Imagine my surprise when I first lit the Headley Grange Chamuco—Chamuco meaning Devil in Spanish—and it was revealed to be a mild-mannered, easy going cigar. Halfwheel and Cigar-Coop tell me that Chamuco is also a name for a Mexican Pit Bull. Either way, I was more prepared for Batman than Bruce Wayne.
Each limited-edition Chamuco has a slightly tighter draw than I’m used to in a box-pressed cigar, but it never seems to go out even when smoke production in the tray seems to have dwindled.
My first impression from Chamuco is always one of straight cocoa nibs – that raw, almost bitter, roasted expression of chocolate. As that intense flavor dwindles after a few puffs, an earthy, leathery sensation joins in to create a trio of chocolate, leather, and earth. Sometimes I experience pepper, sometimes I don’t. Today, I’m getting a lingering peppercorn sensation that provides a little bit of spice as well as the flavor.
Espresso and vanilla malt wade into the mix around the second third, and it could be more of a muddling of flavors than anything. That’s what I really dig about this cigar… it’s like an accordion, where the flavors expand to let you pick them out individually before condensing into a complex sensation for a time. Rinse and repeat.
Cheers to a great weekend, everyone!
Suggestions
If you’re a fan of Mexican San Andres wrappers, this cigar should absolutely be on your hit list! It’s balanced, engaging, and just a damned fine experience overall. It also comes in 12-ct boxes, so it’s easy to collect these limited editions from the Crowned Heads’ Headley Grange line.
I see this cigar shining with a pour of Diplomatico! I haven’t tried it personally yet, but I’d bet a paycheck that this is a winning combination.
For the non-alcoholic crowd, I’d suggest trying it with Root Beer. The spicy sweetness from this soft drink pushes and pulls on the flavor profile nicely.
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