Letting My Mind Wander With A: Nat Sherman Timeless Especial

[polarbear]

Here's a New Review For The Month, Guys

Sorry It's a Couple Of Days Late

One of the things I love to do in my life is introducing people to cigars. In this day and age of anti-smoking and the nanny state we all seem to be living in I think it’s important to tell anyone who is prepared to listen that a good cigar, while not the best thing for your health, can have many positive effects on your life. The pressures of daily life that we all face are often reduced by taking time to sit back and enjoy a simple pleasure. Whether that pleasure be a good meal, a good drink or even a good cigar. As more and more people look to smokers as the Typhoid Marys of the modern age, letting people know that it’s ok to pursue the enjoyment of a fine cigar is the very least older smokers can do when faced with a someone who is interested in this hobby of ours. There have been a number of people who now, thanks largely to their own curiosity and my guidance, enjoy the company that a good cigar can provide. Whether these people smoke one cigar a day or only a couple a year is not important. What is important is that in the age of “don’t do that, it’s bad for you” that people are taking the time to say “I don’t care; its benefits outweigh its faults”.

Todays’ cigar was purchased during one of these occasions. I purchased this cigar while in New York City at the famous Nat Shermans tobacconist. Always being a fan of thinner cigars as well as anything limited, when I found out they had a Petit Lancero that (at the time) could only be purchased through the store, I was keen to try it out while I was in the Big Apple. The Nat Sherman store, located in Manhattan has been in business now for a little over 100 years, dealing in Cuban Cigars and Clear Havana’s until the embargo in the early 60’s when they were forced to look at other manufactures in order to stay in business. The Petit Lancero, or Timeless Especial as it’s known in the store, is a 6x38 Dominican cigar that was blended for store release. It did very well in every publication it was rated in and gave the Nat Sherman brand a serious push back into the eyes of the buying public. I bought this box directly from the lounge and then let it rest, as I am one to do, for a few years, trying a stick once or twice a year. As tonight sees me in the mood for a long and skinny I figured I’d see where they were at.

As I always seem to lament when reaching for a thinner cigar, I wish there were more manufactures producing cigars in this size. The cigar feels at home in my hand and regardless of the company I have when smoking one, I always feel classy. I cut the Perfect pigtail cap and the fear I hold of a tight draw, a problem I sometimes find with thinner cigars, is not justified today. The draw is on the firmer side of perfect but still more than acceptable. I strike a match and slowly toast the foot, allowing it ample time to take to the flame before taking a draw and getting a first impression of this cigar. Notes of Dark Chocolate and Leather to be found in the dense, chewy smoke. I flick the needle on a Jazz record, get comfortable one my leather couch and allow my mind to wander.

Man, I miss Nat Shemans. After heading to New York with the goal of smoking a cigar in as many different cigar stores as I could, I found myself venturing back to Nat Shermans as often as I was allowed. While it wasn’t the biggest, most comfortable or best stocked, it did have this old world charm about it that I really felt at home in. The humidor was one of the largest I’d seen during my trip and carried a good selection of brands that were all in ample supply, as well as the entire Nat Sherman Cigar portfolio. Hard wood floors and leather were the décor as well as a baby grand piano that was located on the upper levels. I was told during events they often had a Jazz Pianist sit up there and jam away while everyone smoked their cigars. The staff were very friendly and always eager to chat about cigars and tobacco when there were no other customers that needed their assistance. I walked in there for the first time dressed my usual get up of jeans, t-shirt and sneakers but found I was not looked down at by the staff there. The staff were dressed in suits and ties but offered me the same time and attention as any of the other customers dressed in better attire. Over the 3 weeks I spent there with the Little Sister, I stopped by Nat Shermans for a cigar on 3 separate occasions, more than any other store in Manhattan. Everytime I walked in I would get a warm greeting from all of the staff and a handshake from the Floor Manager, who was nice enough to show me around the store and lounge on my first visit there. The Australian accent tends to open doors while in NYC and in that case it got me a private tour of the member’s only lounge, located under the store. If I was ever near Nat Shermans while in the city, I always made the trek there.

My Timeless is off to a good start with notes of Dark Chocolate and Leather from the opening still present. There is some cedar through the nose and a touch of leather there too. The smoke is still dense and think, I find myself blowing smoking rings with ease in the still air of my living room. I savour the long thick finish of strong black coffee as I settle in for a enjoyable evening.

During my time in New York with The Little Sister, I had the pleasure of meeting up with one of her friends from Melbourne, Jorge. He was in the Big Apple at the same time as us and we met up a few times to explore the city together. I’d met Jorge on a number of occasions. He was a classy guy who always dressed well and presented himself in the best possible way, whether he was meeting someone for the first time or someone he’d known for years. He spoke well and with a confidence in his voice, often sounding quite passionate about the most mundane of subjects. We’d shared many a conversation over the years and while I often gave him **** for the things he would rant about on social media (I often think of him as the King of the First World Problem) I enjoyed his company and the way he looked at life. In this day and age of people asking if it was possible to have something cheap as possible, he understood that quality costs money and I found that extremely refreshing coming from a guy a few years my junior. He was not afraid to tell people what he thought and there were times I’ve wondered if he has a filter between his brain and his mouth when he’s talked about topics that most people wouldn’t discuss in social company. Again, this was one of the things I really enjoyed about him. We’d spent a week meeting up at random locations throughout the city to head out for dinner or drinks in an effort to experience all NYC had to offer. I sometimes felt out of place when in the company of him and The Little Sister. Here I was; this blue collar guy from the North, dressed in a blue t-shirt and pair of Levis, in the company of two refined individuals, walking through one of the most fashionable cities in the world. I knew that my blatant and obvious “Australian-ness” often caused Jorge to shake his head at me every time I greeted a bartender with “G’day Mate”, as is my normal greeting. The strange looks that my choice of words often got us all were taken in his stride because (at the time) I didn’t know I was doing it or why everyone who I asked for a beer kept looking at me funny.

