Cigar Geeks - Hammer & Sickle Tradicion Serie Churchill

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Hammer & Sickle Tradicion Serie Churchill
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Stephen (appollo)

88
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique generously sponsored by our member klamm143 (Kevin). This was done as a blind review so there were no pre-concieved notions about what anyone was smoking. The cigar provided for this round is the http://www.cigargeeks.com/cigardb/default.asp?action=showcig&cigar_id=28767">Hammer & Sickle Tradicion Serie Churchill.

This was a Cigar Aficionado Top 25 pick in 2015 (coming in at No. 11). As the brand name indicates, Hammer + Sickle has opted for tradition over trend with its Tradición Serie Churchill. It isn't a scaled up, modern interpretation of a Churchill, as others have created, but stays within traditional parameters. Eric Hanson, who released his first Hammer + Sickle brand in 2010, has adopted the symbol of Russia as the cigar's logo. He points out that the hammer and sickle does not represent the Soviet Union (which incorporated a star), but symbolizes Russia's industrial north and agrarian south. For him, it's a heritage symbol and not political.

Hammer & Sickle Tradicion Serie Churchill

Brand:: Hammer & Sickle
Name:: Tradicion Serie Churchill
Length:: 7
Ring Gauge:: 48
Country of Origin:: Dominican Republic
Filler:: Dominican Republic
Binder:: Dominican Republic
Wrapper:: Connecticut Shade
Color:: Colorado Claro
Strength:: Medium
Shape:: Churchill
Average Member Rating:: (1 Review(s))

This cigar was enjoyed with water

Pre-Light: 9 Points of 10 Possible

Looks like a nice light wrapper that is slightly oily to the touch. I do notice some veins but don't notice any seams. I get a sweet tobacco off the wrapper which I always interpret as a good sign. There are no soft spots on the stick it all appears to be well put together

Lighting and Burn: 12 Points of 15 Possible

I must say I'm not a big connie fan and really I don't think I have any in my collection. I find the stick a fairly quick burner for the size of the stick and the draw is a little open to my liking. The volume of smoke is fine with a generous amount. The ash is salt and pepper in appearance and holds on for about an inch. The burn is mostly fine but did require a couple touch ups. All and all everything was fine.

Construction: 27 Points of 30 Possible

The construction of this stick is certainly more than adequate. Draw is a little loose which I'm sure makes it burn faster but this has no effect on taste or making the stick burn hot. The wrapper is fine with no soft spots. It has a few veins which makes it a little rough but again nothing that interferes with the stick.

Flavor and Aroma: 40 Points of 45 Possible

1st third the stick fires up nicely with a nice amount of smoke. I get a little pepper on the retro which I found surprising. The stick gives me some grassy flavors and believe it or not a touch of wood. The burn waivers a little but not enough to warrant a touch up. The burn time is about 25min.

2nd third - This third starts off very close to what the first third did. The pepper is not near as dominate but is still very pleasant to deal with. There is still the grassy taste which I expect from a connie but I now start to get a creamy taste along with the grass. The burn does waiver to the extent that it does require a touch up but nothing to serious. Burn time is around 30min.

Final third - So far this has been an enjoyable stick. The burn is still good and the smoke output is the same. The only thing there is not a lot of flavors changes everything stays fairly constant. There is still some pepper the creamy stats to go in the background along with the wood. The grassy taste is still there again for me the flavors stay very consistent. The final burn on this is around 30min.

Summary

I would like to thank Kevin for asking me in on this. I was a little hesitate for I normally don't smoke connies. I was pleasantly surprised with the stick even though the flavors aren't in my wheel house. The total burn time was around 85min and the stick never got hot. he strength was medium at best but that is fine with me. Would I smoke another Connie? Probably. Would I buy some? Not sure, but again it was a good experience. The stick is not overly complex but the flavors were enjoyable.