along with a light oily sheen. The cigar is solidly packed from head to foot and is finished with a decent cap.
A single large band that displays the Hiram & Solomon logo on the bottom and the Heart & Soul logo on the top adorns the cigar. The band uses cream, blue, red, and gold colors that display well on the backdrop of the medium tan wrapper.
Running the cigar along the nose, I was greeted with deep earthy notes right off the foot while the barrel offered a hint of spice.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar with my Xikar double blade cutter and gave it some cold draw puffs that were just a tad tight and delivered and array of notes including mild tangy fruit, pepper, a touch of butter and hint of clove,
Using my single flame torch lighter, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of peppery spice smoke that awoken the palate. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- First puffs offer an early peppery spice blast to start the journey warming the lips
- Butter and tangy fruit join the early profile with a wafting butter cracker aroma
- Solid white ash forms on a medium thick and even char line
- Fruit notes and spice form a core
- Ash fell in a nice chunk revealing a well-formed burn cone
- Spice notes increase with a morphing of fruit to citrus peel
- Touch of sweetness enters deep in the second third
- Spice and cedar down to the final
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 Hour and 40 Minutes
Final Analysis
The initial draws of the Hiram & Solomon Cigars – Heart & Soul unfold with a burst of lively peppery spices, setting the stage for the journey and imparting a pleasing warmth to the lips. Subsequent to this fiery introduction, a marriage of creamy butter and tangy fruits gracefully enters the palate, accompanied by the wafting aroma of buttery crackers. At the core of the experience, a well-defined interplay of fruity notes and lingering spice captivates the palate. As the journey evolves, the spice intensifies a bit while the early fruit undertones transition to a bitter citrus peel note. Deep into the second third, a subtle touch of sweetness emerges, adding a mild layer of complexity. The finale is marked by a blend of spice and cedar. I would say check out a fiver of these. I rate this a 92.
Point Deductions: (-1) Slightly Tight initial draw; (-1) Bitter notes in Second third
Bonus Points: (+1) Even Burn;
Really love all of the H&S cigars. The Heart and Soul is the last one I had last night. It was excellent. Looking forward to another one this afternoon.