Today I would like to introduce you to a new cigar brand that has come across my doorstep. The company is called Schöelen Cigars.
The company’s website notes:
“Samuel Schöelen, owner of Schöelen Cigars, has had a love affair with cigars for over 30 years. During his life he has had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe. During his travels he always made time to find and try local cigar blends. After all this travel he fell in love with the flavors he found throughout Europe and decided to create a blend that was inspired by this and bring it to the North American market!“
The origin of the Schöelen cigar brand is rooted in a passion for creating handcrafted cigars that exemplify the finest quality. These premium cigars are crafted with care, ensuring that each one offers a unique smoking experience.
If you want to learn even more about Sam and his journey, here is a short video for your enjoyment.
The company currently has two offerings on the market; The Schöelen Originell and the The Schöelen Exklusiv. For this review, I sampled two of the The Schöelen Originell.
Schöelen Cigars describes the blend of the Originell, which was released to the market in 2024, as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Connecticut
- Binder – Habano
- Filler – Seco from Jalapa, Viso from Condega, Viso from Jalapa
The cigars are expressed in a “Cuban Style” (5 3/4 x 53) vitola that comes packaged in 20-count boxes and has an MSRP of about $22.00/cigar. They are hand crafted in Nicaragua and an undisclosed factory.
Pre-Light Examination
The Schöelen Originell is a gorgeous cigar with a silky smooth, golden tan wrapper that exhibits a nice sheen. The cigar is packed well with an excellent give when gently pressed between the fingers. Construction is completed with a well applied triple cap.
A single band adorns the cigar. It uses a black, gold, and white motif and defines the cigar as The Schöelen Originell.
Running the cigar across the nose, I picked up sweet fermented leaf notes along the barrel while the foot exuded notes of natural sweetness and cocoa.
I found the cold draw to be as amazing as the pre-light aromas with peppery spice notes, caramel and a slight hickory jam note. This is most certainly savory, especially for a Connecticut. It is one of those cigars that deserves an extended cold draw before lighting it up. Follow along as I burn this one to ash!
Cigar Review Notes
- A burst of pepper starts the journey – Connecticut what?
- The pre-light savory notes quickly find their way into profile
- A sweet nutty aroma wafts off the foot
- There is a stacking dimes light grey ash forming on top of a thin char line
- The pepper tones down after an inch or so
- The ash dropped in a nice chunk revealing a perfect burn cone
- Mild dark chocolate and raisin weave into the profile moving into the second third
- The retrohale is quite smooth and enjoyable, highlighting the fruit notes
- A touch of salt with an increase of spice evolve
- Vanilla cream and caramel enter the mix deep in the second third
- The early dark chocolate has settled into more of a milk chocolate in the final
- Continued spicy raisin notes maintain
- Mild to medium in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Final Analysis
The Schöelen Originell opens with a burst of pepper, an unexpectedly bold start for a Connecticut-wrapped offering. That initial pop settles gently, allowing the savory pre-light notes to transition seamlessly into the early profile. A sweet, nutty aroma lifts from the foot as smoke production ramps up. On the burn, the cigar performs beautifully: a stacking-dimes light grey ash builds atop a thin, clean char line. After the first inch, the pepper has softened, making space for emerging nuances.
Sliding into the second third, mild dark chocolate and raisin begin to weave through the profile. When the ash finally drops, it does so in a large, solid chunk, revealing a perfect burn cone—always a satisfying sign of excellent construction.
The retrohale is especially smooth and rewarding, accentuating the fruit tones and giving them a brighter, more aromatic lift. As the midpoint approaches, a touch of salinity appears alongside a gentle uptick in spice, adding dimension without disrupting balance.
Deeper into the second third, the profile evolves further with vanilla cream and caramel, enriching the sweetness while keeping the smoke velvety. By the final third, the early dark chocolate has lightened, settling into a milk-chocolate character that pairs harmoniously with the continuing spice. The cigar closes with sustained spicy raisin notes, maintaining both depth and structure through the finish. A dynamic yet controlled progression—peppery, sweet, creamy, and subtly fruity—keeps the experience engaging from start to final draw.
Point Deductions: NONE
Bonus Points: (+1) Even Burn; (+1) Box Buy; (+1) Well Balanced and Rounded Profile
