PIO Resurrection Churchill Cigar Review

Food: none

Beverage: none

Cutter type: Dual Blade Guillotine (Mean Sardine, a sub-brand made by Xikar)

Lighter: Cigar Matches (low sulfur head)

Appearance: The square-pressed churchill looks prominent in hand. The wrapper is smooth and contains various shades of tobacco throughout its length. There are some darker spots, some lighter, some even green (reminiscent of a candella-style wrapper). The cigar st

Presence of veins: minimal, fairly smooth to the touch

Humidity: 68%

Cigar draw: Medium resistance, consistent throughout the entire stick.

Cigar feel: Smooth

Oily or dry: Dry

Ease/quality cut: effortless

Pre-light flavour: a mild sweetness, backed with a floral aroma, creating a pleasant, dry feeling on the palate

Country of origin: U.S.A. (Miami)

Origin of wrapper: Connecticut

Origin of binder: Ecuador

Origin of filler: Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Nicaragua

    

Initial Light

The cigar lit up with ease, taking only one match to get the job done. There is an immediate mixture of herbal and floral aromas. I had to do a double take to make sure that I am smoking a traditional cigar, and not an Acid. Granted, that may be a slight overstatement, but the amount of these pleasant scents is far greater than in any non-infused cigar that I have smoked before.
The cigar starts off on a very even burn line, producing dense clouds of white and bluish smoke. The smoke feels dry on the palate, just as during the pre-lit test.

First 1/3:

Before smoking the PIO Resurrection, I was anticipating it to be a full-bodied cigar. It is hard to say whether it will actually reach that level of body. I am still experiencing the mild aromas previously felt during the initial lighting of the cigar. The smoke also begins to fill with a wonderful taste of nutmeg, cinnamon, and roasted nuts. Far off in the background, a touch of pepper can be felt, but it is far surpassed in presence by the sweet earthy aromas upfront.

Second 1/3:

The PIO Resurrection is burning flawlessly. It is quite a treat to smoke, as I am beginning to understand the inherent complexity that Alberto Medina (the maker behind PIO cigars) built into his Resurrection line. While some of the cinnamon begins to wear off, sparks of white and black pepper peak onto the palate between a couple of puffs. The earthy sweetness remains, and the various baking spices account for the majority of flavors. However, as the pepper notes appear, I notice a very sharp rise in the body of the cigar. The gentle flavors and aromas present at the beginning truly fooled me into believing that there will not be much of a kick, but I was wrong.

Final 1/3:

The cigar is producing a very unique harmony between gentle flavors and a fairly strong body. As I am running the burn line to the nub, which has been fantastic throughout the entire stick, more of the pepper begins to come through, but the body stays right at the medium-full level. Stronger flavors of cocoa and roasted coffee overtake the gentler cinnamon notes, leaving a wonderful finish that lasts for about an hour after the smoking experience.

I feel very lucky having been able to enjoy such a low production volume cigar. Mr. Medina is a skilled craftsman, and his quality product shows just how passionate he is about making memorable cigars.