A little background
This is my first Luxury Cigar Club experience. I’ve been intrigued by their club model of providing high-end luxury cigars monthly that are obtainable if you find something you really enjoy. This is a review of the February 2021 Palladium box.
La Nox by La Flor Dominicana
Construction
Size – 6.5” x 50
Wrapper
Brazilian
Binder
Mexican
Filler
Dominican
Experience
The La Nox from La Flor Dominicana comes out swinging with a creamy smoke and cream notes to match. Early it provides a light cocoa sweetness to compliment the creaminess. Settling in behind those notes is cedar and a light leather. As the cigar begins to round out the cream dissipates and a damp earth comes forward. The La Nox was enjoyable, but the draw was a bit tight. It was complex and ever-changing and the variety kept me going back for more. The creamy note at the beginning was sensational and provided a really nice initial wow factor. Early on I really enjoyed this cigar, but as I got to the final third the flavors were not my favorite.
Pairing
Coffee with cream would play nicely as a mid-day treat. The biscuit notes of an Irish whisky would go nicely with the rich cream of this cigar as well.
Rating
4 out of 5
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Bandolero Picaros by United Cigars
Construction
Size – 6.5” x 54
Wrapper
Ecuadorian
Binder
Undisclosed
Filler
Undis, Peru
Experience
The Bandolero Picaros starts off with a prominent earth note that is complimented by a pepper taste and spice that envelopes the tongue. On the back of the palate I found citrus. It is not presented as the sourness of a lemon, but more of the oiliness of citrus zest. There is a slight woody sweetness that exists throughout the finish of profile. I found the Bandolero Picaros to be of medium body and strength. The flavor profile is robust. Every note presents itself and takes a moment of glory to let you know it’s there. The flavors do shift around a bit, but remain generally the same throughout. This flavor profile is not generally my favorite, but the cigar provided enough intrigue to keep me going back to see what was next. I found myself envisioning enjoying this cigar in Autumn or Winter around a campfire.
Pairing
This cigar would pair well with a woodier bourbon or scotch. Also, a spicier cider would bring out some contrasting notes.
Rating
3.5 out of 5
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XO Churchill by 1502 Cigars
Construction
Size – 7” x 49 Box Press
Wrapper
Undisclosed oily and a little toothiness
Binder
Undisclosed
Filler
Undisclosed
Experience
The XO Churchill by 1502 Cigars starts off with a rich flavor palate. The smoke is creamy and smooth with flavor notes of dark chocolate, rich leather, sweet wood, and a mild pepper. As the cigar progresses, the flavors shift their positions within the profile but remain consistent. The best way I can describe this cigar is luxurious. More than any other cigar in this box, it makes you feel fancy. I subconsciously envisioned myself in a tailored suit, wearing a fine watch, with my wife on my arm in a beautiful dress. The band and the age of this cigar exudes opulence. The XO Churchill is on the list of one of the best cigars I have had the pleasure of enjoying.
Pairing
Armagnac or your favorite milk and espresso-based beverage.
Rating
4.75 out of 5
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Yayo by Traficante
Construction
Size – 4” x 60
Wrapper
Nicaraguan
Binder
Nicaraguan
Filler
Nicaraguan and Honduran
Experience
The Yayo by Traficante is my kind of flavor profile. It brings forward notes of coffee and chocolate in a mocha-esque blend right out of the gate. It is backed up with notes of leather, black tea, and a lime-like citrus. What I found most interesting about this smoke was that I kept going back to make notes. I would think I knew what was going on and then it would hit me with something else. This is a really enjoyable cigar. The flavors are well balanced and they each get their own time to shine. I would like to try this in a slightly smaller ring gauge at some point.
Pairing
Gin and tonic would bring out the citrus note. Black coffee.
Rating
4.5 out of 5
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Flor De Selva Natural by Maya Selva
Construction
Size – 6.5” x 54
Wrapper
Honduran
Binder
Honduran
Filler
Honduran
Experience
The Flor De Selva by Maya Selva highlights what is special about a Honduran puro. Right off the bat there was a light sweet chocolate, some cedar in the middle of the profile, and a little spice on the back of throat. As the cigar progressed there was a note of dried fruit that began to appear and the spice moved to the sides of the tongue. Moving further into the experience, there was a minerality that showed up with a hint of cinnamon. Late in the cigar the cedar took the prominent profile position with dried fruit in the middle and the chocolate moves back. The Flor De Selva had the lowest MSRP on the information card sent with the box, but it stood up to every other stick in the box and held its own place.
Pairing
This cigar will pair nicely with a low proof cherry bourbon or a slightly sweetened light to medium roast coffee. A little cream in the coffee will bring out a creamy note.
Rating
3.75 out of 5
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In closing
The February Palladium box from Luxury Cigar Club was a wonderful experience. It provided a range of premium luxury cigars that I have never tried. It allowed me to find, what is now, one of my all-time favorite cigars in the XO Churchill. The Palladium box is a chance to have five amazing cigars delivered to your house each month. In my opinion, there is an added benefit. The cigars in the box are not one-time runs provided to Luxury Cigar Club. That means when I get a cigar in a monthly box that I find really special, I can go out and purchase more of them for a special occasion, or if we are being honest, just because.
NOTE: The cigars used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Luxury Cigar Club. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.
