Kristoff Privada Cigar Club Exclusive Lancero 2019 AKA The 50 Shades Aged 4+ Years

Kristoff PCC The 50 Shades Aged 4+ Years

• Size: 7 1/2 x 40
• Strength: Medium-Full

Kristoff, a brand rich in fine tobaccos, brings a blend exclusively for Privada members. This is the second time we have featured a Kristoff cigar in our box. The folks at Kristoff were so happy with your support on social media with the first cigar that they wanted to grow our partnership. With all the hype about Broadleaf being too expensive for the smaller boutique brands to use, my first inclination was to request a Broadleaf cigar! I also said we have not had a lancero in a while so let’s make it a lancero! We exchanged some info on blend preferences and after a few tries, decided this was the winner. My vision for this project was to create a “FINISHER” cigar- something with a little bite to end the evening; something powerful enough in flavor to be the go-to cigar when other cigars were just too light on the palate. I also affectionately call this cigar the Baker’s Dozen because the bread notes in it are so prominent. Please thank @kristoffcigars on social media and let them know @privadacigarclub sent you! In fact, I had a blueberry cheese the other night that would be perfect with this cigar!! #weareprivada

Tasting Notes: Prelight, there is vinegar and barnyard on the body. The foot smells of dried fruits if you twist the shag off. The cold draw is peppery, bready and tea like. First puff meets you with a blast of white pepper, bread notes, floral notes and has a distinctively Connecticut Broadleaf flavor. The white pepper quickly turns into red pepper and leaves a long tingling finish on the mouth. The flavors are herbal and vegetal-like a dried parsley or oregano and fennel. There are some light roasted cocoa bean flavors. The smoke is creamy on the palate but leaves a dry tannin like finish. In the middle it transitions to charcoal/charred cedar notes and the floral is even heavier now. The cocao beans turn to a chocolate bread- similar to a babka. Fennel is ever present along with celery salt. The flavors are super dynamic, but towards the middle of the second third, begin to balance. Deeper into the second third there is  white pepper, Spanish cedar, less bread and more floral notes. There is a salted peanut on the retrohale and a burned sugar/caramel sweetness now. I also get notes that remind me of Vanilla Dr. Pepper. In the final third the smoke is sweet and tart with hints of lime zest, dried fruits, charred wood, oak, corn chips, chocolate bread, slight vinegar at times and salted nuts. This cigar has a lot of tannins, which is rare. This is what leaves the mouth dry on the finish like a dry red wine. I’m stoked because this cigar is damn good! It’s full in body while still having a nice dynamic range and complexity.

Pairing Notes: Coca Cola, Dr. Pepper, root beer. Lager, Pilsner beers. Milk chocolate with almonds. Raisins and dates. Bourbon. Speyside Scotch like The Glenlivet 12 or 18. Iced coffee with cream and sugar. After creamy deserts like an ice cream Sunday or flan. Anything peanut butter or peanuty. Cold red grapes may be refreshing as well as mild cheeses. Anything blueberry flavored. In fact I had a blue berry cheese the other night that would be perfect with this cigar!! #weareprivada