The Paul Garmirian Gourmet Series Connoisseur
I think the only thing I love more than a good Cigar of the Month Club is a banger of a sampler. Our friend Kyle at LACC had pulled together his top Dominican picks and it had a mix of cigars I loved (Avowed Higher Calling, LFD Oro Maduro), wanted to try again (Warped Isla de Cocodrilo), and some I was interested in (Apostate Deseret). But it had one that was a brand I had seen but really didn't know anything about. So like a COTMC, sometimes a sampler is a really good way to get you out of your comfort zone and try something new. And that cigar was the Paul Garmirian Gourmet Series.
BRAND / CO: Paul Garmirian
CIGAR: Gourmet Series (2018 Roll) (Connoisseur)
VITOLA: Toro - 6" x 50
STRENGTH: Medium
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade, Colorado
BINDER: Dominican Republic
FILLER: Dominican Republic
ORIGIN: Dominican Republic, Occidental Cigar Factory
APPEARANCE & CONSTRUCTION: Good
This is a great looking Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper. It's a nice orangey warm tan, has a light sheen, a hint of mottling, and few very thin veins. It has a velvety soft texture to it and a firm roll. The seams are tight and the cap is clean. As with all Ecuadorian Connecticuts, it's just not a tobacco that is aesthetically interesting, and the simple red and gold bands don't help. So yeah, it's a little boring looking but it has it where it counts. This is the kind of cigar where some extra traditional detail like a pigtail or closed foot with a more dynamic band would really set it off.
DRAW & BURN: Good / Great
The draw is a hair tight, but acceptable. As I wait to see if it loosens up with some heat or stays with a higher resistance, it's perfect within a couple puffs. The burn starts off cleanly too, very even with only a little wave and settles in to dead even. The ash is a very light gray with tight banding and even striations. The ash holds nicely into the second third before falling
FLAVOR PROFILE: Excellent
There's minimal cedar, light cashews and leather on light up with salt and mild sweet. It takes a moment, then the flavors rush in and build quickly. Cedar, breadiness, floral notes, mild coffee, honey like sweetness, baking spice and salt. It's pretzel like at times, woody at others, but the smoothness is phenomenal along with the rich creaminess it brings. The flavors are so rich and smooth.
If you didn't notice in the cigar details, this was rolled in 2018. Supposedly PG ages the tobacco before the cigars are rolled, and this cigar has 7 years of aging since rolling and the aging is paying dividends. The complexity and balance of flavor here is just superb. Cedar, dark honey, roasted cashews, salty pretzel, baking spice, leather, floral notes all wrapped in a rich creamy finish. This is light, it's delightful, it's going to amuse and reward those who appreciate surgical precision in a blend. There's no transitions, and that's ok, it's just brilliant the entire smoke.
OVERALL EXPERIENCE: Excellent
This is an outstanding Connecticut. Complexity, nuance, rich flavor, great construction and a reasonable price. If you're looking for a lighter, brighter, medium blend, this is going to be immensely satisfying. This isn't just a morning cigar, it's a great any time cigar. Paul Garmirian is definitely a cigar line I'll be diving further into.
Purchase Singles or by the Box HERE
Reviewed by Sean McCloskey of The Collective