Quesada – Heisenberg Coronet Cuadrada

I debated for a nice long while whether or not I should post a review of this cigar. Quesada and SAG Imports has really tried to keep the makings of this cigar under wraps to create the most subjective experience possible and I didn’t want to cloud that by posting a review. That being said, I finally decided that I will post my general thoughts on this stick in hopes to shed some light on anyone looking for an idea of the experience or any information on the stick. Keep in mind, as always, this is just a simple man’s thoughts. I bring you Quesada’s Heisenberg.

The Good Stuff: The name “Heisenberg” is based off a scientific theory that basically proves the limit of precision. To sum it up, it means that no matter what we know about anything we will never fully know everything. The more we focus on one aspect, the less we know about another. Basically, Quesada wanted to create a cigar that you could just sit back, and enjoy instead of taking apart bit by bit, examining, and trying to figure out what makes the cigar so good which is something us bloggers are known for. Instead, they ask us to “Embrace Uncertainty”.

As an added note, the “Heisenberg” formula has recently became (more) famous as it was introduced in the show Breaking Bad as the main character Walt White’s pen-name. I know for a fact that Terence Reilly is a huge fan of this show, and I can honestly say that I’m addicted to it. I personally think it’s one of the best series to ever hit television and urge anyone to watch it. I promise you will get just as addicted as I am.

Sizes included in the blend will be a Petit (4 ¾ x 40), Corona (4 x 43) a Robusto (5 x 48) and the Coronet Cuadrada (5 ¼ x 44/48/55). I believe these should be hitting shops any day now. I also think (but not certain) they will come packaged in boxes of 10 and will run between $4.50 and $6.95 a stick.

Size: 5 ¾ x 44/48/55
Wrapper: unknown
Binder: unknown
Filler: unknown
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $6.95
Pairing: Deschutes Black Butte Porter (American Porter 5.2% ABV)

Prelight: Despite Quesada’s Heisenberg coming in multiple formats, the Corneta has been the only size I have seen in the pre-release market. The obvious stand-out characteristic is the size. The cigar starts off with a beautiful elongated box-press foot which immediately starts to taper down until it meets is very thin, round, triple cap. The wrapper is a beauty. It sports an incredibly consistent medium brown wrapper that carried lots of very small, seamless, webby veins which tend to be a shade darker than the rest of the wrapper. The construction is beautiful and seamless. The Heisenberg is really squishy and soft to the touch throughout the entire body of the cigar.

The wrapper gives off so much cedar and strong natural tobacco aroma while the foot gives off a very strong pepper and sweet tobacco scent. The second you open the box of these cigars you can smell the pungent aroma throughout the room. The cap clipped like butter using my double bladed Palio cutter. Right off the bat the Heisenberg greeted me with lots of black pepper and spice with some mixed in natural tobacco on the cold draw.

First Smoke: Just like the cold draw, Quesada’s Heisenberg started with lots of black pepper, spice, sweet tobacco, and a chalky cedar flavor. As I smoked through the first couple of draws the chalkiness began to drop off leaving the cedar more defined. The draw on this cigar is amazing. It seems a bit loose at first, but then only one small puff fills your mouth with tons of thick smoke. The burnline on this cigar is crazy sharp with only a few subtle waves leaving behind a compact, medium grey, zebra-patterned ash. The ash held on for an inch before giving way.

Halfway There: There was this really deep, really potent plum flavor that began to sneak it’s way into the mix during the second third of this Quesada Heisenberg. The pepper and a lot of spice has dropped off as well as the stronger cedar and the addition of a grassy flavor as well. The retrohale on this cigar was so much sharper than I thought it was going to be. It coated my nasal passage with a very strong pepper and spice. I don’t find myself retrohaling this cigar too often. The burnline is still a bit wavy, but I have yet to pull out my lighter while I am feeling nothing in the nicotine department.

Finish: The pepper has made it’s triumphant return into the final third of this Quesada Heisenberg. It’s just enough to tickle my lips and tongue while the cedar and plum mellow out the pepper for a smooth experience. That grassy flavor is still there as well adding a bit more dimension to the experience as well as a pretty strong pine flavor. It took me about an hour and a half to take this little cigar down. There was a bit of harshness at the very, very end, but nothing really concerning. The cigar did not require any touch ups or relights the entire experience and didn’t leave me with any nicotine kick at all.

Overview: This is another great cigar from the team over at Quesada. They have been a company who have really re-invented themselves over the course of the last few years and I can honestly say that I love the direction they are headed in. The Seleccion Espana, Jalapa and of course the Oktoberfest have been in my regular rotation for a while now and I am sure there is room for the Heisenberg as well. I didn’t quite enjoy it as much as the three blends I just mentioned, but it’s a seriously great cigar for the coin. Seriously, the price is real low on these making a box purchase highly recommended. The mystery of the blend may be an attraction to some, but I think I can speak for a majority of cigar smokers in saying that the experience will dictate repeat purchases and the Heisenberg does not disappoint.  I think the price and the Quesada name is enough to get customer’s attention while the solid experience will do the rest.

Pairing: American Porter eh? What’s the difference? Basically, there are a lot of added hops to bring new light to the porter experience in the excellent pairing of Deschutes Black Butte Porter and the Quesada Heisenberg. Black Butte is brewed at the Deschutes Brewery in Oregon. It’s basically a smooth, mild porter with lots of added hops resulting in a really citrus start with a chocolaty finish. It’s an interesting beer that’s for sure and it paired wonderfully with the grassy, cedar notes in the Heisenberg and really took off when the cigar hit the final third and more of the pepper and the pine flavor moved in.