JM Patriarch Cigars is a relatively new brand of premium cigars founded by Father, Son, and Patriarch – Maurice Mears – who was born and raised in Miami, FL. After graduating from the University of New Mexico with a BS in Communication, Maurice returned home to Miami Fl where he once lived and experienced the culture of cigars. It was there where he decided to turn his cigar hobby into his own company. Cigars fueled his interest to research the taste and quality of different cigars brands, thus creating JM Patriarch.
The name JM Patriarch pays homage to Maurice’s great grandfather James Maurice Moss, a Bahamian/ Cuban descendant from the fisherman town of Cat Island, Bahamas. He and his wife Leerlene Moss migrated to Miami Fl, in the late 1940s. James spent the rest of his life providing for his family and working at Art Galley (Mueller) and personal car detailing service on Miami Beach. James would leave work every day and enjoy a cigar reflecting on his journey and his legacy to be. That legacy is now brought to the main stage through his great-grandson Maurice Mears.
After a re-blending and updated packaging this year, the company launched 3 blends (Maduro, Habano, Connecticut) and today I will focus on the Maduro blend which is described as:
- Wrapper – Mexican San Andrés
- Binder– Broadleaf Connecticut
- Filler– Nicaraguan (Estelí and Jalapa)
The JM Patriarch Maduro is expressed in a (6 x 52) Toro vitolas and comes packaged in 10-count boxes with an MSRP of $13.50/cigar.
All JM Patriarch cigars are handcrafted at the MGE Cigars Factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.
For this review I sampled one JM Patriarch Maduro toro which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The JM Patriarch Maduro exhibits a medium to dark marbled and slightly veiny wrapper. The cigar has a firm packing and good roll. A simple cap finishes the presentation.
The cigar is adorned with 3 bands. The primary band uses a silver, gold, red, and black motif. The company logo (two overlapping M’s with a script letter J wrapped through it). The word Patriarch and year 2021 is printed below. The imagery represents the initials of James Maurice Moss. A secondary red and gold band is placed the primary and declares this as the Maduro blend. Finally, a red satin foot band is applied.
Running the cigar along the nose I picked up a light earthy note and some floral notes. Moving to the foot, I noted a mild cocoa note and a touch of pepperiness.
Using my double blade Xikar cutter, I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and gave it some cold draw puffs that I found to be fine with restriction as it offered notes of earth, gentle cayenne pepper and some natural tobacco sweetness.
Using my double flame torch lighter, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of an array of flavors including dark chocolate, caramel, and warm nutmeg. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial draws impart nuances of dark chocolate, caramel, and warm nutmeg
- The retro-hale offers a medium level of burn to nasals
- A white ash forms on top of a medium to thin wavy burn line
- Natural sweetness slowly increases after each puff as creamy notes begin to evolve
- The wrapper cracked early in the journey
- Smooth nuanced smoke is the tale by the end of the first third
- Sweet woody aroma wafts off the foot
- An off burn developed and required a touch up
- Once the ash fell in a good chunk it revealed a decent burn cone
- Fruit notes start to join the profile in the second third
- Burn is now well behaved midway through the journey
- Aroma shifts to a nutty sensation
- Muted earthy notes with a touch of mild citrus are predominate deep in the second third
- Added woody notes appear in the final
- Mild to Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 35 minutes
Final Analysis
The initial draws of the JM Patriarch Maduro Toro unveil a rich tapestry of dark chocolate, caramel, and warm nutmeg. The retro-hale delivers a moderate, tingling sensation to the nostrils. Gradually, a natural sweetness evolves with each puff, accompanied by the evolution of creamy undertones. As the first third concludes, the smoke becomes impeccably smooth and nuanced. Unfortunately, the wrapper succumbed to an early crack during the journey. A sweet, woody aroma gracefully emanates from the foot. As the ash falls in a solid chunk, it unveils a decent burn cone. The second third introduces fruity notes, seamlessly blending into the profile. The burn, now well-behaved, progresses midway through the journey. A delightful shift occurs in the aroma, transitioning to a nutty sensation. Deep into the second third, muted earthy tones with a hint of mild citrus dominate the flavor palette. The final stretch introduces added woody notes, bringing a satisfying conclusion to the smoking experience. I would say check out a fiver of these. I rate this a 91.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Wrapper Crack; (-1) Off Burn; (-1) Touch-up Required
Bonus Points: (+1) Complex yet Balanced and Nuanced Smoke
