Video Review HERE.
Altadis U.S.A., maker of world-renowned premium cigars, is releasing the Henry Clay “War Hawk,” the first of a three-part series of cigars named “Immortal Trio.” The War Hawk recognizes Henry Clay’s spearheading the movement that led to the War of 1812.
Henry Clay, who rose to Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in the early 1800s, was known above all, as a staunch U.S. nationalist. He was the leading voice among several young members of Congress who boldly applied pressure on President James Madison to defend the young nation by declaring war against Britain in 1812. Clay believed strongly that military force was the only option left to fight British imperiousness. The term “War Hawk” was coined and now used in political circles to describe one who favors war as an ultimate resolution of a conflict.
The Henry Clay “War Hawk” is a dedication to Henry Clay’s lasting influence. The War Hawk cigar is aptly named, as it is a bit rebellious in going against its own tradition by not using a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper – as do most other Henry Clay brands. The “Hawkish” cigar is a complex cigar, boasting unique flavors, with plenty of spice. This medium-bodied blend sports an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, which houses a broadleaf binder and Honduran filler.
Vitolas
44 x 5 ½ Corona -MSRP $7
54 x 5 Robusto – MSRP $7.50
50 x 6 Toro – MSRP $8.00 REVIEWED TODAY
The cigar is a golden medium brown and well made. It has a rather light feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors at light up were a tangy sweet cedar with a lot of cinnamon, underlying brown sugar, cream, leather, and a very earthy black coffee. There was a white pepper which I rated at a 7 1/2.
At the first third (24 minutes) the flavors are pretty much like I initially described. The large amount of cinnamon attached to the sweet, tangy cedar is very nice. The earthy black coffee makes a very sturdy base. However, the cream notes are now gone. The pepper seems to be moving over to a black pepper. It's in a transition stage at this point. But, it's up to close to an 8. The finish is one of leather and nutmeg with a modest amount of lingering white pepper. I don't really get nutmeg on the front end but here it is on the finish. The cigar is medium bodied at this point. This cigar is not bad but it's not wowing me. For the first third I rated it at 89.
At the second third (49 minutes) the flavors changed just a bit. I still had the tangy, sweet cedar with cinnamon. The brown sugar is a little more noticeable. The leather and earthy black coffee has toned down. There may be a thread of nutmeg on the front end with the leather but it's not much. The cigar is still medium bodied but it's leaning toward medium to full. The finish is unchanged. This cigar remains right on the line as to whether I would smoke it regularly or buy more of them. I an enjoying it but it's still not wowing me. I maintained the score of 89.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 10 minutes. A little short for a toro. There were not many changes in the final third. The cigar moved up to medium to full bodied. The flavors are just like they were in the previous segment but there was a little uptick in the nutmeg. The pepper finally transitioned over to a black pepper and it remained very good. It never got below a 7 1/2. The finish was unchanged in flavors but there is more lingering black pepper. This was a good cigar but it falls just short of something I would have regularly. I rated the final third at 89.
Overall Score: 89
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