Steel Horse Connecticut Churchill
Posted on April 05 2022
Vitola: 7x50
Smoking Time: 74 Minutes
Cigars Smoked: 3
Body: Mild
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Dominican Cuban Seed
MSRP: $13.51
Steel Horse has made It's U.S. debut! Originally only available in the Dominican Republic where it is hand-rolled. These cigars are produced at El Maestro by one of the greatest in the industry, William Ventura.
Visual Inspection: Immediately after I take this cigar out of the cellophane, aromas start to waft, bold notes of cinnamon sugar, hay, and a flour-y sweetness similar to pancakes. There aren't any soft spots present, which is consistent with each sample I have smoked. Now, there is only a slight amount of oil on the wrapper, notably, it also varies in color from the foot to the head. There are a lot of veins present, both small and large. Decorated with more honeycomb-like veins running up and down the cigar.
I am intrigued to start this cigar off. I tend to enjoy the Connecticut and Indonesian wrapper/binder combination, and the flavors it brings. The head of the cigar was a bit elastic, when I cut it, the wrapper leaf stayed in the cutter and took some extra with it. Nothing more than an eye sore. The draw is very ample, and brings refreshing notes of a unique Dominican “Funk”, tea, and citrus.
First Third: Upon first light, the “Funk” was overpowering, something you would get from a Davidoff Grand Cru, or Aniversario, but it died down very quickly, and brought with it notes of cinnamon sugar, cream, butter crackers, and peanut. This almost resembles Warped’s El Oso Blanco; it is mild, with a surprising sweetness in each pull. A retrohale brings white pepper and toast into the profile.
The burn line was going very well, until I ashed the cigar, now it has dipped, a bit like a puzzle piece. But it does appear to be correcting itself rather swiftly. The color of the ash is also quite notable, it is very white, almost surprisingly so. Toast is growing in prominence, it is getting more “cooked” in flavor. A final retrohale brings pepper, and new notes of vanilla, to the nose.
Second Third: The burn line cleaned itself up nicely, while the ash has darkened in color, I am pleased with the overall performance so far. The ash is rather loose, and most likely due to how ample the draw is. I knock it loose quicker than I might another cigar. Body has been very close to mild, but as pepper and the now slightly over cooked toast notes develop, it is bordering medium. However, it does fall a bit short of that mark.
The flavor profile has remained very consistent, between peanuts, cream, tea, and crackers. Only varying to the nose, and lingering notes. Burn line is still nice, with a slightly whiter ash than prior.
Last Third: Despite the problem I had when the cigar was cut, construction of this cigar is amazing. I have very much enjoyed what has come from this Connecticut Churchill. Notes of cinnamon have grown, but have left the sugar behind. Crackers, cream, and peanuts follow close after. With the difference in wrapper color, I anticipated more profile changes, but it was very consistent.
Final Thoughts: For being a new company, Steel Horse knows what they’re doing. Their boxes are made at Xhaxhi Bobi’s box factory, and the bands at Cigar Rings, no shortcuts were taken when producing this cigar. If you like a Connecticut cigar, one that is consistent and flavorful, this is the cigar for you. From notes of cream, cinnamon sugar, toast, and peanuts, this cigar is sweet, and savory. They come in 10 count boxes, so they are easily affordable, and well worth the purchase.
-Sam