PCA Magazine Show Issue 2021

PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG SHOW 2021 | PCA The Magazine 25 T H E B L E N D ut of the cellophane the cigar is firm, its Pennsylvania broadleaf wrapper medium-dark brown. The aroma before light-up is quite strong, like plug tobacco, which gives fair warning: The Curamus is a hefty smoke, not for the novice or for breakfast time. Tonight (fortunately) I am smoking it on a full stomach, after a big dinner and dessert, accompanied by an Old Fashioned—Knob Creek with two shakes of bitters, a half teaspoon of sugar, and a big wedge of orange squeezed in. The Curamus rates some gustatory accompaniment because seconds after the first puff, I am already calling this a heavy cigar, at least by my standards. For the first half-hour the Curamus smolders like a torch, blasting out notes of cayenne pepper, compost, and cream. Then, after 30 minutes, the flavors begin to mellow and sweeten noticeably into a chocolate cream— quite a transition from the formidable early show. Even still, the Curamus is by no means light fare. O Hiram & Solomon Curamus Size: 6 x 52 (toro) Wrapper: Pennsylvania broadleaf natural Filler: Dominican Corojo, Dominican Criollo 98, Dominican Legero Seco, Pennsylvania broadleaf Binder: Mexican MSRP $12 per single Smoking Time: 2 hours 45 minutes in, the ash is 1 ½ inches long. Time to tap it into a bowl. I find myself drifting off into a dreamy contemplation. I lose myself in this cigar. It’s not that I am thinking about the cigar. I’m just sort of daydreaming. And then it occurs to me that it’s the vitamin N! Normally, a bead of sweat signals when I am reaching nicotine saturation. But tonight is a warm night and the A/C is running, so the floor register is gently wafting a nice, air- conditioned breeze across my ankles. With that serendipitous assist—and against all odds (for truly, the Curamus is a bit stronger than my regular cigar choices)—I have wandered into a sort of cigar nirvana. I’ve found the sweet spot, cool and comfortable and just a half-step short of dizzy—right where I want to be. So I can truthfully report that the Curamus has brought me to a thoroughly pleasant state of being, although I must say it’s a good thing I’m not sitting out in the sun on a warm day. The burn line requires a minor touch- up a couple of times. But other than that, this cigar cruises and delivers its prodigious freight of smoke and cream and spice on autopilot. At an hour and 10 minutes, I’ve only smoked 3 inches. This cigar just gives and gives. At fully two hours, the Curamus is still giving, but I can take no more. Not that things went south; the flavors continued to meld and mellow and tempt me to over-indulgence. But my constitution can handle only so much of a good thing, so I set the nub down. This brawny smoke was made for the experienced aficionado. To thrust it into the hands of a newcomer to the hobby might be seen as an unfriendly thing to do. But for those who crave a muscular smoke after a big dinner, the Curamus is a delicious 2-plus-hour cigar, and at $12 per stick, it easily goes onto the list of the recommended. Just take caution: For those with a lightweight palate like mine … you might want to have a touch of cool air blowing on you, to keep all of the senses in proper balance. T H E R E V I E W CIGAR REVIEW BY WILLIAM C. NELSON