Cigar Extra: Ezra Zion Honor Series - Reagan

Do I really have a Reagan mousepad? Yes, I do!

40th (Boxpressed Toro), 6” x 52 ring gauge / $12, Cigar Man

Man is not free unless government is limited. - RR

The second release from the folks at Ezra Zion Cigars is the first in their planned “Honor Series”: Reagan. Named after our 40th President, they even gained permission to make a video introducing the cigar at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. I was all ready to name this “Cigar of the Year 2012” based on the name alone...then I heard that they were going to partner with Emilio Cigars for distribution and I had to scrap that plan. Still...I had to try these sticks and wanted to give my overall general impressions of them. The Reagan is a Nicaraguan Puro made with leaf aged 5 to 6 years. The wrapper is a 2006 Sun Grown Habano, the binder is 2006 Cuban seed, and the fillers are 2007 Cuban seed seco, viso and ligero. Just reading that through...what’s not to like?

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same. - RR

While the Ezra Zion Inception had the banding in black, dark gray and silver, this uses the same basic design with gold. The wrapper leaf had a reddish-brown hue, oily to the touch, but not so much to the eye. The aroma of the leaf was earthy and cedary, with a bit of ripeness to it; the foot had more cedar and earthy, as well as a nice touch of cinnamon and cocoa powder. I elected to pair my Reagan 40th with the product of a company that is even now fighting for liberty...the liberty to distill whiskey in Chattanooga, Tennessee. If you’ve paid any attention to this blog in the past year, you’ll know I’m talking about the Chattanooga Whiskey Company’s 1816 Reserve (all out of 1816 Cask right now or it would have been that). After clipping the head, the draw was great and tasted of earth, chocolate and cedar.

Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty. - RR

At the outset, the Reagan was very cedary on both the palate and the retrohale; it also had a sharp pepper spice on the nose. On subsequent puffs, more notes of earth and cocoa powder came through on the palate. Through the first half, the wonderful Nicaraguan earthiness came through loud and clear like the Contras beating back the Communist Sandinista hordes; there was a lot of cedar as well, with touches of cinnamon, pepper spice and cocoa powder. As time went on, though, the Reagan proved to not be a very complex smoke. The flavors were very good, but never seemed to change all that much. It was definitely enjoyable, though, and paired very well with the Chattanooga Whiskey. I have to admit that I didn't enjoy the Honor Series Reagan as much as I hoped, but maybe they get better with age (like the real Reagan did!) and I'm sure I'll get a chance to try more at some point.

We should measure welfare's success by how many people leave welfare, not by how many are added. - RR

Watch the introduction video here:

And watch them pair the Reagan with Two If By Tea here: