Vitola: Sidewinder #2
Size: 6” x 57 ring gauge
MSRP: $9
Cigars provided by Iconic Leaf Cigar Company
Background
One of the newer kids on the cigar block, one of the ways the Iconic Leaf Cigar Company is trying to differentiate itself through the use of new and unique vitolas. The original Recluse line was released in “Kanu” vitolas, which looked almost like a kayak to me…a semi-box-pressed, flattened-oval double-perfecto would be one way to describe it. The follow-up to the Recluse line is the Recluse Draconian; along with being released in 3 “regular” vitolas (Robust, Toro and 6×60, all box-pressed), the Draconian is available in 3 “Special Edition Sidewinder” vitolas. How best to describe this shape? Straight, pressed sides; rounded, oval front and back, tapering into a semi-chisel head (though you would never mistake it for one of the famous trademarked “chisel” cigars).
Iconic Leaf sent me a couple samples of Sidewinder #2 along with an info sheet that told the story:
The cigar is rolled at our Tabacalera Leyendas Cubanas factory in the Dominican Republic and as with all cigars rolled in this factory, Draconians will be rolled entubado (tubed).
The Recluse Draconian uses four types of filler: Braziago (which I have never heard of before), Piloto Cubano, Dominican Ligero, and Iconic Leaf Ligero (leaf developed exclusively by Tabacalera Leyendas Cubanas). It has a proprietary MBC binder and an Ecuadorian Maduro wrapper.
Just reviewing the meaning of the name…Recluse refers to the spider on the band (representative of the Brown Recluse, a deadly arachnid) as well as the fact that the founders of the company are reclusive and want to remain unnamed. Draconian is “an adjective meaning great severity,” deriving from “Draco, an Athenian law scribe under whom small offenses had heavy punishments (Draconian laws).” Given those names, one would expect a powerful smoking experience.
This review is based on my second smoking of this blend; both samples were provided by Iconic Leaf Cigar Company.
Prelight
The black and sliver primary band carries over from the original Recluse release, and is joined here by a secondary band that reads “DRACONIAN” in a brilliant red foil. Taken along with the red ribbon on the foot, there was a sense of menace…almost “Draculian,” to coin a word…about the appearance of this cigar. The wrapper leaf was smooth and oily, although not very dark for what you might normally think of as a Maduro. (No, “Maduro” does not mean “dark”…it means “ripe” and colors can vary widely, however, most Maduros do tend to be on the darker side.) I gave the wrapper a good sniff and picked up a little earth, along with a bit of leather and wood. The foot was a little riper…more earthy.
One cool thing about these new shapes is the ease of holding the cigar in your mouth, something I discovered first with AJ Fernandez’s Oval vitola. The Sidewinder conforms to the shape of your mouth very well, too, being short and wide. The flavor was of sweet hay and mild earth, along with a bit of cedar and pepper spice. The draw was excellent.
Flavor
Getting the oddly shaped Recluse Draconian Sidewinder #2 lit was actually pretty easy. Despite the fairly wide ring gauge, it took right to the fire and soon was burning very evenly. Initially, I got flavors that I can only call “fairly typically Dominican.” It was a sweet grassiness, with an underlying earthiness and more subtle notes of cedar on the palate, along with a dash of pepper on the nose. After a few minutes, I started to get a slight vegetal note on the finish. As the first third continued, I would judge this cigar to be on the mild side of medium in body. I soon started to pick up a unique flavor in the mix. The closest I can come is to say that there was an element of sweet citrus to it, but that doesn’t cover it all. I would surmise it was coming from one of the proprietary leaves used in the mix.
As the second third began, the body started to increase and I got more sweetness. It ws a bit of dried fruit sweetness along with a touch of sour citrus, all riding on top of an earthy base. Notes of cedar were still playing a minor role and the pepper had diminished quite a bit by this point. In the last third, the Draconian got more earthy, while the fruit and citrus notes receded a bit.
Construction
True to the entubado nature of construction, the draw was flawless on this cigar. The burn line needed some touching up, but nothing too major. The ash was rock solid for half an inch or so.
Value
For a small-production cigar company, making a unique figurado vitola, $9 is a very reasonable price to pay.
Conclusions
I found this to be a good, interesting smoke, but I have to admit that I didn’t like it quite as much as the regular Recluse release. While it had some unique flavors, the overwhelming note was “solid Dominican cigar.” That’s not a bad thing…some people will truly love it, I’m sure! For me, though, it just didn’t fire up my taste buds like I had hoped it would.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10
Great review, not sure if its the new website or what but the reviews seem to be more indepth and very well written. I haven’t had any of the Iconic smokes and to be fair I doubt I will find them in my area. The size is interesting to me that would be something I would like to try one day. Very well done sir!
Thank you. As far as the reviews being different…I’m sure it’s all in your head! LOL
Seriously, though…at the beginning of the year, while we were still in the middle of deciding on a new name and format, I decided to do some re-working of the reviews. As time goes on, one of the most compelling things to me is the stories behind the cigars. Yes, how they taste is the most important things with regard to what kind of score they will get and whether I will ever smoke them again, buy a couple sticks, or purchase a box…but, the stories of the people, the symbolism, the factories, the leaf…it all makes for interesting writing, reading (hopefully!) and conversation. That “Background” section has been what’s been expanded most of all, although there is a better focus on other areas, too.