Muestra De Saka Unicorn 1/26/19

 Appearance
The beautiful Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper has a couple of prominent veins. It feels like a matte finish. The seams are tight. It is very oily and has a bit of tooth. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Earth, leather, cedar on the wrapper. Nothing at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Earth, licorice, cedar, lush red fruit, cinnamon and black pepper spice. Very spicy on the lips and palate.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of earth and black pepper. The sweet fruit notes are in the background but developing quickly. Very surprising is the draw, it’s absolutely perfect which u would not expect with the shape of this cigar. Smoke production is at the high range. The profile is taking on a meaty/savory note. The burn at the 3/4” mark is a bit wavy. There is a syrupy blueberry/blackberry kind of note joining the profile. There are some dark chocolate notes on the finish which is long and sweet with an earthy/black peppery undertone. The burn is spot on at the beginning of the 60 ring portion of the cigar. The dark gray and stacked ash began to curl so I removed it before it could become a problem.

2nd
The black pepper spice tapers back allowing the fruity and savory notes to take center stage. Cedar notes join the very well balanced, complex and flavorful profile. A nice dried white fruit appears briefly(think apple, banana) and some toast as well. The lush red fruit notes bring good salivation to the palate. The strength and body are at med/full. The ash, though looking suspect, is holding firm just past the mid point of the cigar. Near the end of the 2nd/3rd the spice is more like nutmeg. My palate has remained moist from the initial draws, a perfectly blended cigar will cause the saliva to keep the palate moist. One of the many things I learned from The Professor @JoseBlanco809

Final/3rd
Some crushed red pepper notes join the nutmeg in the spice area of the profile. A pinch of black pepper returns. The lush red fruit notes have remained the pleasure point of the very well balanced profile. As I wind down to the nub the cigar is not hot enough to put down but there is nothing left to smoke so sadly the experience must come to an end. The flavorful experience will linger in my mind for a long time. As my friend Jeff Weigand would say it’s a “Stupid Good” cigar!

Overall
The Muestra De Saka Unicorn provides a Terrific Smoking Experience. A very complex, very well balanced and very flavorful profile with a perfect draw and burn.
At $100 per cigar and a very limited production(1000 cigars) most people won’t have the opportunity to experience the Unicorn but if you have the resources and the opportunity to buy one or more I would recommend that you do so. I purchased 2 initially but will be looking to acquire more as I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
A huge Thank You to Steve Saka @stevesaka for all of the time and effort and expense that went into this project!