(Note: This review originally appeared on CigarJack.)
 |
Brand: Nat Sherman
Line: Host Selection
Vitola: Harrington (Corona) 6 x 46
Origin: Honduran
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran
Body: Mild-to-medium
Strength: Mild
Box Price: $74.95 (Box of 25)
Man, it’s been a while since I’ve smoked a Nat Sherman Host. These take me back five years, to the summer after my freshman year of college. I used to stop by here perhaps once a week to pick up a couple of stogies for the week. It’s amazing what can happen in five years, no? (I’ll be reviewing each of the company’s three main lines over the next several weeks. Thanks to Mike Holba from Nat’s for sending them out to me.)
Nat Sherman, located near the main branch of the New York Public Library in Manhattan (remember that building at the very beginning of Ghostbusters? That’s the one.), is one of the oldest tobacconists in the city. The store has been open for a while, but for me, the brand has always had a certain allure and classiness about it. Speaking of which, former president Bill Clinton is known to have enjoyed a Trafalgar No. 4 every once in a while. (Consequently, Monica may have as well…)
Anyhow, the Host is a handsome cigar, smooth in texture, with Nat’s Sherman signature clock adorning its red, green and gold band.
Taste-wise, it’s a mild-bodied cigar, but it doesn’t fall short in flavor. It’s sweet–almost caramel-flavored–but not overpoweringly so, and after about an inch or so, I noticed hints of almond. The sweet and nutty flavors continued all the way down the cigar and, if anything, I noticed the cigar got even sweeter into the second half.
The Host had a steady, even burn and a full draw throughout, and I didn’t have to relight the cigar. The Harrington, which is a Corona-sized cigar, took me about an hour and a half to finish.
Verdict: It’s a consistent smoke throughout with the taste of a five- or six-dollar cigar. At only a couple of bucks apiece, however, the Host is one of the better deals you’ll find in New York. I’d pair this one with a cup of coffee, as it’s a stellar morning smoke. I smoked it down to the nub. You probably will too.
Similar cigars: Almost A dead ringer for the Macanudo Gold.