The first sample had prominent grapefruit notes and noticeable bitterness. Unfortunately, it experienced tunneling, and the draw became plugged. After using a Perfect Draw tool, the airflow improved somewhat, but construction issues persisted.
The second sample provided a much better experience. While it began with a draw tighter than I prefer, it opened up during the first third to a more comfortable draw. There were no tunneling issues, and it maintained an even burn for most of the session.
It started with a molasses-like sweetness, reminiscent of brown sugar, and a light zest on the exhale. As the first third progressed, the draw improved, introducing bitter grapefruit notes that transitioned into a sweeter fruit profile, similar to apricot. Soon after, a gritty earthiness and grassy notes emerged. A minor touch-up was needed due to an uneven burn. The smoke output was excellent, leaving a satisfying coating in the mouth. However, the wrapper began to unravel heading into the second third, reflecting ongoing construction challenges.
In the second third, the flavors shifted to a buttery texture and taste, accompanied by earthy, oily notes with a touch of spice. The grapefruit flavor returned, now resembling a Paloma cocktail. With some effort, the wrapper issue was resolved, allowing the cigar to regain its structure.
The final third began with fruity notes, followed by light spice, earthy tones, and a hint of mushroom. As the cigar neared the end, the spice ramped up significantly.
Overall, while the flavor journey was enjoyable and complex, the recurring construction issues—tunneling, a tight draw, and an unraveling wrapper—were the cigar’s biggest drawbacks.
From Privada Cigar Club: “We created the idea for Privada Spirits well over 2 years ago. We realized very early on that people love cigars and spirits but they rarely did it right or understood how to pair the two together at all. So we came up with a fool proof plan for knowing what spirit goes with what cigar. Even if you do not drink alcoholic beverages, these cigars are all fantastic on their own. To create the cigars we submitted our idea for Privada Spirits to 6 different factories. In the end, Tabacalera Perla, the same manufacturer that makes our beloved Paul Stulac, outperformed all. These cigars are all natural and use natural fermentation and blending to achieve the clear flavor notes that are hard to achieve. Each one is as good as the next and each cigar on its own, released by a boutique brand, would be touted as a must try stick. How we came up with all 5 of these in one line of cigars is beyond me and a testament to the power of the Privada movement.”
Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano Maduro)
Binder: Nicaragua
Fillers: Nicaragua
Vitola: Toro/ Size: 6″x50
Country of Origin: Nicaragua/Factory: Tabacalera Perla
Manure- Chocolate- Sweet- Hay- Must
Hay- Spice- Cocoa
Spice-Hay-Manure- Milk Chocolate
Molasses- Freeze Dried Fruit- Brown Sugar- Bitters- grapefruit- Hay- charred barrel oak- Light Zest- Gritty Dirt Earth- Grass- Red Pepper
Grapefruit Lightens Up, Buttery- Croissant- Earth- Leather- Oily- Spice- Pepper- Paloma Cocktail Grapefruit Comes back
Fruit- Spice- Mushroom- Earth- Buttery- Leather
