Crux Union Fire, a Famous Smoke Shop Exclusive

By Jeremy Hensley | June 21, 2019

In May 2019, Famous Smoke Shop announced a new shop exclusive in collaboration with Crux Cigars. The Crux Union Fire pays respect to the nation’s first volunteer fire department formed in 1736, Philadelphia’s Union Fire Department. Jeff Haugen of Crux Cigars stated:

After some research, we decided the history of the Union Fire Company was a perfect match for a new cigar line. The cigar itself is a rich and smoky blend of Nicaragua tobacco

Crux Union Fire cigars are rolled in Esteli, Nicaragua at Tabacalera Plasencia. The cigar utilizes a proprietary Nicaraguan wrapper leaf, Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. The wrapper leaf, known as Enganoso, is also featured on the Crux Limitada lines. There are three sizes being produced: Robusto (4 ¾ by 50), Toro (6 by 52) and Churchill (7 by 50). 

You can purchase the Crux Union Fire from our good friends at Famous Smoke Shop HERE.

THE FACTS

Price: $7.80
Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 by 52
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Enganoso
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 40 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

The Crux Union Fire is dressed in a dark tan wrapper that is coated in oils and bumps. There are a couple of medium-sized veins running the down the cigar that are easy to spot.

Having arrived with no cellophane, I am only picking up on cedar on the wrapper, which I attribute to my humidor. Earth and cedar are noted on the foot of the cigar with a faint spice tickling the nose. The cold draw has a bit more resistance than preferred. And this may be one of mildest cold draws I’ve ever encountered with only a hint of cedar and mild spice felt in the mouth.

FIRST THIRD

After slowly toasting the foot of the cigar, the Crux Union Fire is underway. The warm cedar flavor transfers over from the aroma on the wrapper/foot and the cold draw. It is joined with a combination of sweet and tart with black pepper hanging in the background and on the finish of the smoke. Even early on, the flavors are a solid medium and well-rounded. For the most part, the burn is even as white ash forms.

MIDDLE THIRD

This is a slow burning cigar. Forty-minutes in and I am barely making my way into the second third of the Union Fire. All of the flavors in the first third continue to hold their ground as the cigar develops in richness. The tartness moves to orange zest as the retro-hale brings out the pepper and a darker earth flavor. A quick hit with lighter is required to get a small section the wrapper back in line with the rest of the burn.

FINAL THIRD

Prior to lighting, I had some concern on the draw. But I quickly forgot about that concern once lit. The cigar has been producing a mouthful of smoke ever since the first puff. The flavors are still medium-full and rich and I am feeling some strength from this Plasencia-made cigar. The orange zest has faded out as a perfume quality joins in as I begin to wrap up my journey through the Crux Union Fire. 

WRAP-UP

Crux cigars have consistently scored well with the Casas Fumando crew (on our nonexistent scoring system). And when news broke of a shop exclusive with Famous Smoke, a site sponsor, it quickly moved to the top of my list of cigars to review.  The Crux Union fire hit the spot with its medium-full flavors, developing richness, and pepper kick. What intrigued me about the cigar was the sweet and tart in the first third that evolved to an orange zest as the cigar progressed. The cigar burned incredibly slow so you definitely get your money’s worth on this cigar.