I have to say that there is something intriguing about how a cigar is packaged. To get to the point of smoking this stogie, you must cut the sealing band on the wooden box and then slide the box open lengthwise, exposing the delicate paper wrapper. The paper is thin and only partially opaque, revealing, seductively, the cigar beneath. This is probably why many companies these days are spending so much time, effort and money on packaging. Whets the appetite, don’t ya know.

This 2004 Liberty is one good looking cigar. I carefully remove the paper and am greeted by a beautiful, dark wrapper with thin veins and a near flawless appearance. This Camacho Liberty, version 2004, is made with a rare and limited Corojo wrapper. Unlike the last cigar I rated in this batch, the nose on this one is clearly evident, offing a spicy, earthy, mustiness that makes me want to linger and simply inhale the cigar. The cigar is tapered at both ends, but the foot is generous enough to make me commit some time and patience to the light.

I took great care in lighting this rare cigar. After clipping with a Xikar cutter, I don my Colibri double-burner and lightly toast the foot, nursing the glowing ember to life by gently puffing.

The primo tobaccos strutted their stuff right away. I was pleased with the generous spice and cedar that layered my palate with just a touch of bite. It burned slightly unevenly at first, but had a perfect draw.

Very quickly this cigar warmed up to expose the rich coffee flavor of Costa Rican dark roast. The light gray ash hung on dutifully until I tapped it off at an inch and watched it float gently into my ash tray.

At the one third point, the cigar developed an uneven burn, the wrapper and binder were burning more rapidly than the filler. And yet the flavors grew more palpable and full. The complexity of this cigar is pronounced, producing many varied layers and a lingering sweetness on my tongue.

By the halfway mark I am enjoying this smoke immensely and can’t help my desire to match it with a favorite libation. Only one comes to mind: Ron Zacapa, a wonderfully rich Guatemalan rum. Yes, that’s the ticket! The rum is full, rich and satisfying, ditto the cigar. A perfect match.

The cigar righted its burn problem on its own. A very good sign of the excellent overall construction. I smoked it until I burned my fingers. This cigar was a true delight.

~Doc