Entubar, imagination with intense aromas and flavors

Luciano Quadrini

After some back and forth, changes of continents, a stay on an island battered by rain and gray clouds, but also bearing the greenest vegetation my eyes have ever seen, here we are back to talk about what we are passionate about.

Now, I am in Spain, more precisely in the city of Barcelona, after my nine-month stint in Ireland. I have gained a personally enriching experience from the Emerald Isle –and a few pints of Guinness on top–although when it comes to tobacco, I must say the situation there is exceedingly complicated.

SMOKING IN DUBLIN...

Several factors combine to create an atmosphere rather unfavorable to smokers: extremely high tobacco taxes, leading to ridiculously high prices; generic brown bands placed over the original cigar band, indicating the name and vitola of the cigar to avoid tempting marketing from beautiful bands, and the prohibition of smoking indoors in Cigar Lounges or similar establishments.

In addition, it’s impossible to smoke outdoors due to Ireland’s inclement weather, as even lighting up a Half Corona on a sunny day doesn’t mean you won’t find yourself in the middle of a storm and wind by the time you reach the halfway point, while searching for one of the few roofs or awnings in the city.

Putting aside my tobacco hobby, I must say that Ireland is a beautiful country, dazzling with the greenness of its grass and the good humor and warmth of its people, who always have a smile, a joke, and a helping hand even in the most difficult times. I didn’t bring tobacco from the Emerald Isle, but I did bring back great friends and lifelong anecdotes.

A CIGAR IN BARCELONA

After this brief catch-up, we continue this story from Barcelona, telling what we came to do: smoke a good cigar.

This unique cigar, Entubar, arises from the imagination and innovation of Enrique Don Kiki Berger and Michael Argenti, from the Berger & Argenti factory, and is basically a cigar within another cigar. This sounds very simple when said, but it is very likely not at all easy to achieve.

The one we see on the outside, of appreciable dimensions at first sight, measuring 5 3/8 inches in length and 54 ring gauge, is crafted in a box-pressed format, containing an internal little cigar of which only a few millimeters protrude from the foot of the first, dressed in a Negro San Andrés wrapper from México, Nicaraguan binder, and Dominican filler.

Its quality band with golden letters and its foot band, with a hand pointing with the finger to the surprise we have underneath, stand out. When cold, hay and raisin aromas are expressed on the wrapper, while biscuit, caramel, and a spicy touch of cinnamon are perceived at the foot.

After a straight cut with a guillotine, I light up with a torch, gently toasting the small internal cigar. Despite what the foot band recommends, I will only light the internal cigar and will be extremely attentive to the combustion, especially in these first moments of transition between the little cigar and the rest of the cigar.

I take the first draws patiently, letting the small one burn, while it throws out sharp notes of intensely spicy white pepper. This intensity harmonizes with the high presence of ligero within it. The small one has now reached the territory of its older brother and has started to ignite it. The predominant notes are leather, pepper, cocoa, and an intense caramel aroma that intrudes in the retrohale.

Large amounts of voluminous smoke fill the mouth completely. Its even combustion is surprising, considering that I only lit the small internal cigar, which took care of lighting the rest of the surrounding tobacco. Intense flavors and full body: one cannot ask for more from a first third that truly exceeds expectations.

So far, there are no surprises. On the contrary, the cigar follows a well-defined path, leading us with consistent and welldefined flavors.

During the second third, the cocoa becomes more intense. Black pepper reinforces its flavor, although the heat decreases a few degrees. Some woody cedar notes increase the dryness of the smoke, along with a flavor of damp earth that begins to spontaneously emerge. Leather continues to be present, pushing the other notes from the background, but it is the last to withdraw from the taste buds after each draw.

Cedar is the most favored in this second third, with impeccable intensity and definition, but it does not clash with the rest of the flavors and aromas of this orchestra. A citrusy fruity note, like cherry, appears intermittently between draws.

Combustion remains even, and the draw, identical from the beginning; there is nothing to reproach in these two aspects. Clearly, the construction is superb, especially considering the complexity of rolling a cigar of these characteristics, which has not required any correction with the lighter so far.

In the last third, notes of roasted coffee and nuts land, initially expressed by the walnut. The strength has increased a couple of notches, and the intensity of the flavors remains high from the beginning. This increase in strength invites me to smoke more slowly, and as there is no rush, the change of pace is enjoyed.

The ash is whitish-gray, very firm and stable. Leather once again charges with force, leaving behind an interesting saltiness, in the mouth and on the lips...

Entubar is a cigar that stands out not only for its innovative construction: its intense and well-defined aromas and flavors denote the quality of the tobaccos used in its making.

I always celebrate when brands dare to innovate without losing quality, in an industry that holds a tradition that smokers love, respect, and protect jealously for the inexhaustible pleasure it brings us... and this cigar fulfills that objective, without a doubt.