by GC Puffs
When I left home this morning on my one and a half hour commute, I brought with me a new gem of a cigar, a Four Kicks Selection No.5 from Crowned Heads that is 6.5×44. Construction of the cigar is perfect, with only the slightest of veins with a pre light aroma of fresh earth and hay. After clipping this jewel, I stopped at the end of my driveway to torch it before continuing on. A plethora of smoke cascades from the cigar giving a succulent spice that awakens the palate overbearing the other flavors emerging from the cigar. Wood and earth shortly came into play with the spice, and as I stated in the first review of Four Kicks, it reminds me of sassafras wood, mouthwatering and a slight hint of sweetness. Shortly after lighting, the cigar begins its course of grand complexity with the mix of mild spice, earth and sassafras wood giving draw after draw of smooth velveteen smoke. Heading out the driveway, I began the trek north for another great day at the shop, which is much like a dream job, around thousands of cigars each day and meeting countless great people.
The first hour of my drive is up a two lane highway through country side views that are both quaint and glimpses of unchanged country life. This time of year I like to drive with my windows down as the privet hedges are in full bloom and having a very beautiful aroma. Heading up the high way, Kat Edmonson came on the radio singing “Hopelessly Blue” with slow and sultry guitars and a voice working sweetly. The song seemed to fit the ride this morning as there was no other cars around. Taking a long easy draw from the cigar, I listened as a lone guitar picked out a smooth melody and slowly let the smoke flow, the lingering flavors giving my mind the ability to be oblivious to time. As I drove, off to the left a farmer was driving across a large open field with a tractor that showed much use and age. On grown where grass was short and spars weeds were seen he pulled a disk behind him, breaking ground for planting. Seeing me, he waved and I returned the courtesy as I took another draw from an outstanding cigar. Slowing down to let a very full log truck pull onto the highway, I came to the middle of my cigar. At this point the smoke was giving the oral factors a profusion of tantalizing flavors of sassafras, but a tad milder than earlier, giving room for the appearance of roasted coffee beans and leather showing now showing, mixing with a soft earthiness and all wrapped together in a divine smoky wood essence that envelopes the palate upon each magnificent draw.
“Are you ready” was now playing by Grand Funk Railroad adding a little upbeat time to the drive. Stopping at a small shop a mile from the Interstate, I bought a cup of coffee for the rest of the drive. The gentleman behind the counter made the comment, “That cigar sure smells good!” I smiled and said thanks and told him what it was. Walking back to my car, I heard him tell the woman working with him that “That smells like the real deal.” A mile latter I was pulling onto the Interstate and coming to the close of my cigar, with the leather moving more to the forefront in the mix but not over powering the other flavors, melding perfectly with the spice and coffee that had now morphed into a darker roasted bean. Unfortunately the cigar was finished, and I found myself wishing I had another with me for more of the fantastic smoky wood base that comes in each luscious draw from the cigar. An online store to get them is a TheCigarStore.com.