avantgrade purchased this cigar on 2011-05-21.
It has 8 months of additional aging.
It is quite a treat to have a discontinued cigar like the La Tradicion Cabinet Series. With a little bit of toasting with the match, the flame caught on rather quickly and I was off to a good start.
To begin with, this cigar is reminiscent of a very savory chocolate bar: notes of dark chocolate and coffee ease their way onto the palate, greeting me with what is about to be a very enjoyable cigar.
During the first 1/3 of the cigar, the flavors settled in a medium bodied profile, and remained so for the duration of the cigar. I also started to notice some light nutmeg and cinnamon on the retrohale towards the end of the first 1/3, which were not present in the very beginning.
The aroma of the dark gray smoke is rich and oak-like, complementing the deep notes of chocolate and medium-roast coffee.
I ashed the cigar only once, and that was almost half way through the second 1/3. The cigar was generously packed with tobacco, which honestly accounted for the ample smoke and richness of flavors.
The flavor profile began to evolve a little further once I started to approach the final 1/3. Notes of cinnamon and nutmeg subsided a bit, and medium-roast coffee intensified, taking on a dimension of espresso with roast nuts.
As the final 1/3 progressed, notes of dark chocolate became very apparent, and the sweetness of the maduro wrapper complemented the evolved profile quite well.
On the finish, I also began to notice some black pepper, which soon is washed away by a distinct creaminess.
This cigar is one of a kind. While it has been around for about 10 years, it is no longer produced and is becoming increasingly harder to find. If you have a chance, don't hesitate to try it.