Vitola: Handbrake- 4.5” x 50 ring gauge
- ~$8.00
- Purchased at Burns Tobacconist
Background
Several years ago I did a “cigar preview” of CAO’s Flathead Steel Horse. At the time it was a brand-new blend and I was smoking trade show samples. I enjoyed it and was looking forward to getting to do a full review of it, but somehow it just kind of fell through the cracks. To review the concept, Flathead was CAO’s “car themed” release, playing off the notion of a flathead engine. Steel Horse is motorcycle-themed. Both feature an extraordinarily FLAT HEAD to the cigar, so much so that I’ve usually punched both lines. When Steel Horse came out, it was only available in two large (66 and 58) ring gauge sizes; a couple years later, they came out with 54 and 50 ring gauge sizes, so I’m glad I waited until now to get back to this review.
The Flathead Steel Horse is a totally different blend from the regular Flathead release. This one features Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan fillers, a Brazilian Arapiraca binder, and a Connecticut Habano Grueso wrapper leaf.
I’ve smoked plenty of these sticks over the last 4 years or so, but this is just the second or third time I’ve smoked it in this vitola. I bought this review sample at Burns Tobacconist in Chattanooga, where I used to work.
Prelight
When this line first came out every stick was packaged in individual boxes. I believe that’ve given that up throughout the Flathead lines at this point, probably as a cost-saving measure as much as anything else. Less cost, less waste…it’s all good to me. The bands are color-coded, with each vitola getting it’s own shade. This one is a metallic olive drab color with silver foil logo and highlights. I’ve always appreciated the looks and presentation of the Flathead line and these don’t do anything to change that.
The wrapper leaf was a slightly-darker-than-medium brown color with a decent amount of oils to the eye and a rich earthy and leathery aroma that reminded me a bit of the wave of smell that hits you when you open a fresh box of La Flor Dominicana Double Ligeros. The foot had more leather, some more subdued earth, bell pepper, and cedar.
Instead of punching as I used to, I have started trying to cut more of the Flathead cigars, carefully using my Xikar Xi to take a thin sliver off the head. Once I did, I got an excellent draw that had flavors of earth and hay, red pepper flake and cedar.
Flavor
Whereas a lot of cigars are hard to get lit in the center because of the ligero in the bunch, the wrapper on this one was challenging to get burning correctly. Once going, I got a flavor mix of leather and earth riding high atop notes of hay and cedar. The smoke was thick and oily from the beginning, with a full body that was easy to blow smoke rings with. There was some mild chili pepper on the finish, while the retrohale was very nutty with a short burst of red pepper flake. As the third continued along, I got more cedar and leather, with peppery accent notes.
The pepper became more of a cinnamon note during the second third and there was an emerging coffee bean note, while earth and leather faded a bit.
The last third had a slight chocolate sweetness along with cinnamon and leather.
Construction
I had a solid ash, excellent draw, and very even burn line most of the way.
Value
Very good cigar and very fair price tag.
Conclusions
I still slightly prefer the original Flathead release, but the Steel Horse is a pretty great follow-up that has it’s own pleasing complexity from end to end. It was medium-plus in body with rich flavors throughout.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
