Hangman’s Budget Pairings – Tales From The Lower Shelf

JNV Don Jorge Habano Box Press

Vitola: Box Press Robusto, 6x54

MSRP: $5

Wrapper: Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

This is the first installment of a new series that I hope will give you options for both cigars and spirits that are budget-friendly. I know everyone has a different budget, but for this series it will be set for cigars under $12 and spirits under $30. So let’s get to it…

Today’s pairing was pretty easy for me, because this is my "go-to" everyday pairing, The JNV Habano Boxpress with Evan Williams 1783 bourbon. The EW 1783 is a small batch bourbon that sells for about $18 for 750ml. I found it to be quite smooth with a little bit of a fruity hint to it.

As for the cigar, Don Jorge is one of the nicest guys I know and he makes the cigar that I smoke 90% of the time. He is basically a one man operation, doing all of the blending and rolling himself. All of his cigars across the line are $5 each and could easily be sold for twice that much without any hesitation.

Vitola: Robusto

Wrapper: Sumatra

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Esteli Nicaraguan Ometepe

Pairing: Glenlivet Founders Reserve

I would like to preface my review to say that I am very surprised I am reviewing a Gurkha. Don’t get me wrong, I like some Gurkhas, but not enough of them to write a review. When I stopped by the Gurkha booth at Stogiefest 2019 in Jacksonville FL, I heard the rep say Sumatra. That was enough for me to pay attention to this cigar. It was an easy sell for me, so he put one in my bag. I smoked the cigar at the event and liked it a lot. So much so that I ended up buying a box of them. I sat back and enjoyed it where I could pay closer attention to the cigar’s flavor profile. I will enjoy this cigar with some Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve. Now, the review!

For Catholics, Lent is a time of fasting and meditation leading up to the Easter holiday. Central to the tradition in modern times is refraining from eating meat on Lenten Fridays. If you are like me and on a low-carb diet, Lenten Friday meals can be a challenge. In normal times, a bread dish, (such as a cheese pizza), a pasta dish (take your pick), or even fried fish from the local parish are all off limits to the low-carb dieter. The breading on the fish has a considerable amount of carbs and the hush puppies and fries are all carbs. With that in mind, I took up the challenge and made a Lenten Friday meal that was delicious to even non-dieters and fell within the strict low-carb guidelines (which, for me, is fewer than 20 grams of carbs a day, less than the sugar most people would add to their morning coffee).

Hoyo Epicure Deluxe (LCDH)

5x52, 68% humidity

Beverage: water

As I inspect the construction of this cigar, I am drawn to how tiny the vein structure is within the wrapper leaf. I've had cigars with big veins in the wrapper and I've had cigars with hardly any veins in the wrapper leaf. This one is different from any other I've seen. There is a slight coffee and leather aroma from the foot.

This is a healthy robusto cigar and I expect it to deliver a volume of smoke with a slight draw. The pre-light draw confirmed that this was going to be the case.

Upon lighting the cigar, I drew smoke that even if if had not been banded I would have immediately identified as a Hoyo de Monterrey. From the first draw, the leathery flavor profile of Hoyos was up close, personal, and lots of it. There is no harshness as is common on the first few draws of a cigar. The leather flavor practically slaps you in the face.

The aroma is of very strong tobacco, which is exactly what I expected. Even though it wasn't harsh to begin with, the flavor smooths out even more in the first inch. Hints of coffee begin to present themselves. The cigar continues to produce volumes of smoke at the slightest draw.