The Shriner from Hiram & Solomon Cigars – Cigar Review

Hiram & Solomon Cigars may not have been a cigar household name but that is certainly starting to change as they have increased their offerings. At the 2016 IPCPR they introduced three new lines to their portfolio. One of those, the Traveling Man made our top 25 boutique cigars for 2016.

Today I have the pleasure of reviewing one of their other new releases, the Shriner.

The Hiram Solomon Shriner is a limited release cigar that is available in just one vitola, a 6 x 52 Toro and is packaged in a Fez Humidor that is 100% Hand made from 47 cedar pieces and holds 20 cigars. For those that are not familiar with a “Fez”, it is the iconic hat the Shriner members wear.

According the Shriners International Website:

“The fez is one of the most recognizable symbols of Shriners International and was adopted as the Shriners’ official headgear in 1872. Named after the city of Fez, Morocco, the hat represented the Arabian theme the fraternity was founded on. It also serves as an outward symbol of one’s membership in the fraternity. Much like the white apron worn by Masons as a symbol of their brotherhood, the fez is worn only by Shriners as a symbol of their membership in this unique fraternity.”

Hiram & Solomon describes the blend as:

• Wrapper – Ecuadorian Sumatra
• Binder – Two regions from Nicaragua
• Filler – Dominican, Brazilian

A fully stocked Fez Humidor retails for $200.00 with a portion of the proceeds donated to Shriner charities.

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Cigar Review Notes

• Medium brown and shiny wrapper with some noticeable veins
• The band on the Shriner is different from other Hiram Solomon cigars, with a Shriner red color resembling the Fez
• Nicely packed with a gentle spring on the barrel
• Curing barn aroma along the barrel
• Foot has a delightful sweet aroma
• Cold draw offered notes of earth, mild white pepper, and a touch of butter through a medium draw
• Letting it roll about before lighting it the pepper builds
• Initial puffs greet the palate with a hit of pepper and butter background
• The butter morphs into spicy chocolate through the first third
• Rich creamy smoke
• Fruity sweetness coming in
• Medium grey ash is well-formed on a medium char line and holds for a good third of the cigar before falling and showing a well centered cone
• Cafe latte notes enter as the wrapper starts developing an oily sheen
• Flavors have blended well as it settles in with a touch more spice and a hint of peanut aroma with spice and pepper on the nasal
• Strength was Medium
• Total Smoking time was just over an hour.

Overall the Hiram & Solomon Shriner was an elegant smoke that had a pleasant blend of sweetness and spice throughout the hour-long, error free burn. This was an easy cigar to smoke and would make a perfect mid-afternoon smoke with a sweet cup of coffee.