As the cigar moves into the halfway point, a classic Dominican profile comes along. All leather and Cedar. Full bodied, full flavoured and overpowering any subtleties this cigar showed earlier. The beautiful notes of chocolate and coffee from earlier have been replaced with Leather and Cedar on the pallet. Leather and Cedar through the nose and tons of Cedar on the finish. It’s almost too much. Hopefully it mellows out a little as we continue.

One evening the three of us found we had a few hours to kill before a show we were going to see was due to start. Because we were only a few blocks from Broadway I suggested that Jorge, The Little Sister and I head to Nat Shermans for a smoke. Jorge has mentioned in the past that he’d tried cigars but didn’t really find they were his thing. I told him, that if nothing else, he would really enjoy the feel of Nat Shermans, even if he didn’t smoke a cigar. We all headed there and found the place to be a little busy for a Wednesday night. The Little Sister decided she wanted coffee more than smoky clothes so she left us to our own devices for an hour while she went in search of a Latte and free WiFi. Jorge and I walked into the store and I could tell by the look on his face that he was impressed with it, if not a little intimidated. People of all ages were sitting in big leather chairs, smoking cigars and chatting away to the person next to them. I pointed out a few of the finer details to him paying particular attention to the ‘Gentleman’s Accessories’ like shaving kits and cufflinks that the store also carried. I met up with one of the store clerks and we made our way to the humidor. When we entered the walk in we were greeted with a scent of cedar and good tobacco carried to us by the cool, humid air. I turned to Jorge and asked if he would be interested in letting me buy him a cigar. If he didn’t like it I would take no offence if he put it out. He agreed and I selected a cigar for Jorge, which I hoped would appeal to his tastes, right before a Timeless Especial for myself. I handed the cigar to him and said “let me know what you think of this. It’s a little different to what you’re expecting, but I think you’ll enjoy it all the same”.

The home stretch. The final run to the finish line. Thankfully, the Leather and Cedar bomb that was the middle of this stick has mellowed out a little. Only a little, mind you. There is a touch of sweet spice through the nose now, but not much. The rest is all Leather and Cedar. Not the most interesting profiles after 45 min of it. A Bummer really as the cigar started off quite good. Perhaps it still needs more time to give the profile time to mellow out a touch.

Cigars were cut and matches struck as Jorge and I found ourselves a couple of empty seats in group of people in the middle of the store. Jorge smoked his cigar like a pro and after a few puffs I asked “Ok?” he nodded, a thoughtful look on his face “yeah, really sweet. Different to what I’ve tried. Really nice though”. I smiled “good, they are something different”. The conversation piqued the interest of the other people sitting in our group. 2 middle aged men, dressed in tailored suits and a younger lady, dressed casually in a silk blouse and pair of jeans. They all asked where we were from and the general chit chat about our time in NYC began. Thanks to this conversation I noticed that the other members in our group started chatting amongst themselves, almost like a quick “yeah, we’re from Australia” was all that was needed to break the collective ice of our group. We talked about cigars and our impressions of the city. Jorge singing the praises of his cigar so effectively that the young lady got up to try one herself. As the conversation moved from cigars to general subjects, I noticed Jorge sitting there listening to a conversation between the young lady and one of the middle aged guys in a grey suit. It turns out she was had her own fashion label and was in NYC in an effort to drum up some investors to take the label nationwide. The man in the grey suit showed an interest, past what one would give if he was more interested in what was under her clothes rather than the clothes themselves, and before I knew it the two of them were discussing the business plan and product range right in the cigar store. Investment figures containing a great number of zero’s were mentioned and the man in the grey suit took in all in with an interested and pensive look on his face. His phone beeped and he said he had somewhere to be. He handed the Young Lady his card and said he was very interested in possibly investing before bidding us all goodbye. As our cigars were just about finished up and I spied the little sister browsing the shelves of the store, Jorge and I took our leave and walked out into the cool New York Night. “I can’t believe I just saw that” Jorge said. “What?” “Two random people having a cigar turned into a serious business meeting right in the middle of the store!” I laughed “you’d be surprised how many multi-million dollar deals are done in clubs like that one all over the city”. Jorge smiled thoughtfully “yeah, I probably would”

The music has stopped, the needle on my record player resting in the valley of the vinyl, waiting for me to turn it over just as the cigar comes to a close. I get up, switch off my record player. My cigar has quite a bit of tar built up on the cap, it has also gone out. I take the hint and toss the cigar out my front door into the garden bed opposite. The scent of the, now finished cigar, lingers in my living room as a final reminder of all that came before it. I close my eyes and for the briefest of moments imagine I’m back in New York, smoking in the company of my friend and other New Yorkers. Jorge and I have smoked a few more cigars in the time that followed our trip to NYC. While I doubt he’ll be building a walk in humidor anytime soon I know he enjoyed the experience of having a cigar in the Big Apple. I enjoyed the look on his face when he took that first puff and it erased all his notions of what a cigar could be. I think a lot of that experience has to do with the location, a place where you can sit and smoke in the company of like-minded individuals. I’m not really sure what it is that can be so magical about a good smoking lounge. All I do know is that if you’re in a busy city and fell like smoking a cigar in the company of a friend, there are few places better to do it.

[manelson05]

I thoroughly enjoyed your review and commentary, well said.

I'm enjoying a Brickhouse maduro robusto, very creamy and sweet on the palate.

you've inspired me to write a review at some point.

thank you

mark

[LordAnubis]

Excellent story as always mate

[Pedro2486]

Excellent story as always mate

What he said

Great read yet again bro!