Rare Studio Tabac ST-DS001 is a Gem

There are those cigars that are readily available, there are some cigars that are hard to find, there are some cigars that are expensive, and then there are those that can’t be bought.  Today’s offering is in the latter category.  The only way to get htis stick is to attend a Studio Tabac event in 2011.  So, they are damned hard to find.  But, that is the smoke that I took out of the humidor after a few weeks of travel that included the TPE show in Las Vegas.  (More about that tomorrow.)

The Studio Tabac ST-DS001 is available in a sampler package that was gifted to people who bought boxes at the events.  (They traveled to these events in a specially painted corvette seen at right.)  And, what a gift it was.  The first thing you notice is the band.  Actually there are two bands.  The lower is a simple thin band identifying the brand.  The second, a plain white band is hand written ST-DS001.  These bands adorn an oily dark maduro wrapper from Mexico.  The wrapper has a noticeable vein structure and a nice toothy feel.  The cap was well constructed and withstood an inadvertently strong punch.  Easy drawing the cigar lit easily.

Flavors were rich, earthy, and almost peaty, something like a good scotch.  I thought I had a hint of apple in the smoke but others have disagreed.  As the cigar progressed the flavors melded together into a rich almost nutmeg taste.  I never had any hint of pepper but the cigar is heavy and full.  If you think of full bodied cigars as being spicy this wouldn’t fit the bill.  I rather think of it as a more medium to full bodied smoke.

Halfway through the cigar, the flavor added a bit of vanilla.  It became more nuanced sort of like a great whiskey.  At no time did I feel overpowered but rather enjoyed this cigar through and through.  It’s too bad that it is not more readily available, but perhaps some of its goodness comes from the limited production.  The guys at Studio have been charged with experimenting to come up with some new blends and this is an indication that great things are to come.

Its hard to talk about value when the cigar is not available for purchase.  But, if I paid $10. for this stick I would think it was exceptionally worthwhile.  If you have any way to get your hands on one of these you won’t be sorry that you did.