The Stateman Cigar Co. is a new (founded in 2023) premium cigar company founded by three brothers of the leaf – Tommy Allen, Joel Murphy, and Jaycee Estrada.
According to the company website:
“…Statesman Cigar Co. was birthed out of the founders’ shared passion for cigar smoking, great community, and the finer things of life. At Statesman, it’s not about simply selling a product, it’s about bringing people into an experience. Our mission is to bring as many people into the Statesman lifestyle, a lifestyle of memorable cigar-smoking experiences, sophisticated elegance, and the most important thing – great community. We look forward to having a smoke with you!”
The Nightcap is expressed in a single (5 3/8×52) short salomon vitola. They come packaged in 5, 10, and 20-count bundles with an MSRP of $11.00/cigar.
The company describes the blend as a Nicaraguan puro:
- Wrapper – Nicaraguan
- Binder – Nicaraguan
- Filler – Cuban-seed Nicaraguan long filler
Box or Bundle Count – Each line can be ordered in bundles of 5, 10, or 20
The Nightcap and the company’s full line of cigars is available on their online shop – SHOP STATESMAN | Statesman Cigar Co.
Pre-Light Examination
The Statesman Cigar Co. Nightcap is a well-constructed, dark brown, short salomon figurado. It has a mildly toothy wrapper that exhibits a decent oily sheen and some mild marbling. The cigar has just a slight give along the barrel when pressed between the fingers. It is finished with a pointed cap.
A single band adorns the cigar using forest green, gold, and white motif. The name Statesman Cigar Co. is printed in white on the top and bottom along with an image of a gentleman with a long mustache in the center which surrounded with golden leaves and a crown.
Running the Nightcap along the nose, I am greeted with rich floral notes along the barrel. With it being a salomon vitola the foot is too narrow to detect any additional aromas from the filler.
I sliced the pointed cap about an 3/8 of inch down and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I found to have a decent restriction and offered notes of earth along with peppery spice on the lips.
The tip of the cigar took well to my single torch flame as I drew in the first puffs of peppery spice and fruit notes. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Peppery spice starts the journey with a background of butter cracker and fruit
- The draw is easy with palate filling smoke
- A light grey flaky ash forms on top of a wavy thick char line
- Oodles of smoke rise off the foot
- Mouthwatering citrus rind notes join the profile after an inch of burn
- The early fruit notes move more forward
- Nice oiling above the burn line
- Once the ash dropped in a decent chunk it revealed an off-centered burn cone
- The early citrus rind notes fade back a bit, giving way to a toasted caramel sweetness midway
- Lingering nut and citrus components rest on the palate
- Early peppery spice remerges in the final with a slight increase of the citrus rind
- Burns a tad hot in the final
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was just shy of 1 hour
The journey of the Statesman Cigar Co. Nightcap begins with a lively, peppery spice awaking the palate, set against a backdrop of buttery cracker and hints of fruit. After an inch of burn, tantalizing notes of citrus rind emerge, adding to the complexity of flavors and moistening the palate. Gradually, the initial fruity tones step forward. Toasted caramel sweetness emerges, complementing the fading citrus rind notes. Lingering on the palate are traces of nuttiness and citrus, enticing the senses. Towards the end, the peppery spice returns with a subtle intensity, accompanied by a renewed hint of citrus rind, bringing the journey to a flavorful conclusion. This is worth grabbing a fiver of. I rate this a 92.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn to Start; (-1) Off Centered Burn Cone; (-1) Flaky Ash; (-1) Burns a tad hot in final
Bonus Points: (+1) Excellent Oiling Above Char Line; (+1) Balances and Consistent across Multiple Samples
