Cigar Review - Nub Café Macchiato 460
Nub – Café Macchiato 460
Vitola: 460
Length: 4.0″
Ring Gauge: 60
Wrapper: Sumatra
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Pairing: San Francisco Bay Foglifter coffee
Only had to work a half day today and my only project was moving my office from one room to another (yeah, turns out it took most of the day, who knew?) so of course there was time and opportunity for a mid-day cigar. Yay me! Knowing I had the project in front of me I wanted something lighter and tasty to pair with a cup of coffee. I looked for my Java Mint, but I think Cameron snuck in and took it to replace his HC. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Can't have anything to do with lots of moving around of my humidors. Anyway, the Nub Café Macchiato was sitting right up front and it looked good.
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5nduwrv3.jpg
Fit and Finish: Very attractive minimalist labeling, nearly smooth Sumatra wrapper with minimal veining but the cap looks like it was stuck on in a hurry. Not a problem other than cosmetically. You can smell the chocolate immediately, along with a sweetness. This isn't cocoa, it's milk chocolate.
Draw: The V-cut gives a nice draw and it is sweet and chocolatey. No spice at all on the cold draw, just all chocolate.
Toast/Light: Kept at 65% for a while, the toast is easy enough for such a large RG and it's quickly lit. Chocolate and a mild cedar on the first draw.
First third: There is no pretense here. This cigar is designed to be a sweet little chocolate bomb and it delivers. Very smooth, very creamy and milk chocolate dominate. But there is a bit of nuttiness and wood as well, which is nice. This is much sweeter than anything I've smoked recently. It's going great with the coffee.
Second Third: Still no hint of spice of any kind, but the cedar is making its presence known a bit more and it's getting a slightly earthy undertone as I reach the halfway point. Those are in addition to the chocolate and sweet cream. I'm a big fan of the Javas by Drew Estate but this is a better cigar. Not a knock at all on the Javas but they are like a piece of candy. This tastes more like a cigar. A delicious chocolate cream cigar.
Final Third: The nuttiness is building, along with the cedar. That earthiness I was getting has disappeared and now the chocolate is taking on more of a cocoa flavor. As I approach the nub, all of the flavors are taking on more of a toasted flavor to them. Even some roasted coffee (though to be honest I'm drinking coffee so maybe I'm imagining it, but it wasn't there before and I've been drinking the coffee the whole time). It finishes creamy, sweet, chocolatey and nutty.
Final Thoughts: The burn was excellent and it smoked cool the whole time. It never got harsh and the flavors stayed with me throughout. You don't buy a Café Series Nub to be surprised, you buy it to enjoy the flavors that you know are going to be there. This cigar delivers on that promise without compromise. Don't mistake me, there is a nice tobacco profile along with the flavors. That's what I meant by saying it's a better cigar than the Javas. It's not one I'd reach for on a regular basis but for those times you want something made to pair with coffee and you want it relatively mild, it's a good choice. It was my first experience with the Macchiato and I'd grab another one if I was out and about and wanted something for a late night cup o' joe.
Total smoking time: 80 minutes
