We don’t mean to get all historic on you, but the Henry Clay Rustic Cheroot is not your great-great-great-grandpappy’s cheroot cigar. Heck, it ain’t even your dad’s from last week. That’s because this sweet n’ potent panatela is a modern take on a rugged classic. As is tradition starting from way back, cheroots are usually nothing more than simple loose-rolled stogies that are clipped straight on both ends, sometimes machine-rolled or without a binder. By comparison, this handmade delight is comprised of a juicy broadleaf wrapper finished with a closed foot and pigtail cap, another fine broadleaf for the binder, and a lip-smacking ‘Capa Dura’ blend of Dominican and Honduran longleaf filler packed tight into a diminutive 5 5/8” X 38 powerhouse.
The addition of a simple red, black, and white band does add a little bit of razzmatazz to each vitola, but overall the cigar seems like a relic from another time with noticeable veins and plenty of tooth along the Connecticut Broadleaf’s splotchy, dark brown surface. Any hesitation due to appearance falls away during the pre-light test, where the aromas of chocolate and sweet spice mingle with earth and a hint of ginger on the tongue. Though small in stature, the Henry Clary Rustic Cheroot proves itself a skilled pugilist when first lit, smacking the palate with black pepper and cocoa before taking a more refined approach with cream, nutmeg, toasted oak, cinnamon, and cherry stem. Burning like it has all the time in the world, the cigar stays cool and on-balance as it slowly approaches a syrupy finish full of vim and vigor.
One of the main reasons for smoking a cheroot is the delightful tobacco enjoyment to be had for not much money, and here the Henry Clay Rustic Cheroot hews closely to bygone times. Destined to become a daily favorite for fans of medium-full cigars, anyone who needs some quick pick-me-up smokes in their stash ought to consider grabbing more than a few. You never know when you’ll need to share.
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