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What an incredible time to be alive. I think the 1950s would have been incredible as well. Just think they actually had Federal customs officials who would sit in the Cigar factory and clear the Havana tobacco. The tobacco was not taxed until the cigars were rolled. This government system ensured that Havana cigars were of guaranteed origin. Before me is a beautiful claro wrapped clear Havana cigar. The American market was almost always claro selected. Prior to the Revolution Cuba sent certain types of tobacco out to different regions. The American market was mild Havana tobacco. I once read that Cuban farms would send the best wrapper leaf to the US. Such a fascinating time in history. Let's put this to rest and review for the FOH 1/3. Smooth mild Havana tobacco up front. Americans liked their cigars mild in these days. There is a light sweetness that is there. Probably the claro wrapper. A nice floral herbal bouquet is emerging now as it approaches the 2nd 3rd. 2/3. Retrohale has been smooth and highlights a nice graham flavor. This cigar is mellow no doubt. Slight notes of cinnamon mix well with the core floral tobacco flavor. It is hard to find a fault in this old cigar. Again the American market demanded mild Havana tobacco. As it approaches half way the flavor picks up. Of course the smoke is mild and light in body. Retrohale is absolutely necessary here. Halfway The smoke has taken on a bit of a grassy flavor. Hard to believe how much the claro wrapper is playing a part here. I wouldn't necessarily describe this smoke as complex. There are a few different flavors happening though. A nice coffe note has arrived. So to sum up the first half it started fully floral/herbal and has now gone towards a grassy coffe flavor. Final 3rd. Beautiful mellow smoke. The cigar has required a few touch ups. The smoke is just outstanding. Super smooth and the coffee is really coming through now. This is met with a certain creaminess to it. I should note that the draws throughout the entire stick were perfect. I take this down to the nub and it has turned into a delightful creamy coffe sweet smoke. Score: I won't even give it one. There were certainly flaws in the overall experience. A beautiful aged stick from yesteryear. I barely spoke about the album. The Many Faces of Oliver Hart. It was done by an artist named Micheal Larson. He passed away in 2010 from an opioid overdose. He had such a beautiful personality. It is a shame he left this world so soon. Any hip hop fans will really appreciate his talent. Arguably one of the best improv freestyle artists to date.

I smoked this beauty a few nights ago. It's been a long time since I've done a review. And for those of you that have never read one of mine, I tend to "dump" out what I'm tasting and any other thoughts in my mind as I'm smoking. This review is not as lengthy as my past efforts. I hope you enjoy it. Now, on to the review! Name: WM Penn Panatella Circa: 1943 Observations: Nice box press on the panatella, the tobacco passes the pinch test easily. This is not some dried out relic. The cigar is very much alive. Aroma at cold is floral with a hint of baking spice. That is promising. The cold draw is easy. A good sign for a cigar with such a small ring gauge. The pointed head clips off easily, no tearing or mangling of the cigar occurs. With aged cigars you always have to treat them with kid gloves as they can be fragile. This sample however, is solid. Review: First Third. Very easy draw. clean tobacco taste. Mint with some tangy notes . Very fresh flavors. Hints of nutmeg. Very good burn. Very floral in profile. Dry finish on each draw. Lemon zest sticks to the tongue. Very interesting start. Clove notes. More lemon. Very mild but flavourful smoke. Some slight acetic notes here and then. Must belong to the lemon taste I'm getting. Some more nutmeg and baking spice. Almost a candy like experience. Sweet notes coming through. Clean Tobacco. Very little smoke. Smooth. Still dry on the palate. Very refined. More lemon zest. In terms of citrus flavours in a cigar, I've had orange peel before, especially in Bolivar. Lemon zest, is a new one on me. I like it! Second Third: More smoke billows in the second third with each draw. Very clean tobacco flavour. Mint finish comes back. The sweetness ensures. This is a great aged cigar. Floral notes present as well. Tobacco flavour increases a bit. Some marshmallow flavours jump out. Awesome. That’s what was sweet all this time perhaps? Dry tannic notes on the tongue. I get hit with a bit of an unpleasant taste. Sour and mildewy in one brief, nasty moment. Thankfully, it only lasted one draw. Final Third: More clean tobacco taste. Nutmeg still present. Dry notes persist. Clove. Very flavourful, but dry. Slight metallic finish on a few draws. Clean tobacco taste returns. The draw is smooth. Smoke levels have picked up again. Some more sweet notes. The flavour range is mild but interesting. Not the most complex cigar in terms of body, but a worthy aged smoked. It must have been medium/mild smoke in it's day. Even with about 70 years of age this cigar impresses me. The WM Panatella finishes with a bit of spice hit towards the end. I've nubbed this cigar down to 3/4 inches. Total smoking time:35 minutes; Score: 92 Final Thoughts: When buying aged/vintage cigars whether they be Clear Havana's or Pre-embargo, I'm always concerned that I'll end up smoking a "dead" cigar. So far my luck has been good. And this little cigar was a very pleasant smoking experience. Probably the smoothest cigar I've tasted that held my interest from foot to head.

A Cool Old Find: Clear Havana Cigars One of my friend's father was a cigar smoker here in the United States and when he passed there were many full unopened cigar boxes in his cabinet humidor he kept everything in. Everything seemed to be well humidified because some of the cigar boxes without cellophane smoked well and has plume on them. Anyways, this full box of White Owl Invincibles was one of the few boxes I was lucky enough to take home which is from the early to mid 1940's I gathered and is a clear-havana cigar. As indicated on the box, "blended with havana." As to how much Cuban tobacco they put in each cigar, I have no idea. I particularly enjoy the box graphics and design. Each cigar is intended to be 8 to 15 cents it says, so that's not too cheap nor super expensive for the time. I was shocked how clean and perfect the exterior of the box looked (it seemed untouched since the time it was boxed). The tobacco smell was mild but clearly there. The wrappers on the cigar look in pretty good shape for being 60-70 years old. I honestly have no idea how they will smoke and I will try one in a month or so. The best part about the whole experience was being able to open up these cigars with a knife and box opener and unveiling what laid beneath. For me, that is one of the best feelings, opening up a box with no idea what lays beneath. I can't find much information on these cigars other than a bunch of empty boxes seen being sold on eBay and obviously the fact that now this company is a cheap tobacco mass made company that is seen with "blunts" in gas stations. So, any information on them would be of help too of maybe their value also. Here are some photos: Thanks for looking