There is something about a well-constructed barber-pole cigar that immediately grabs your attention. The contrasting wrapper leaf make a statement before the cigar is ever cut or lit, but ultimately the presentation has to be backed up by the smoking experience.
Today I am taking a look at the Mass Premium Cigars Series No. 2 – The Barber Pole, a substantial 6 x 60 Gordo that combines two very different wrapper leaves into its distinctive spiral presentation. According to Mass Premium Cigars, the Series No. 2 Barber Pole was created for cigar smokers who appreciate craftsmanship as much as flavor. The company describes the concept simply as “Two wrappers. One masterpiece.”
At the heart of the cigar’s visual identity is the combination of a Connecticut Ecuadorian wrapper and a dark San Andrés Maduro wrapper. Beyond creating the contrasting barber-pole appearance, the idea is to allow the individual characteristics of the two wrapper leaves to contribute to the smoking experience. Beneath those contrasting wrappers is an all-Nicaraguan core consisting of Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos.
The Blend
- Wrapper: San Andrés Maduro & Ecuadorian Connecticut
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
The cigar is hand-rolled and packaged in Estelí, Nicaragua at the Savant Nicaragua factory. The cigar carries an MSRP of $25 CAD about $18.00 USD. They come packaged in 10-count boxes.
Pre-Light Examination
The Mass Premium Cigars Series No. 2 – The Barber Pole is beautifully rolled Gordo that immediately catches the eye. The contrasting wrappers are quite attractive. The dark brown and oily San Andrés Maduro spirals around the cigar alongside the medium-tan and equally oily Connecticut Ecuadorian leaf. The two create a striking visual contrast running from head to foot. The cigar is finished with a well-applied cap and felt firmly packed from head to foot.
A single white and gold band adorns the cigar. It displays the company logo and the identifier Series No. 2. A simple yet elegant band.
Running the cigar beneath the nose produced enticing baking-spice notes along the barrel. The foot offered a similar aroma with the addition of an interesting butter-like component.
I used a straight cut across the shoulder to open the cap. The cold draw offered a comfortable resistance and delivered a mild pepper note that gradually increased with successive puffs, particularly across the lips and toward the back of the palate. There was also an interesting hickory-nut-like note beneath the pepper that added another dimension to the pre-light experience.
With the examination complete, it was time to put some fire to this impressive Gordo.
The Journey
First Third
I warmed the foot with my dual-flame torch and drew in the first puffs of smoke. The journey began with a touch of natural tobacco sweetness, giving the opening a pleasant character without being overly sweet. Coffee notes soon joined the early mix and began adding depth to the profile. Smoke production was excellent producing a full volume of smoke, filling the palate with every draw.
Construction was equally impressive early in the journey. A beautiful light grey, stacking-dimes ash developed above a clean, thin and even char line. The ash eventually dropped in a small chunk, revealing a decently formed burn cone underneath.
One aspect that particularly stood out was the retrohale. Despite the pepper detected during the cold draw, the early retrohale was remarkably smooth. Adding to the overall experience was a pleasant nutty aroma wafting from the foot, filling the air around me as I smoked.
Second Third
Moving into the second third, the profile settled into a combination of mild spice and coffee. Rather than throwing dramatic transitions at the palate, the cigar maintained a relatively steady core while allowing smaller nuances to move in and out of the profile.
Deeper into the second third, a slightly sour fruit note entered the mix. That little bit of acidity provided an interesting counterpoint to the coffee and spice and helped keep the palate engaged. One characteristic that remained particularly noticeable was just how mouthwatering this cigar was. The smoke continually stimulated the palate between draws, encouraging another puff.
Final Third
As the cigar entered its final third, the profile began moving toward the spicier side. The spice increased noticeably, with pepper becoming considerably more pronounced on the retrohale compared with the remarkably smooth retrohale experienced earlier in the cigar. At the same time, mild earthy notes began working their way into the profile, providing a darker foundation underneath the increasing spice.
It was a fitting transition for the final portion of the cigar, taking the sweeter and smoother characteristics of the opening and gradually replacing them with a more assertive combination of pepper and earth.
Total Smoking Time was just about 2 hours and I would say it was a notch more than medium strength.
Final Analysis
The Mass Premium Cigars Series No. 2 – The Barber Pole offered an enjoyable smoking experience that started with a touch of sweetness before gradually becoming darker and spicier. The cigar wasn’t built around constant dramatic transitions. Instead, it maintained a pleasant core profile while introducing enough smaller changes to keep the journey interesting.
I especially enjoyed the coffee character, nutty aroma, mouthwatering nature of the smoke and exceptionally smooth early retrohale. The increase in pepper toward the final third provided a nice contrast to the smoother opening.
Construction was another strong point. The beautiful stacking-dimes ash, clean char line, full smoke production and overall burn performance complemented the cigar’s striking barber-pole presentation.
The combination of Ecuadorian Connecticut and San Andrés Maduro wrappers provides more than just visual appeal—the Series No. 2 delivered an enjoyable experience beneath its striking exterior.
Stogie Press Rating — 92
