Toasted Marshmallow CT by Ohana Nui

BRAND / CO:  Ohana
CIGAR:  Toasted Marshmallows Connecticut
VITOLA:  Lonsdale - 7" x 44
STRENGTH:  Medium
WRAPPER:  Ecuadorian Connecticut, Natural
BINDER:  Nicaragua
FILLER:  Nicaragua (Condega, Jalapa, Ometepe)
ORIGIN:  Nicaragua, Origen Cigars S.A.

APPEARANCE & CONSTRUCTION:   Average 
Ecuadorian Connecticut wrappers can be challenging to present in an appealing manner to your average smoker. This particular example is more aesthetically pleasing, featuring a cardboard tan color and a soft texture. However, it still exhibits noticeable imperfections such as wrinkles, veins, stretching, creases, and a slightly ragged appearance. While there is some color variation, the overall finish is quite dry. The veins and seam edges are pronounced, but the seams are tight and the cap is well secured. The star here is the band with the anthropomorphic cartoon marshmallow on the band. What's notable is that the back of his head is on fire and he seems quite content with it.  That's to say, he looks two types of toasted.  Remember kids, drugs are bad, mmm'kay? 

DRAW & BURN:   Good / Good
The draw is decent, and the burn starts without drama, settling quickly to a crisp and relatively flat burn line. The ash is a light gray with inconsistent striations. Some areas are flat, others are cracking and separating. I don't expect the ash to hold on for very long given the thin ring gauge, and unsurprisingly it falls in the first inch. Unfortunately, once the ash falls, the burn line starts to get wavy and the ash becomes more flaky. The burn line never gets uncontrolled, but the flat and even char line is long gone at this point.

FLAVOR PROFILE:   Good
Flavors start off quite mild. There's a toasted graham cracker flavor that's leading the charge, with mild cinnamon, salted caramel, and a nice medium creaminess to it. I am getting some of that bitter and somehow harsh metallic taste I sometimes get with Ecuadorian Connecticut wrappers. So we'll see if that continues or is a momentary blip, because the blend is otherwise delightful.

Creaminess is building, it's nice and developing a sweet, buttery quality. There's more toasted cedar in the blend, while pepper and coffee start to build up. It's fairly dry, there's no savoriness to it, but it is very graham cracker-like with some mild peanut shell nuttiness. It's definitely not a stretch to say this is on target for the toasted marshmallows name. But from draw to draw, I still occasionally get that bitter metallic taste. I can go several puffs without it, then it sneaks up again. This is fairly simple in complexity, but it's good when the metallic bitterness isn't present.

Getting into the final third, that harsh and bitter note is lingering into the aftertaste.  It's getting to the point where I'm losing interest in the cigar, so I give up on the last inch.  I don't feel like spinning the wheel to see if I get the good notes or the disappointing ones. Even when the good notes are hitting, I still have the bad lingering in my mouth. 

OVERALL EXPERIENCE:   Good
It's a shame that the bitter metallic flavor kept lingering because this blend is great and quite enjoyable otherwise.  It's simple, but you get that toasted marshmallow vibe.  This reminds me of the Montecristo White Series, and how that has a similar issue with the bitter metallic notes as well. Maybe you'll get lucky and won't pick that up, not everybody does with the Monte, but I do.

Purchase Singles or by the Box HERE

Reviewed by Sean McCloskey of The Collective